Customer Reviews
Classic film- disapointing tranfer 
2008-01-25
There is no doubt that this dark comedy horror- is a genre classic. Award winning make up fx from Rick Baker and the usual fun direction from john Landis.
The film works on many levels and remains as one of my favourite movies ever, still fun after many viewings- and the 'english rose' Jenny Agutter is pleasing on the eye.
The one thing that lets this version down is the transfer to HD-DVD
taking into consideration the age of the film (1981 i believe- or there abouts) you'd expect grain- but with todays technology and other older transfers being incredible! This is a disapointing transfer and showed up very grainy on my 1080p tv- especially the moors sections which looked worse than my DVD version!?? (how they managed this i do not know)
Great film- dissapointing transfer- if got on dvd already- save your money- you'll be let down.
A Ground Breaking Classic 
2008-01-16
This movie coined the word Special FX, thanks to Oscar Winner Jim Baker, who also worked on the FX of Legend of GreyStroke, This movie is gory, funny, scary, mesmerizing, and did I say gory. John Landis the director, has yet to recapture the magic he created in this film.
Excellent werewolf film. 2007-12-29
John Landis directed this great comedy/horror film in 1981, the special fx were terrific especially that famous transformation scene which is considered to be one of the best special fx and make up scene ever made and the amazing thing is that it doesn't use any CGI just some old fashioned latex and all this was done by the brilliant Rick Baker the storyline was quite good too. David Kessler (David Naughton) and Jack (Griffin Dune) are hiking the welsh moors as a part of a vacation in England, stopping at a bar at night they are warned to stay inside the path ignoring the locals they head out anyway. Soon after they are attacked by a 'wild dog' Jack is killed and shredded while David was bitten and badly injured. While in the hospital he meets a nurse named Alex played by Jenny Agutter and they both develop a relationship but it all seems to late when the full moon starts rising. There is some excellent use of music in the film and some of it was quite good despite the character who looks like hes in terrible pain during the transformation scene and there were some nicely shot sequences where the lead character has some terrible nightmares some which were very creepy, the comedy scenes were absolutely hilarious "A naked American man stole my balloons" and they do work well along with the horror stuff so it becomes very entertaining, This movie is probably one of the major defining moments in the werewolf genre I highly recommend this excellent film to horror fans and two thumbs up.
I Will Not Be Threatened by a Walking Meatloaf! 2007-12-24
David Kessler and Jack Goodman are two Americans taking a break from school and family by taking a three month trek across the English countryside. Wet and hungry they venture into a small country village where they stop in at the Slaughtered Lamb hoping to eat and warm up. They come across some eccentric residents who are anything but warm and are encouraged to leave even though it's late and the full moon is out. Shortly after leaving they venture off the main road onto the moors where they are attacked by a creature of the night.
David (played by David Naughton) is the only one who survives the attack but he's having horribly gory dreams and his mutilated dead friend Jack (Griffin Dunne) keeps coming to him, in various degrees of decay, and telling him he should kill himself before the next full moon. One of the ways David remains sane is hooking up with his nurse, Alex Price (Jenny Agutter / Logun's Run).
An American Werewolf in London was written and directed by John Landis who also directed the movie Animal House and Michael Jackson's Thriller video. It was filmed entirely in Wales, London and Middlesex, England. This is one of the best horror movies of all time with incredibly detailed make-up effects by Rick Baker that still hold up for today's viewers. Baker set the standards for future monster movies.
I love the music too. It's addictive. Probably because there are only three songs throughout: Bad Moon Rising (Creedance Clearwater Revival), Moondance (Van Morrison) and three renditions of Blue Moon (Sam Cooke, The Marcels and Bobby Vinton).
This is one of my favorite all-time movies. There's comedy (a bit campy at times), there's blood and guts, there's wolf lore and there's a white guy running around in his birthday suit in the middle of the London. I've seen this film dozens of times and enjoy it every time. It's a must see film for horror buffs and werewolf fans. Reviewed by M. E. Wood.
A shade shy of perfection 2007-11-23
The nagging at home has gotten to me and I'm posting another review. Hopefully this will hold him off for a while (You know that I love you to death Mr. Bronson)
I loved this movie from the moment it started. Seeing me beautiful and peaceful scenery at the opening of the movie really got to me. I know that all these horrible events were about to take place and seeing the serenity that opened the movie created at "wow" factor for me. (As you've probably figured out by now, I'm really big on contrast in a movie.) The characters are "real" in the sense that you an feel for them and sense the agony and passion throughout the movie. I'll admit that I jumped twice in the movie. To me, this is an indiction of how into the movie I am. Yes it's a cheap scare but if I'm analyzing a movie going "this is wrong. that's wrong" then I'm not going to jump when whatever comes out of the closet.
