An American Werewolf in London

Rating:
Summary: A first-rate horror/comedy. A great viewing experience.
Review: 2 American's are attacked by a massive beast one dark, foggy night while back-packing in the English moors. One is killed and the other is sent to the hospital. David- the survivor, is then plagued by disturbing and violent nightmares brought on by his near death experience and his dead friend begins re-appearing (in various stages of decomposition) informing him that they were attacked by a werewolf and if he doesn't kill himself soon, he will become one and will be responsible for many deaths. David does not believe his dead chum and dismisses his claims as rubbish. That is of course until that night when things start to get a little hairy.

Next to THE HOWLING, this werewolf spectacle is one of my favourite all time werewolf movies. The movie is an odd mixture of horror and humour. So even if you hate fright films, you may find something to like here. The film's cast is first rate. It doesn't have any world famous superstars but the actors give good performances throughout. Jenny Agutter, the werewolf's love interest, is lovely to look at while Griffen Dunne is hysterical as the walking dead friend given the difficult task of tormenting his buddy. The lead actor, David Naughton is also excellent. His portrayel of the tormented David is touching. However, despite the film's impressive cast, the real reason to see this film is for it's ingenious makeup effects. No CGI monsters here folks, instead the viewer is rewarded with creative and grotesque imagery. The transformation scene is spellbinding and it qualifies as the greatest werewolf transformation scene ever screened. The beast is not clearly shown until the final frames of the film so during those earlier attack scenes, the camera acts as the beast's eyes and the overall effect is chilling (The subway scene never fails to send chills up my spine). But the film's highlight is it's spectacular climax. Once the beast is unleashed upon the people of London, all hell breaks loose. There are car crashes, bus crashes, people being run over by cars all because the screaming on-lookers are trying to get out of the rampaging creatures path. Then again, the werewolf is so fierce and loathsome, I would of preferred to get hit by a car also.

I don't know which film I like better, this one or THE HOWLING. They're both ingenious but despite the werewolf theme, they are quite different. THE HOWLING takes place in a rural setting while WEREWOLF IN LONDON takes place in an urban one. THE HOWLING is darker and more frightening (in my eyes) and WEREWOLF IN LONDON is funnier but gorier. The transformation scenes also differ. THE HOWLING's is less spectacular but nastier, more bone-chilling and the werewolves look more like wolves and stand upright. The beast in LONDON walks on all fours and looks more like a massive, mutated dog. So I urge the viewer to watch both films and decide which they like better.

AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON is a classic and it's highly recommended. It's tongue and cheek horror done splendidly with one of the fiercest werewolves ever captured on film. Enjoy!

4.5 out of 5.

Rating:
Summary: An American Werewolf Tears up the UK
Review: This is my second favorite werewolf film ever made.Actually,its such a close tie between this film&The Howling...it is virtually impossible to choose between the two.This film has just the right ammont of folklore,gore&scares to satisfy anyone,plus it's own added touch of dark comedy.There are a number of good funny bits in it,like waking up in the London zoo naked&stealing a little boy's ballons to make his run for it,or having coversations with his dead,rotting friend in a [...] theater.The special effects are legendary,and nothing out there between this film&The Howling have come close in recent years to my recollection.With the onslaught of cgi effects taking over in the last 10 or so,I'm hoping&waiting someone out there will resort to "the old school" and make something else as memorible as this film.This is a great movie,and if you have never seen it...you won't believe your eyes.This one is a classic,and well worth every penny.

Rating:
Summary: special effects galore!
Review: What ever happened to horror movies using good ole special effects instead of fake ass CGI. This film contains some of the best special effects ever in any film, and still stands up being over twenty years old. This film and "The Fly" are my favorite horror films ever. Whats cool about this movie is that it's got it's intense freaky parts as well as being hysterical. When the main character calls his buddy Jack a "walking meatloaf" I laugh my ass off every time. And the mass hysteria and widespread panic that occurs in the end of the film is equally disturbing and funny. I think it is a send up of old slapstick humor actually. It's great when a horror movie can take itself seriously and not take itself seriously at the same time. John Landis is an amazing director who some how did something totally original with this classic retelling of the werewolf tale. It takes balls to walk that fine line between humor and horror, most of the time directors fail at achieving the middle ground between those two things. Buy this one you won't regret it!