An American Werewolf in London Review

an American werewolf in London is a 1981 United Kingdom and United States coproduction horror comedy film written and directed by John Landis and starring David Naughton, Jenny Agutter and Griffin Dunne. The film follows two American college students backpackers, David and Jack who on a walking tour of Britain are attacked by a werewolf that none of the locals will admit exists, this causes David to turn into a werewolf whenever the next full moon appears. An American werewolf in London is a classic perfectly combine horror and comedy to make an experience that is both terrifying and hilarious but also tragically sad.

The direction American werewolf in London is brilliant. The opening shot of David and Jack arrived in the Scottish moors via a truck carrying sheep clearly shows the comedy horror element at play throughout the film. They then enter a grimy old English Pub in northern England where it is clear that these Americans are someone they do not belong, as clearly indicated by the classic “you made me miss” seeing where one of the occupants Mrs dartboard when David asks about the pentagram on the wall making the atmosphere very tense. The people say hostile and threatening the pub, reinforces the classic horror movie idea of small communities being hostile to foreign outsiders. As they believe they end up walking onto the more showcasing a good use of creepy classic horror atmosphere, with the sound of the werewolf further cementing the mood, with the scene where the werewolf attacks and kills Jack being intense and believable. What follows are dream sequences from David in a POV perspective as he runs through the woods like a wolf, please shots are very interesting and give more indication to what is happening to David psychologically as well as physically. After David gets interviewed by the bumbling police detectives in the film ship showcasing a more slapstick humour, the dream sequences continued. David is seen running through the woods naked as the attacks, kills and eats the symbolising his transformation into a werewolf. In another dream sequence David is running through the woods, dressed like he was at the beginning of film. He then comes across himself allaying hospital bed with Alistair analysis is looking after him in the hospital in the woods, when Alice goes acting on the bed he turns into a vampire, further solidifying his transformation into a werewolf. However, the most famous and infamous dream sequence is the meeting Nazi massacre scene. In one of the most bizarre surreal sequences ever David is at home with his family, only for limited Nazis to becoming machine-gun David’s entire family set them on fire and slit his throat. However, this is only revealed to be a dream within a dream as David supposedly breaks up a new flat Alex to pull back the curtain can be stabbed to death by mutant Nazi as David wakes up again for real this time.

The bloodied corpse of Jack visits David in the hospital. Acting in a very nonchalant way as showcased by the line “can I have a piece of toast”, the film clearly showcases its comedy horror atmosphere. Jack explains that they were attacked by a werewolf and that he was murdered and now walks the earth in limbo until the werewolf’s bloodline severed meaning that David has to die. American werewolf in London is ultimately a sad tragic tale of mortality and morality, as David sees the decaying corpse of Jack in the mirror as a reference to Roman Polanski’s Repulsion. However, these peppered throughout the film as well such as David seemly understanding what the dog says as it barks at him and what the catechesis to as well as him snarling in the mirror. As well as this comedy is also shown with David Bowie Naked at the zoo showcasing’s animal wolf like nature, which results in him stealing a child learns under woman’s coach before standing at a bus stop wearing it.

At the end of the film Alex finds David to his corner and in the alleyway by the police, running down the alleyway she tries to calm David down by telling him that she loved him. Although David appears to recognise from the moment he lunges forward shot by the police. Alex cries while David lies dead reverting back to reason normal form naked on the ground. Although iconic the scene could have benefited from being a little longer to show something more with the repercussions of his death, such as Alex crying David’s body is Dr Hirsch gets her up and they walk away as the police coming to inspect the body or something like that in order to show a little bit more impact on his death.

The writing in American werewolf in London is also great, such as the beginning of the film where David and Jack exchanging a good back-and-forth as they walk along the road. Even the little side characters in the film are well Britain such as the locals being shown is distant but not necessarily hostile at first, it is only when they start asking about the pentagram that they are made to leave, this is further showcased with the Alamo joke that one of the villages tells the showing that they are all normal people are not necessarily evil but more trying to hide a secret. Unlike a lot of horror comedies an American werewolf in London has more subtle humour and genuine horror, such as the two nurses talking about David being Jewish because his circumcised. David is convinced that it was a wolf despite what the doctors said that attacked him and that he does not believe anyone else. An American werewolf in London has a more grounded sense of humour than a lot of other comedy horror films, such as the two detectives acting like an old married couple and nurse Alex feeding David as well as their relationship harrowing that over an old married couple. It affects the relationship between David and Alex is one of the most pivotal points of the whole film with Alex reading to David as he drifts off to sleep the film highlights this tragic love story that will underpin the whole film. The relationship between David Alex does seem to be a formed a bit too quickly in the film, however there is enough back-and-forth to wear the relationship does seem believable and by the end of the film it feels genuine. When its Jack visits David he explains that he will become a werewolf when the next full moon appears and start killing people trafficking in limbo like Jack and for the sake of others, he must take his own life. American werewolf in London is ultimately a sad tragic tale of morality and mortality wrapped up in a doomed love story.