My only complaint with this movie is the ending. I don't mind where it stops per say but it's more the instant jump to the credits with the happy and up beat music after something so sad just happened. (I refuse to put blatant spoilers in my reviews!) I'm all for contrast but (as stated above) but this just wasn't the place for it. Let me have my ending and digest it before forcing me to move onto a new emotion.
But ending on a positive note: Two thumbs up and a definate keeper for the collection.
Werewolf Genius 2008-07-02
An American Werewolf in London was one of the first Horror films I saw. I remember hiding in the back room at the age of 5 hoping my parents wouldn't notice what I was watching. I had many a sleepless night due to that film. And I guarantee you that I will never feel safe in a subway.
About the movie:
This is a classic in the werewolf genera, both humorous, frightening, and true to the tragic history of the wolfman. John Landis (of Animal House fame) directed this interesting piece starring David Naughton as David, Jenny Agutter as Nurse Price, and Griffin Dunne as Jack. This is the classic retelling of an old horror film modernized and updated in the special FX area. And while we are on that area can we say breakthrough special effects? These set the standard for monster films up until Jurassic Park showed us the power of CGI. I don't want to give the plot away even though it's a very standard werewolf plot.
There are of course some great scenes in this film, I love the Slaughtered Lamb, no one can watch this scene without feeling uncomfortable.
As far as character development goes, the characters are likeable, especially Jack, but don't develop very much into the movie.
The acting is better than most horror flix, though it won't win any awards, I can't complain that it detracted from the film at all.
The script is quick and well written, easy to follow and hard not to like.
By today's standards some of the creatures look a bit campy, specifically those in the dream sequences. But again there is nothing better than the scene where David turns into the werewolf. And I love the idea of a four legged werewolf. I always hated the idea of a werewolf being a hairy man on two legs.
The film on the DVD is exactly like the one that was out in theaters they claim it is redigitized but I never notice any difference in that.
[...]
The Making of video was mostly a repetition of what was said in the interviews and was again entirely too short.
The casting of the hand was interesting and gave a better perspective on the real personalities of David Naughton and John Landis. It was pretty funny too. I just wish they had added more info on how they used the cast after it was made.
The deleted scenes have no sound to them so it's hard to distinguish why they were included.
I'll admit that I haven't listened to the John Landis voice over yet... after seeing his interview I can't imagine it being more that a poorly written stand up routine. Once I watch it I'll add my opinion on that into this review.
There were pictures and storyboards that I haven't bothered to look at yet since the batteries in my remote died.
My final opinion is to get this movie for the film, not the extra's. They are far too short and insignificant in the whole scheme of what is on the DVD. I personally love the DVD but I won't bother with the extras again.
Throat-Ripping, Frightful Intensity 2008-05-04
Director John Landis steps away from directing hilarious comedies like Animal House to bring this frightful encounter. Two American travelers trek across the English mores, even though they were warned to be careful of the creatures of the night. As one of the travelers is bitten by some mysterious dog, he slowly comes to the realization that he has become a werewolf and must make the ultimate decision, whether or not to live or die, so he can save the people he loves.
The special effects in this film still stand the test of time, as no computer technology is used to digitally insert a life-like werewolf in the movie. In fact, the only time the werewolf is ever seen is for no more than 2 to 3 seconds, leaving it up to the imagination of the audience to decide how scary the werewolf may be. The make-up in this movie also stands out as the recently devoured victims remain among the living as they slowly deteriorate into the walking dead.
A first time experience for actors David Naughton and Griffin Dunne, both do an excellent job in conveying humor and frightful intensity throughout the film. Actress Jennifer Aguter also brings forth an amazing performance as the sensual love interest of the werewolf. If you ever feel the need to watch An American Werewolf in Paris, STOP! and go rent this one, the film is far superior and really lets your imagination run wild in no way that modern movies allow you to do anymore, plus it delivers both humor and fear in a throat-ripping blast of a movie.
An American Werewolf in London 
2008-02-26
Another cult film with Jenny Agutter. She nurses a guy turning into a werewolf. The movie parodies itself. Moon songs are played. The best is Bad Moon Rising by Creedence Clearwater Revival. John Fogerty of CCR wrote 20 rock classics including Proud Mary and Green River. The scene where David Naughton turns into a werewolf is disturbing. Jenny Agutter has had some weird love interest. In Walkabout, she is with an aborigine. In Logan's Run, it is a Sandman. In Othello, it is Shakespeare's black soldier. Here, it is a werewolf.
Classic 2008-01-28
I sneaked in to see this at the odeon, on my own, when I was 16, and when the howling on the moors scene came on, I wished I hadn't. By the time the tube station scene came, I wanted to go home. Most horror films NEVER live up to the blurb, but this is still truly a classic, ahead of its time all the way back then, and still good today. Recommended.
Baby Cromwell, Nottingham, England
A good werewolf movie 2008-01-26
A very good werewolf movie. But the special effects could have been better but it had a very good story line and there is some comdey in it as well.
