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An American Werewolf in London

An American Werewolf in London

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Best Werewolf Move Ever!!!
Review: Forget the fact that this movie has the best make-up effects for a werewolf.....the script and direction of the flim is superiour! This flim is highly under rated and most of all the funniest werewolf movie of them. It's like a better version of the old Universal flick from the old school. Landis knew what he was doing with this movie in terms of humor and pure horror ( Sam R. was the only other director to blend these factors together perfectly in his film "Evil Dead 2:Dead By Dawn"). David Naughton made the best portale of the man to be the wolf at midnight with good dramtic skills in scenes of shock and denile. Look for even other great traits such as the character David's Friend, Jack and his decomposing apearence and look for the movie's soundtrack and how all the songs are about moons. Thank you.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: An American Werewolf In London
Review: Kind of CAMPY at times but I enjoyed it enough to buy it.Good cast /Great special effects.For the horror movie buff- A must see.Enjoy Lisa C.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Fady Ghaly's reviews
Review: An American Werewolf in London is a rare combination of true terror and great humor, but, as writer/director John Landis himself has said, it is not a comedy, for many presumed and still presume as it being one-a comedy-horror that is to say. It at times is a very funny movie-true, but it is not a comedy. It is rather a very saddening story when you really think about it. I mean, both primary characters end up dead for Christ sake, one leaving the love of his life in great grief. What's so amusing about that?

An American Werewolf in London is not only my favorite werewolf film with a great soundtrack (as one to play three different versions of one of the most popular oldies song ever, "Blue Moon", how could it not be?), but was also one to open up new doors for such horror films that center upon these hair-raising themes. Before it, there was no such a thing as a four-legged beast that was seen crouched and using all four legs when in pursue of its victims, neither was there such a thing as a film that was this imaginative and this realistic when it came to the transformation of a character turning from an average-looking man to such a vicious and grisly creature that prowls the night for "fresh meat" whenever the moon rises high in full form and sheds its light upon those who might possibly take pleasure of seeing it for the very last time. As makeup artist Rick Baker has said in an interview which you'll find on the Special Edition DVD (don't bother with the old one), it's nothing like Lawrence Talbot in The Wolf man, where they sit him in a chair and do lap dissolves, do a little bit more makeup and shoot some film, and do a little bit more and overlap the two. Landis told Baker that he wanted a dramatic piece that was never done before, and that's exactly what he got; the results were astonishing in its days. With plenty of cuts, close-ups of different parts of the body, and harsh bright florescent lights, there was no way to be tricked, as it all happened on camera. Here, you see it all. You see the hands as they transformed into paws, the changing of the skull, the spine arch, the rapid growing of the hair which ultimately covered the entire body. And what more, what is even more realistic is that, as all this happens to the very unfortunate character which David Naughton portrayed, to his horror, it turns out to be a very painful experience, and, when you think about it, why shouldn't it be? If you were to actually undergo through such a harrowing experience, if your body was to actually alter into the form of a wild mammal's, just imagine how painful that would be...and Naughton perfectly shows that; he makes you feel his physical agony. It's brilliant; a perfect depiction that, in my opinion, has never been done better in any other film that followed.

John Landis was first inspired to create An American Werewolf in London back in the year of 1969, when he was a production assistant in Yugoslavia on the set of Kelly's Heroes. "We were driving on this long road," recalls Landis. "The traffic had stopped because this group of peasants and priests were burying a body in the middle of the crossroads. It was a criminal, and they were burying him there so he wouldn't come back to cause trouble. This was 1969, man was on the moon, and these people really believed in the supernatural. That gave me the idea-to take the supernatural and place it in a contemporary setting." It was then that he wrote the script in hopes of making the film, and though it was never green-lighted at the time because the studios couldn't figure out how a horror could be both scary and humorous, in 1980, after his success with National Lampoon's Animal House and The Blues Brothers, it finally was, and audiences were amazed with this man's and the rest of the crew's abilities, whose talents winded up creating what has now become the most momentous modern werewolf horror film ever!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Fun Horror
Review: An American Werewolf in London stands the test of time for fun and scares. While some of the pioneering make-up effects look great, others are downright hokey. Watch the special features for great behind-the-scenes information on creating the effects.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: American Werewolf in London: a 'bloody' comedy
Review: Director John Landis (BLUES BROTHERS, BEVERLY HILLS COP III) has a different view as to what a Werewolf should be. His lycanthrope stalks his prey crouched on all fours as opposed to the fuzzy face men of the past. It attacks without any hesitation and fills the crime scene with blood, guts and gore. And he attacks to the strains of "Creedance Clearwater Revival". This, and some great dark comedy is what make this horror film stand out. Additionally, it has what was once the most amazing use of make-up. This film propelled the man to wolf 'transformation' into our movie-going psyche.

Today, this film would obviously look different, as the effects technology has grown. But, its mix of comedy and horror has not changed since this film; in fact it has far from improved since this great film. David Naughton (The DR PEPPER guy) does well as the young fellah cursed with an overactive case of the late night munchies. He is practically overshadowed by Griffin Dunne (AFTER HOURS) as his young buddy with the greatest attitude toward his own graphically disfigured body. Sometimes the gore and the comedy go a bit extreme and scenes where ... zombies take over a homestead in an unrelated nightmare just seems excessive. But, this film influenced the creation of the now common horror comedy.

