An American Werewolf in London (1981): ***

David Kessler (David Naughton) and Jack Goodman (Griffin Dunne) are two Americans starting their European trip in Yorkshire, England. After an uncomfortable encounter in a village pub, David and Jack mistakenly wander onto the moors during a full moon. They are attacked by a werewolf, which mauls Jack to death and injuries David. David is taken to a hospital all the way back to London - presumably because An American Werewolf in York doesn’t quite have the same ring to it - where he is plagued by nightmares. In a reoccurring vision, Jack warns David that he will turn into a werewolf during the next full moon. 

Undoubtedly the real stars of An American Werewolf in London are the make-up and special effects by Rick Baker. The long laborious transformation scene is still astonishing to watch today, as David’s hands, feet and body are painfully elongated (with the help of prosthetics) and sprout copious amounts of hair. Equally as impressive is the undead Jack’s make-up and the subsequent decaying progress it goes through. Jack’s throat is torn open, with tendons exposed and chunks of skin flapping about as he jokes about his state. As we get further into the film Jack putrefies, turning green and black, until he becomes skeletal with grinning exposed teeth. The werewolf itself is perhaps less convincing today, but wisely the audience only get brief glimpses of it before the camera cuts quickly away. 

An American Werewolf in London bills itself as a horror-comedy; consequently it experiences similar problems that most self-billed horror-comedies have. That is not to say that the film is not amusing, but the horror scenes are so much more effective – especially the Piccadilly Circus scene - compared to the comedic moments, that the comedy seems clumsily inserted. The character Nurse Alex Price (Jenny Agutter) is also awkwardly fitted into the film as the obligatory love interest to David. An American Werewolf in London seems to set up a potential climax involving Alex and David, before foregoing it for a more abrupt ending. Apart from Kessler and Goodman, the characters are not well developed and essentially their character trait is their career. The patrons of ‘The Slaughtered Lamb’ pub speak cryptically in dodgy northern accents, warning our plucky American travellers to ‘Beware the moon’.  

David Naughton is well casted as the fresh-faced David Kessler, who is plagued with guilt for surviving and questions his sanity over the supernatural events that occur. Jenny Agutter plays Alex Price with warmth, though she is relegated to playing the love caregiver. Naughton and Agutter’s onscreen chemistry is a bit lacking, it is easier to believe they are good friends rather than lovers. Griffin Dunne has the most fun role as Jack Goodman, the smart-mouth college boy turned flippant harbinger of doom. John Woodvine also does a good job as Dr Hirsch, who turns novice detective and uses steely gazes to find out what happened to Kessler. 

An American Werewolf in London is an essential case study for those interested in practical monster effects. More horrific than funny, the acting is good for the most part considering the weaknesses of the characterisation.