An American Werewolf In London

One year before John Landis made headlines with the 1982 Twilight Zone tragedy he offered this 1981 horror masterpiece. An American Werewolf in London easily takes the crown as being the most effective horror film ever made,and this was made way before the sometimes implausible CGI makeup effects became a film making standard today.Rick Baker dazzles us with his incredible tour de force as a makeup artist employing new techniques such as hydraulics that still dates very well,an art that unfortunately fell victim to the computer.Landis insinuated this was nothing more than a college level Porky's style film by it's theatrical teaser,as no clue was given even on the films poster this was a horror film.

 The movie opens with two American college students David Kessler played by wouldn't you like to be a Pepper too actor David Naughton who got his feet wet with the 1980's Dr. Pepper commercials,[it's implied but never divulged that David is of Jewish heritage,this comes into play during the demonic Nazi scene later in the film]and Griffin Dunne as Jack Goodman.As both are backpacking in the dark of the night through the English countryside they stumble opon a seedy English pub called the Slaughtered Lamb equipped with a pentagram used by the locals to ward off the evil spirit of a werewolf.  Both Jack and David are warned by the pub regulars about venturing out at night but neither take head and laugh it off .Landis now employs the classic CCR song Bad Moon rising that effectively sets the scene for what's coming.


Publicity still of Jenny Agutter as Nurse Alex Price

 As they audaciously leave the safety of the pub,both hear a wolf's howl in the distance that closes in with each step,David is then mauled by the beast,his intestines spewing out as he lay lifeless on the ground and awakens in a London hospital were he is under the care of Nurse Alex Price played by the lovely Jenny Agutter. Agutter,a remarkable actress never had any truly leading lady roles. David and Alex become romantically involved, David is convinced he was merely a victim of a wild dog attack as his listeners are incredulous to his Werewolf story.

The film is inundated with horrifying nightmare scenes,one where David is in the woods,stumbles upon a deer he then mames and devours,a scene that will most defiantly release some adrenaline.Another scene,David is watching cartoons when he is visited by a motley crew of demonic Nazis who proceed to cut his throat,though the makeup applications in this scene are very dated,it was enough to compel my brother to exit the theatre when I dared he and friend Joe to sit through this,lol.

Frank Oz of Muppet fame,who also voiced Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back makes a small appearance as Mr. Collins. The climax of the film keeps building as David is visited by the apperition Jack he had mauled earlier who is merely a rotting corps complete with hanging flesh,a horrifying but hilarious scene done in Landis style comedy,David then takes to the streets mauling Londoners primarily in The Piccadilly Circus division decapitating one bystander,then meets his demise by the MET [London Police Service] where he is brought down,and transforms to back to human. SO,how effective are the scares?,well,today's audience who consider the insipid Saw series,and the just plain sick Hostel 1 and 2 may be disappointed,to me,these two lame offerings are not true horror. I remember I was scared through the next day,were even my dog was an object of fear,lol.

The transformation scene by the great Rick Baker,and truely more advanced makeup then The Howling and Wolfen.In order to evoke growing hair,Baker pulled it through the skin of the application,and reversed the film,an ingenious idea long before CGI.

I would love to see this released as a Criterion DVD,with extras not shown on the standard version.So here's my take,the most horrifing film ever made hands down.
Cheers,
Paul Davison