An American Werewolf in London (1981)

People are voting emotionally.

Expected more

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

Not your average werewolf movie - this is much better than that. Decent plot, though not overly original. No, what sets this apart is the humour and the A-grade production and performances.There's hints of the comedy aspect early on, but those are mostly just witty dialogue and you think it is just the usual banter of young people. It is only once David is in hospital that you realise that this is almost as much a comedy as a drama. The bumbling detective, the appearance of his dead friend (on a few occasions) and their discussions, some of the other scenes. Wherever possible, writer-director John Landis throws in some humour.Production is also very good. Werewolf movies are often B-grade (at best) efforts and this is far better than that.Good cast too. Solid performance by David Naughton in the lead role, as well as from Jenny Agutter.

Just a really fun and seamless mix of comedy and horror that totally lives up to its reputation, especially that phenomenally cool and terrifyingly painful transformation scene. Outside of that though, there's still tons of genre goodness: love the mysterious pub full of steel-eyed townspeople, love the lyrically blunt soundtrack, love how British it can be ("A naked American man stole my balloons.") Even poor-man's-Harold-Ramis David Naughton can't distract from the fun.

For it's time, its truly something nobody had ever seen. A throwback to the golden age of Universal Horror films, with more blood and guts than any mainstream film of the early 80's, and enough strange humor to suggest that John Landis was making a comedy, which he vehemently claims he wasn't. This is a peak 80's movie. I loved every minute of it. Look, even I agree, it's a choppy mess of a film. The editing is off the wall. That nightmare scene with the masked invaders is something I will never understand in a million years. The film ends on the most bizarre note in history. But it just doesn't matter. I had a thrilling time. Everyone involved looked like they had a ball. The genius special effects by Rick Baker still holds up. David Naughton is such a terrific lead, it's a wonder how his career didn't take off after this. Best of all, this film inspired Michael Jackson to make Thriller. Just remember that, folks. Whether you love this film or not, we wouldn't have gotten Thriller without it.

Released in 1981 and written & directed by John Landis, "An American Werewolf in London" details events when two American male college students (David Naughton & Griffin Dunne) hike through the moors of northern England where they're attacked by a ferocious werewolf under the full moon. One wakes up in a hospital three weeks later wherein he starts a relationship with a nurse (Jenny Agutter). Will he become a werewolf? John Woodvine plays a doctor who takes interest in the case. There were three major-release werewolf films in 1981: "The Howling" was the first and arguably the best, debuting in April, while "Wolfen" came out on in July and wasn't really a werewolf film, but rather a thinking person's nature-runs-amok flick. "An American Werewolf" came last, released in August, and was easily the most successful at the box office, making three times its cost in the US alone and 6 times worldwide. Yet, "The Howling" was more successful if you go by profit in comparison to cost, as it was surprisingly low-budget for a major release. "Wolfen" was, by far, the most expensive; and flopped. "American Werewolf" quickly garnered a cult following and I can see why. I usually don't like horror mixed with comedy, but this movie does it expertly; it's consistently thrilling, gory, colorful, quirky and amusing. The transformation scenes hold up, as they depict the excruciating process. Moreover, it's interesting seeing life in London in 1980 (when it was shot). Unfortunately, while Agutter is comely, not enough is done with her; and there's a curious hollowness to the movie, not to mention it ends in an awkwardly abrupt manner. Nevertheless, it's well worth checking out if you're in the mode for a quick, entertaining horror/comedy fix. A stand-alone sequel came out in 1997, "An American Werewolf in Paris." A UK production, the picture runs 97 minutes and was shot in Powys, Wales (Hay Bluff, Crickadarn & Brecon Beacons) and England (London, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Middlesex). The special makeup effects were done by the renowned Rick Baker.GRADE: B