{"id":70733,"date":"2021-03-21T09:38:42","date_gmt":"2021-03-21T16:38:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=70733"},"modified":"2021-03-27T00:12:15","modified_gmt":"2021-03-27T07:12:15","slug":"american-werewolf-in-london-an-1981","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=70733","title":{"rendered":"American Werewolf in London, An (1981)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Stay on the road; keep clear of the moors.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-in-London-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-in-London-Poster-189x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"189\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-70734\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-in-London-Poster-189x300.png 189w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-in-London-Poster-645x1024.png 645w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-in-London-Poster-81x128.png 81w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-in-London-Poster-170x270.png 170w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-in-London-Poster.png 723w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 189px) 100vw, 189px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen his friend (Griffin Dunne) is killed on the moors of England, a man (David Naughton) who&#8217;s been severely mauled by the same attacker ends up in a London hospital, where he&#8217;s cared for by a pretty nurse (Jenny Agutter) and a doctor (John Woodvine) who tries to investigate what might have happened &#8212; especially as Naughton has a series of intense dreams and hallucinations warning him he will turn into a werewolf during the next full moon unless he kills himself.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Horror Films<\/li>\n<li>Jenny Agutter Films<\/li>\n<li>John Landis Films<\/li>\n<li>Werewolves<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary\u2019s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary writes that this &#8220;pet project of director John Landis&#8230; may be the most successful attempt to mix horror and comedy there has been,&#8221; given that &#8220;you&#8217;ll laugh even when you feel jittery&#8221;. He notes that &#8220;the young actors are appealing and energetic,&#8221; the &#8220;supporting players &#8212; many from the Royal Shakespeare Company &#8212; give the production class,&#8221; and &#8220;the settings are particularly well chosen for atmosphere and visual interest.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Setting-Walk.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Setting-Walk-1024x555.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"347\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-70741\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Setting-Walk-1024x555.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Setting-Walk-300x163.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Setting-Walk-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Setting-Walk-768x416.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Setting-Walk-1536x832.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Setting-Walk-498x270.png 498w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Setting-Walk.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In addition, he points out that &#8220;the music&#8230; is a lot of fun&#8221; and that &#8220;Rick Baker won a deserved Oscar for his corpse-ghost and werewolf makeup and his stunning work on Naughton&#8217;s transformation from man into beast.&#8221; Peary concedes that &#8220;the last couple of scenes, taking place in Picadilly Circus, seem ill advised&#8221; but &#8220;otherwise the picture is truly enjoyable and original.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;m not as big a fan of this film as Peary and many others (it&#8217;s a cult favorite, discussed in Peary&#8217;s <em>Cult Movies 3<\/em>) seem to be. The mix of horror and comedy feels incomplete and often sophomoric; for instance, the scene in which Naughton &#8220;steals&#8221; a cluster of balloons from a startled young boy at the zoo to cover up his nudity is simply icky. Meanwhile, I would strongly prefer more of Elmer Bernstein&#8217;s moody score in favor of the pop hits Landis chose to sprinkle throughout key scenes. Agutter is appealing as Naughton&#8217;s love interest, and Baker&#8217;s transformation effects are truly outstanding &#8212; but this one will primarily appeal to fans of werewolf flicks or Landis&#8217;s comedic brand.  <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Jenny Agutter as Alex Price<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Agutter.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Agutter-1024x555.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"347\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-70736\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Agutter-1024x555.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Agutter-300x163.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Agutter-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Agutter-768x416.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Agutter-1536x832.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Agutter-498x270.png 498w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Agutter.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Rick Baker&#8217;s special effects<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Effects.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Effects-1024x555.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"347\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-70737\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Effects-1024x555.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Effects-300x163.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Effects-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Effects-768x416.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Effects-1536x832.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Effects-498x270.png 498w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Effects.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Effects2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Effects2-1024x555.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"347\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-70738\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Effects2-1024x555.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Effects2-300x163.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Effects2-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Effects2-768x416.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Effects2-1536x832.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Effects2-498x270.png 498w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Effects2.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Effects3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Effects3-1024x555.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"347\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-70739\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Effects3-1024x555.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Effects3-300x163.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Effects3-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Effects3-768x416.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Effects3-1536x832.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Effects3-498x270.png 498w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-Effects3.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Good use of London locales<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-London.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-London-1024x555.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"347\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-70735\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-London-1024x555.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-London-300x163.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-London-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-London-768x416.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-London-1536x832.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-London-498x270.png 498w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/American-Werewolf-London.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, once, for the special effects and as a cult favorite. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cult Movie<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> (<span style=\"color:red;font-weight:bold;\">Listed in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-static\/1001Movies.htm\"><em>1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die<\/em><\/a><\/span>) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0082010\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.moriareviews.com\/horror\/american-werewolf-in-london-1981.htm\">Moria Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Stay on the road; keep clear of the moors.&#8221; Synopsis: When his friend (Griffin Dunne) is killed on the moors of England, a man (David Naughton) who&#8217;s been severely mauled by the same attacker ends up in a London hospital, where he&#8217;s cared for by a pretty nurse (Jenny Agutter) and a doctor (John Woodvine) who tries to investigate what might have happened &#8212; especially as Naughton has a series of intense dreams and hallucinations warning him he will turn&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=70733\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-70733","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70733","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=70733"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70733\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":70857,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70733\/revisions\/70857"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=70733"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=70733"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=70733"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}