ManiakJiggy This is How Movies Should Be Made

ChanBot i must have seen a different film!!

Kailansorac Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

SanEat A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

Jerewolf_Horrorhound For me, what drives this movie and makes it so strong is the use of practical effects. They do such a fantastic job of bring this werewolf to life right before our very eyes.

Parker Lewis One of John Landis's best, this movie stays with you over the years, and the special effects aren't at all dated nearly 40 years on. Jenny Agutter really steams the bathroom screen in the obligatory sex scene, and one can only wish the scene lasted longer.The London tube scenes are effective, and really make you think twice about being in the tube all alone just in case.

Wuchak 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

skybrick736 American Werewolf in London, undeniably the most highly praised werewolf film but is it really all that the film is cracked up to be? The film starts off really rough with atrocious dialogue between the two lead actors. It's a painful beginning ten minutes as the writing eventually gets better as more characters are introduced. David Naughton overacts a bit too much but otherwise he did a solid job in his lead role and has a good look for it. Jenny Agutter was the real star of the film, having great screen presence and bringing an authenticity to her role. Other attributes that the film did rather well was great dream sequences that were actually frightening. There are a lot of horror films that try to pull of scary dream sequences but American Werewolf definitely did it right. Also, of course, the transformation scene is top notch with perfect background music and interesting filming techniques on Naughton's arms, legs and exterminates. The werewolf's completed state is pretty believable too. There is a great ending too, albeit a tad ridiculous but there is no shown remorse to the Londoners and the city landscape was shot really well. John Landis's American Werewolf in London starts off really poor but quickly redeems itself into being a great horror film.