The DVD has a fair video transfer, sometimes marred in grainy darks. It has a great DTS sound transfer. It also includes a fun audio commentary by its 2 stars but offer very little interesting information; in fact they get caught up in the film and don't say anything for long stretches. There's also an 18-minute interview with Landis that offers some new insight. (Watch for Landis as a stuntman in Piccadilly Circus). There's also an interview with Oscar winning make-up guru Rick Baker (PLANET OF THE APES, KING KONG) and video diary of some of his work. Finally, there are some deleted scenes (one of which leans toward an "X" rating).

Enjoy the AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON. Incidentally, due to potential conflicts, they almost filmed this in France. The title was then going to be AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN PARIS. Of course, they cleared all that up and left that title for the inevitable ridiculous sequel several years later.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The only Werewolf movie!
Review: 1st let me say...this movie has the best trasphormation ever in a werewolf movie. The effects even hold up today. Baker won the Oscar he diservered.

If you like comedy with your horror this movie is a great choice. It mixes good gore (not to scary) with laugh out loud comedy.

The story line is great but if you like your horror movies with more chills get the Howling if you like "cool" fun horror movies get this.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A definitely must have!A Horror Classsic Indeed.
Review: This movie is such a great horror classic!The first I saw it was when I was like 10 yrs old.I was so frightened by this movie that I couldn't even watch some scenes comepletly through without closing my eyes!I couldn't believe what I was watching on screen.The werewolf looked, and sounded so creepy!Especially the beginning of the movie where they get attacked on the moors.It was so freaky because you couldn't see the creature that was coming after them!The make-up was another thing that made this flick so awesome!It was the first time anybody ever tried that kind of effects before and they succeeded to the fullest!Rick Baker is the man on this film and so is John Landis on his direction and writing on his film....The Dvd is really great too.I just recently bought it, and really enjoyed it!Except they didn't put any trailers or spots in he Dvd and I don't know why they didn't!Usually they offer that feature in the Dvd special edition.Oh Well,It's still a awesome horror movie at it's best!The featurette is a little short, I thought and the commentary is kinda of interesting to hear from the main charactors in the movie since you have never heard them talk about their movie before!This is a must have movie for horror buffs!I give it 4 stars!It would of been 5,but the Dvd lacks some stuff.Still check this one out for yourself!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The best werewold movie ever.
Review: This movie has a few things going for it...the transphermation, the witty dialouge, humor, and the acting. All of these have to be seen.

You've probably already heard about the mophing in this movie...trust me its the best.

The only WARINING I have is..if you don't like humor with your horror...then stay clear of this and see the Howling witch is scarier.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: AWESOME WEREWOLF FLICK!!!!!
Review: I remember seeing this at a neighbor's house when I was only 5 in 1981. Darn, it's been that long? I remember how much I loved every second of it. It may be dated given the werewolf segments seemed too short and unconvincing, but why AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON works so well is 1) Rick Baker's as always spectacular make-up, 2) John Landis' direction, 3) great supporting cast, I personally loved John Woodvine as the good doctor, and Paul Kember as the clumsy police sergeant, 4) the soundtrack, 5) the locale makes the film properly eerie, especially the beginning as "Blue Moon" is heard, and 6) the entire transformation effects given this was some years before Computer Graphics Technology came along. Had this film been made now with that technology anyway it would not have been so great. This film doesn't need any special effects to make it so great.
The entire film may seem somewhat formulaic and short, but it all works so well you simply take it for granted.

David Naughton's werewolf as originally intended from Rick Baker was to be a biped similar to the Lon Chaney, Jr. werewolf, but director Landis proposed a sort of demon hound from Hell look would be much more frightening. He was right. Everytime I watch the transformation scenes, and the scenes were the werewolf is running amok in Piccadilly Square, it all looks so convincing. Even by today's standards.

DVD includes great special features such as a "Making of Featurette", which is disappointly short, interviews with John Landis and Rick Baker, and behind the scenes segments. The commentary by David Naughton and Griffin Dunne isn't all that great though.

All in all great addition to your horror film collection. (if you're feeling a little nostalgic anyway) Oh yes, loved the lovemaking scenes :)

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: We'll have fun, fun, fun til Daddy takes the werewolf away
Review: In just one hour and thirty-five minutes one can be transfixed into such a state of movie bliss that the possibilities of any other earthly delight becomes squashed like a lima bean, becomes swatted like a lowly, little fly. Yes, movie heaven has reached a platform quite unlike anything before or since with the outstandingly gory release of "An American Werewolf in London" on DVD. Yes, we have reached our zenith, we have made lift off, we will not explode in the sky on some strange, Februaric morning. The closing of our caskets could never eclipse this movie, art to its height, art for art's sake, Paterian philosophising, even, yes indeed, overt, disgusting pontificating to a degree that can only be described as foul. Eureka! I have found it! Help me God! I have sinned and the pound of flesh will be repeat viewings of this cinematic masterpiece. Hail! Hail! John Landis, my earthly King. Hail! And let bygones be sitting in the back seats of our El Caminos, endlessly swerving into mini-marts and "gas and sips" across the USA.


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