Watching An American Werewolf In London, has the best use of practical effects and is the definitive werewolf film (fight me). The balancing of horror vs humor is handled expertly, Landis nailed this by making the characters relatable and tossing them into a horror joint. (Thread

Why I’ve watched An American Werewolf In London 895 times:
1. Crazy transformation screen, got Baker an award.
2. Jack’s continued deterioration is some scary shit.
3. David and Jack’s attack still fucks me up.
4. Script wasn’t the best but dialogue was .

Starts with Blue Moon by The Marcels, incidentally, all of the OST is made up of “moon” related songs. All the songs fit and don’t feel forced, the film score also has some moments. I’m pretty sure the composer for Conan the Barbarian took some liberties with this OST.

“Goodbye girls!”

Why is there’s a wolf’s head on this jawn and it’s called the slaughtered lamb?

Every bar in England has this on the wall, why? #AAWIL

Stay on the road, keep clear of the moors. Beware the moon. Got it.

The moment you walk off the road. #AAWIL

TFW you realize you’re on the moors and the moon is out. #AAWIL

I love this shot. The werewolf is surrounding them and is right in front of David and Jack, the actors look dead-on at the camera.

#AAWIL

David’s fall breaks the tension from the werewolf chasing them, the audience feels safe for a moment. Then bam, you get werewolf all over you.

Next time I would beware the moon, stay on the road, and stay off the moors.

#AAWIL

Dunnes’ done, man.

#AAWIL

This nurse will look at your junk when you are recovering. British health plans were crazy in ‘81.

Aaaaaand here’s Frank Oz as the most starved for attention human in ‘81. David just wakes up from being in a coma for three weeks and sees this:

DEAR GOD KILL ME

Here we find out Jack is dead and that David’s been out for three weeks. Doctor says he was attacked by a man and not a wolf.

This guy is the worst, it’s like if Mr. Bean was an inspector for Scotland Yard. Lmao his tie game is phenomenal.

David’s vivid nightmares begin, they all revolve around him in the forest. As his transformation progresses his nightmares get worse. It’s as if the werewolf psyche gets embedded and then the physical begins on the full moon. #AAWIL

Another dream sequence, this one is where David is looking at himself or his werewolf persona and sees his transformation beginning.

They filmed this portion of the Muppet Show for this film!

In this dream sequence, David is at home with his family and they are viciously attacked by monster nazis.

Jack comes back and tells David about his own funeral. He came to warn him about the werewolf attack and how David is going to change. He appears as he did when he died. The make-up is insane on this, the neck flapping always gets me.

Here’s some BTS pics of Griffin Dunne and Rick Baker.

Also shout out to character actress Jenny Agutter.

Cue Van Morrison’s Moondance for sex scene.

This is Jack’s second visit, he’s now been buried so his body has started to decompose badly. What’s scary is that Jack is still himself but just dead and rotting. Jack warns David the full moon is the next day, he tells him he has to commit suicide.

Doctor Hirsch traveling to the Slaughtered Lamb trying time figure out WTF is going on. Chill is on 110%.

“Thanks a lot, dog!”

Cue Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Bad Moon Rising. #AAWIL

Time. To. Rock. Rick. Baker. Fuck. Me. Up.

Here’s behind the scenes shots:

Behind the scenes of An American Werewolf In London.

Landis took the Jaws approach to the werewolf, show less of it to make it scarier. We also get a shot from the werewolf’s point of view.

First victims are a couple going to meet their friend’s flat for dinner, the wife sees the attack from the window but thinks it’s pranksters so the husband goes to check it out.

Body count: 3

Second victims were the three tramps that were huddling around the fire. Dog warned them and they didn’t listen, I like to think the dog made it out alive.

Body count: 3
Total body count: 6

Third victim: business guy in the London Underground. Tension builds by not showing the werewolf and letting the victim panic, eventually it switches to the werewolf’s POV.

Yeah, he woke up at the zoo NBD.

David realizes he’s totally fucked.

David is realizing that he doesn’t have many options at this point so he calls home to say goodbye but nobody is home except for his little sister. It’s a hard goodbye and he delivers it to a ten and a half year old. #AnAmericanWerewolfInLondon

David pulls out a Swiss Army knife and attempts to kill himself but can’t do it. #AAWIL

Oh hell ya, my dead buddy just showed up again and he’s outside a porno theater? #AAWIL

At this point, Jack looks like the Crypt Keeper. In this creepy scene, Jack introduces David to all of his victims from the night before. The couple are my favorites as they are still happy even being dead. #AAWIL

The dead people then start going through the different ways David can kill himself. Good times.

David transforms again and takes out the usher of the theater, cops show up and things escalate quickly. We get a quick full on shot of the werewolf.

Pandemonium breaks out as David escapes the theater, he immediately kills the chief inspector that was assigned to his case. Piccadilly Circus turns into a nightmare as all the vehicles start colliding because people are running into the street. Great editing adds to the panic.

For the scenes with the werewolf running around in the street, the effects team used a wheel barrow race concept where someone was in the suit working the arms and someone else was behind them pushing. Here’s an example for just a head shot they used a wheelchair. #AAWIL

David is cornered in an alley and the cops are ready to shoot him, Alex breaks through the sea of people to get to David. She pleads with him and tells him she loves him but he lunges at her, he’s shot and transforms back. Cue up Blue Moon. #AAWIL

An American Werewolf In London’s editing when showing the werewolf was done really well, quick shots of the werewolf leaves a longer lasting impression if done right. I didn’t time it but I’m pretty sure monster gets less than a minute of screen time but it’s still effective.

Here’s a behind the scenes clip with John Landis and Rick Baker discussing the werewolf design in An American Werewolf In London. #AAWIL

Here’s a few more behind the scenes shots, nothing rare but a few cool ones. The transformation scene is what made An American Werewolf In London stand out and still a masterclass in practical effects and make-up. #AAWIL

This is a pic of Rick Baker winning an Academy Award for An American Werewolf In London. LEGEND.

Landis has said that he had a great idea for a sequel in which Debbie Klein (Jack’s girl he had been pining for since high school) moves to London for work and starts investigating the death of her friends. It turned out David wrote her a letter before he went into the theater..

He also alluded to Alex actually being the werewolf that bit David originally so the bloodline wasn’t killed. Also she’s knocked up with David’s baby.

Alt poster art for An American Werewolf In London:
1. Artist @ollymoss
2. Artist @mattryantobin
3. IG: @kentaylorart
4. Artist @VanceKelly

Thanks to Gary Pullin @GhoulishGary for the heads up!

#AAWIL