American life in London be a modern-day retelling of the classic Wolf man story as the film parallels the idea of only somebody you love can kill you. When Dr J.S. Hirsch visits the slaughtered Lamb to try and find answers he is shunned by the locals. This showcases how small rural communities shun outsiders, however while the pub goes meet him outside explaining that David should not have been allowed to leave and that everyone is in danger before being shunned away by a fellow pub goer. Although the doctor does not believe that David is a werewolf, he believes that psychologically David could believe it and therefore acting a deranged gateway might harm himself or someone else. When David discovers that he transformed into a werewolf and was responsible for the murders that happened in the previous night he loses his mind and tries to get himself arrested. Pushing Alex away because he does not want to kill her American werewolf in London as a tragic love story about morality and mortality. This is further showcased as David is on the phone booth ring sister telling her that he loves her as in the porn theatre he meets a decayed skeleton of Jack and the bloodied bodies of the people he’s killed, telling him that he has to he attempts to slit his wrists and human side to the film. In the porn cinema he meets the decayed skeleton Jack and the bloodied bodies of the people he is killed telling him that he has to kill himself. In American wealth in London David is a tragic hero, not really the bad guy and instead an innocent victim of a terrible situation American mayor for London exploration on morality and mortality seen through the eyes of its protagonist, the visuals of the bloodied corpses it the porn theatre is also an interesting visual line as the film’s aesthetic. David’s death at the end is tragic but justifiable use to him murdering several people despite being tinged with genuine sadness.

The cinematography in the film although not incredible is still good and does not have any points of criticism. The dirty gritty grimy cinematography throughout the film reflects northern England and London creating for an uncomfortable visual aesthetic throughout the film. There are some good-looking scenes such as Davies and Jack walking along the moors at night with the moon in the background with the blue tint to the film. As well as this the dark gritty look where the werewolf runs around the streets at night during the climax looks good and encapsulates the horror of the film. The tone of the American wealth in London is a perfect balance between genuine horror and genuine comedy. Scenes such as the one in the pub are intense but are juxtaposed throughout the film with scenes such as David freaking out in the hospital as his lawyer acts professional and detached from his situation adding humour. An American Werewolf in London is a lot more subtle than traditional comedy horror films. As scenes in which the werewolf attacks and kills people are taken seriously, such as the death of the young couple the businessman and the three homeless men. There also seems to be a genuine element of sadness play throughout the film especially in the Indian where he dies further highlighting the films tragedy. In terms of editing there is not much to say, there is nothing amazing about it is still good and it gets the job done. However, the party cut to credits at the end of the film is great and is considered a classic edit.

The special effects in the film all look great as well. At the beginning of the film where the werewolf mutilates Jack to death and bites David the villages Kelly showcases great special effects that still look good today and I genuinely intense, this is further showcased by Jack’s body lying on the ground with blood oozing out of it which is a good effect and further illustrates the horror of the scene. The famous iconic transformation scene with David turning into a werewolf’s as blue moon plays in the background is still amazing and looks incredible even today. The blood affects where the werewolf attacks and kills it victims as well done. The young couple attended a dinner party, the three homeless men by the River Thames and the chase with the businessman through the London Underground are all iconic death scenes showcasing great special effects. As well as this the transformation scene cinema way uses see the werewolf’s face before it bursts out and run to the streets looks great and is still very impressive even today.

The music and sound effects in the film are also great. In the opening title credits where blue moon plays that over the Yorkshire Moors is an iconic scene perfectly sets the tone for the film, as well as this the score also incorporates a good use of nice soft piano music. The sound effects are also good with how wholesome the grunt being used when the werewolf is hunting its prey. The film uses several pre-existing songs to create iconic scenes, such as moving dance being used in the shower sex scene, badgering rises being used when David walks around the house, and blooming playing during the transformation scene. The film also showcases a good use of orchestral music to create a genuine sense of dread with a iconic redone version of blue moon used for the end credits of the film.

Finally, there is the acting. David Norton is great as David Kessler; he plays a normal likeable person who is funny at times and throughout the film he invokes genuine sympathy for the character. Griffin Dunne is also great as Jack Goodman, he acts as the comic relief throughout the film and is also likeable as the film shows that they genuinely care for one another. Jenny Agutter is good as Alex Price. Her character comes across as a bit formal in the beginning but warms up to David throughout the film and by the end it is apparent that they genuinely care about another. John Woodvine is also good as Dr J.S. Hirsch, again he comes across as a bit formal and dismissive at first but it is clear that he does care about David, and wants to get to the bottom of the mystery of what’s wrong with him in order to help him.

Overall American werewolf in London is a horror classic. With great writing, cinematography, and direction by John Landis the film incorporates amazing special effects, music and acting to create a film that is both genially funny and scary a sad character study at its heart.