Classic horror from director John Landis.
Werewolves form an important part of horror cinema, acting as one of the most intriguing and bloody subjects. Lycanthropy is filled with beastly gore, uncontrollable urges, and blood lust, making it a brilliant topic for the big screen. Landis' film An American Werewolf In London is a truly brilliant, classic horror film that has stood the test of time.
Two American tourists are travelling through England before they go south into Europe, and towards Rome. When they come across a wonderfully named pub, The Slaughtered Lamb, David and Jack are met with a stony local inhabitants, who seem awfully wary of outsiders. The pair are soon sent off into the night, with only some advice to keep them company, "Beware the moon". And beware the moon indeed, because soon enough, a vicious animal attacks the two, killing Jack and injuring David. Three weeks later David awakens in a hospital in London, with scars on his body. The police are saying that an escaped lunatic actually attacked them, but David's memory is clear. Soon, the young yank starts having nightmares about running through the jungle naked, and seeing his family murdered by monsters. His doctor worries for his mental health, while his nurse falls madly in love with him.
To make matters worse, David starts seeing his dead friend Jack walking the earth, claiming to be the undead. Jack warns David that he is now a werewolf, and must kill himself in order to save others, and release Jack from the curse.
A brilliant horror film, that combines both scary moments with comedic scenes. The storyline, while quite typical, is a great foundation to the film, simple but effective. The characters and vivid, memorable, and believable, and the gore is still impressive, even today. Some of the stunts are elaborate and extensive, making for an entertaining watch.
Musically, this film is awesome. It some specific, moon-oriented classics, like Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Bad Moon Rising", and places them in juxtaposing moments in the story, creating a hilarious moment of horror.
Performances are good, although seem slightly dated. David Naughton is very good as the leading role, creating a character that is funny, charming, and pitiful at the same time.
Landis has created a film that has inspired generations of horror filmmakers, and will continue to remain as a treasured classic amongst film lovers.
No comments:
Post a Comment