Movie review: An American Werewolf In London (1981)

Movie review: An American Werewolf In London (1981)

An American Werewolf In London– John Landis didn’t direct many films. However, the films that Landis did direct (minus a few missteps here and there) are classic. From Blues Brothers to Animal House, there’s no doubt that Landis can handle humor. But when you mix humor with gruesome spurts of horror and violence – you have a heck of a combination. Lucky for Landis, the quirky combination of horror and light hearted humor paid off and made for a thrill ride of a film.

The Curse of the Werewolf – The Plot of An American Werewolf in London

Two friends from the United States touring Britain wander into the wrong part of the country and find themselves alone on the moors and off the road – a predicament a group of strange townies warned the Americans about. It’s then that the two are attacked by a strange animal, killing one friend and injuring the other. After awaking from the hospital the surviving friend finds himself struck with strange dreams and hallucinations of his dead friend who warns him of his curse – the curse of the werewolf.

I See the Bad Moon Arising – Thoughts and Feelings on An American Werewolf in London

For a film from 1981, An American Werewolf in London holds up pretty well. The film doesn’t feel too dated and it’s fairly easy to sit through without any puzzled looks. The humor doesn’t miss any beats and remains tongue-in-cheek throughout the entirety of the film.

The acting is good for the most part. Despite some shaky moments here and there, the cast does a good job emoting and conveying each scene in a professional and tactful manner. Each character separates from one another through distinctive personalities and likability.

The make up in the film is fantastic and proves to be a true testament to the glory days of film making where CGI was a meaningless acronym. The music proves to be an amazing contrast to the violent imagery and is one of the highlights of the films. Another highlight is the sporadic and twisted dream sequences which, although a bit repetitive, are fiendishly comical and creepy.

Summing Up An American Werewolf in London

What is there to say about this film? It’s funny, entertaining, creepy and a bit of a roller coaster ride. The makeup effects are stellar, the acting is decent, the dialogue is witty and music compliments the dark humor of the film. An American Werewolf in London is a cult classic for a reason and is a fun flick to pop in when you’re in the mood for a horror movie.