An American Werewolf In London

An American Werewolf In London...1981...97 minutes...R...starring David Naughton, Jenny Agutter, Griffin Dunne, and John Woodvine...written and directed by John Landis

American students are known for taking trips across Europe, and two (David and Jack) are hiking up in the northern country of England. Of course, they don't listen when people warn them to stick to the roads and avoid the moors. Bad choice. They get attacked by a wolf...killing Jack and wounding David; a wolf that turns human when it is gunned down by the local villagers. David recovers in a London hospital, but he's plagued by strange nightmares and visions of Jack, who's looking much worse for wear being undead and who is encouraging David to kill himself. It seems Jack's soul is stuck in Limbo and can't move on until the werewolf's line is destroyed... and David is due for some changes in his life on the next full moon.

One of the things that will keep this movie as a feature to be revisited is the werewolf transformation scene as done by Rick Baker's effects...when having to change a man into a beast couldn't be done with enhanced computer effects.  At the time, the effects were revolutionary and even now they're impressive...especially when the amount of work and possible discomfort for the actor is considered. Another factor in how well the movie stands up is Landis's deadpan writing; some of the conversations with David's victims are both humorous and just plain disturbing.

If you like werewolf movies, "American Werewolf" is considered one of the classics. If you like blood and gore, there's plenty of that included...especially in the attack in Piccadilly Circus. I'm not sure that the movie is something for everyone; a certain amount of black humor is required to really get into it...but it's certainly worth watching if you have the time and the inclination. I give it 3.5 pentagrams on the wall.