An American Werewolf in London (1981)
Average Rating: 7.6/10
Reviews Counted: 44
Fresh: 39 | Rotten: 5
Terrifying and funny in almost equal measure, John Landis' horror-comedy crosses genres while introducing Rick Baker's astounding make-up effects.
Average Rating: 5.5/10
Critic Reviews: 6
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 3
Terrifying and funny in almost equal measure, John Landis' horror-comedy crosses genres while introducing Rick Baker's astounding make-up effects.
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Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 107,417
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Movie Info
While wandering the English moors on vacation, college yanks David (David Naughton) and Jack (Griffin Dunne) happen upon a quaint pub with a mysterious patronage who warn them not to leave the road when walking after dark. Irreverent of such advice as characters in horror films always are, the two decide to find a short cut....David wakes up in the hospital with a nasty bite wound to his shoulder; the freshly deceased, and rapidly decomposing, Jack arrives soon after to deliver the grim news
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Cast
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David Naughton
David Kessler -
Jenny Agutter
Alex Price -
Griffin Dunne
Jack Goodman -
John Woodvine
Dr. Hirsch -
Brian Glover
Chess player -
David Schofield
Darts Player -
Lila Kaye
Barmaid -
Paul Kernber
Sgt. McManus -
Don McKillop
Inspector Villiers -
Frank Oz
Mr. Collins -
Joe Belcher
Truck Driver -
Sydney Bromley
Alf -
Michael Carter
Gerald Bringsley -
Christine Hargreaves
Ticket Lady -
Paula Jacobs
Mrs. Kessler -
Rik Mayall
Chess Player -
Albert Moses
Hospital Porter -
Paddy Ryan
Werewolf -
Frank Singuineau
Ted -
Gordon Sterne
Mr. Kessler -
Mark Fisher
Max Kessler -
Linzi Drew
Brenda Bristols -
Roger Rowland
Police -
John Salthouse
Bobby at Cinema -
Alan Ford
Taxi Driver -
George Hilsdon
Newsvendor -
Elizabeth Bradley
Woman in Zoo
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All Critics (44) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (47) | Rotten (5) | DVD (34)
Not just gory but actually frightening, not just funny but clever, 'American Werewolf...' has its flaws, but these are outweighed by the film's many, mighty strengths.
Top CriticA clever mixture of comedy and horror which succeeds in being both funny and scary, An American Werewolf in London possesses an overriding eagerness to please that prevents it from becoming off-putting.
It's a failure, less because the odd stylistic mix doesn't take (it does from time to time, and to striking effect) than because Landis hasn't bothered to put his story into any kind of satisfying shape.
Landis leans too heavily on the shock effects provided by Rick Baker's lycanthropic transformation make-up.
Seems curiously unfinished, as if director John Landis spent all his energy on spectacular set pieces and then didn't want to bother with things like transitions, character development, or an ending.
Considering its often campy competition, it's hard to argue that, if your in the mood for lycanthropy, London is the place to go.
One of the few horror films that explore the psychological effects of lycanthropy alongside the physical and the fallout...
The best movie ever written by a teenager - Landis was 19 when he penned the first draft - and a constant comic delight.
But in a "comedy horror" picture, the "horror" bits aren't supposed to be this scary. He would have been better off dispensing with the comedy altogether.
Scary-funny is an acquired taste. For me, it tends to be a recipe in which you can't taste either of the constituent ingredients. The big man-to-wolf transformation scene is still a marvel.
The metamorphoses into the werewolf scenes are spectacular and the beast's rampage through Piccadilly Circus is marvellous. Splendid gory fun.
Still scary, violent and very, very funny.
Some of the special effects are a little creaky now, but the snap of Landis's editing and the razor's-edge balance of horror and comedy are still fresh.
An American Werewolf in London, like a fine wine, just keeps getting more and more vintage.
Undeniably delivers a good share of scares and dark laughs. And for all its lack of discipline, it's a model of directorial clarity when compared with Landis's subsequent work, which inexorably descended into indulgence and foolishness.
Carnivorous lunar activities rarely come any more entertaining than this.
One of the all-time great horror movies, a pitch-perfect mix of belly laughs and genuine scares.
Director John Landis brings humor to this offbeat reworking of the familiar tale for which Rick Baker received a well deserved Oscar for his makeup (in the first year of that category).
You've got to give John Landis credit for taking the well-worn werewolf tale and injecting it with new life, so to speak.
...creepy good fun, and in high definition on an HD-DVD Combo disc, you can have your blood and drink it, too. (HD-DVD Edition)
Audience Reviews for An American Werewolf in London
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
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- David Kessler: I'm a werewolf.
- Alex Price: Are you alright?
- David Kessler: I don't know, I'll let you know the next full moon.
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- David Kessler: Queen Elizabeth is a man! Prince Charles is a faggot! Winston Churchill was full of shit! Shakespeare was French! Fuck! Shit! Cunt!
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- David Kessler: Be rational, sure...I'm a fucking werewolf for Christs Sake!
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- David Kessler: Look at me, sitting in a porno theather in Piccadilly Circus talking to a Corpse!
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- Jack Goodman: [as nurse goes Jack appears] Can I have a piece of that?
- David Kessler: Get the fuck out of here Jack!
- Jack Goodman: Thanks a lot David!
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- Barmaid: (after hearing a wolf's howl) - Listen. Do you hear it? We must go to them.
- Chess player: (pretending he heard nothing) - I heard nothing.
- Darts Player: (puts his head down in shame) - Nor I.
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Latest News on An American Werewolf in London
July 22, 2011:
Effects Legend Rick Baker Says Creating Monsters is a Labor of LoveLegendary makeup-effects artist Rick Baker kept an audience at Comic-Con International mesmerized...
August 6, 2010:
Weekly Ketchup: A Justin Bieber Biopic... WTF?This week's Ketchup includes news of two new CGI- animated movies based on classic children's book...
August 5, 2010:
American Werewolf Remake Howls At DimensionDimension Films is developing a remake of John Landis' "An American Werewolf in London," with...
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Foreign Titles
- Le Loup-garou de Londres (FR)
- Un hombre lobo americano en Londres (ES)
