Before there was Gingersnaps, Dog Soldiers, Wolf or The Howling… there was “An American Werewolf In London”
This film has spawned so many werewolf films. Even now, more than 20 years after its original release, it is still an unbeatable classic for the horror genre.
Two American tourists are on vacation and decide to begin it by backpacking through London. They do a little hitch hiking and a hell of a lot of walking in the freezing London weather. It is clear at the beginning of the film that the two are close and have known each other for a long time. They come across an old bar and when they go inside they are greeted with silence. The locals in the area are not used to tourists and don’t care to help them at all. The waitress flatly denies any food on the premises and offers to get them a cup of tea instead. While waiting for the tea, the two look around and ask of a pentagon painted on the wall. The locals then get a little hostile and order the tourists to leave. They do.
“Stay to the road and stay off the Moors” they say “Beware the moon”
The tourists think the locals are all superstitious morons and leave upset, tired, cold and hungry. The towns folk then argue inside about the two tourists. They say they will be dead soon and how one of them should call them back. Fear, I think, makes them all stay put. No one wants to know what’s out there, and no one wants to risk their own lives.
The tourists find themselves off the road and in the Moors. The humour of the film is very amusing as they joke together and make fun of their situation. Then the howling starts. The tourists are hunted by something unseen in the Moors and soon it is upon them.
I wont tell you too much more, as it is just too fun to ruin for any of you who haven’t seen it. What I will mention is that the special effects have been done very differently to your average werewolf film of today. The make up has been applied slowly and scenes filmed bit by bit during the making of the werewolf process. It is highly effective and not common due to the work involved. It makes the turning process from man to werewolf one of the biggest, classic, cinema moments of all time.
It covers every element of the werewolf myth and as I mentioned earlier… this movie is rather funny as they do make fun and joke about their situations many times through out the film. Despite their unnatural circumstances and the fact that one of them is seeing dead people and is also going to turn into a werewolf, it is taken rather lightly and this, to me, makes it so entertaining to watch.
Based a little on the movie “Wolf Man” which is referenced several times… it is a must see for all horror buffs. The actors are not all that well known but the performances are good. The make up and effects are brilliant and the humour is delightful. The fully changed werewolf is rather frightening and director has kept it as true to life as he can, making it believable yet shocking.
The 21st Anniversary Edition DVD is now available containing Actors Commentary, Behind the scenes, Outtakes, Interview with John Landis (director), Interview with Rick Baker (Make up), Focus on Technical Effects, Storyboard, Stills Gallery and a booklet with Production Notes.
Its Brilliant – Check it out.. I give it 10 outta 10.
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