Reed Alexander's Horror Review of 'An American Werewolf in London' (1981)

First of all, this movie is just good horror. They did abso-fucking-lutely everything right for good horror. The atmosphere is dark and foreboding, the plot is smart, layered with drama, but twisted, the FX are noted as some of the best back in the days, and the concept is actually scary. I mean, this movie is currently credited with arguably the best werewolf transformation in horror history. The effects were so damn good for practical FX and the acting really sold it. It's arguably better than great CGI, and it's some of the best body horror you'll ever see.

I mean, one of the best parts of this movie is its mythos as a horror. The werewolf is hunting the moors, the locals are scared, a curse seems to grip this little village, and the locals take this all deadly serious. So, all you have to do is survive an attack by the werewolf and you inherit the curse. Even worse, those who have died by the werewolf's fangs are condemned to a half-life, undead. Now, this inevitably leads to some of the movie's funniest moments in the movie, but you can see right there how that could make some great fucking horror.

So, if everything was done right for horror, how is this a horror comedy? Like a true British comedy, the comedy is just super dry. The movie was made as a horror but just highlighted how absolutely ridiculous horror actually is if you can look at it from the outside. I wrote a comedy like this, myself, once. What would be the ACTUAL reaction to this supernatural horrific event? How would one ACTUALLY react or respond to said horror? I'm sure as Horror Heads we've all fantasized about being a werewolf, but the reality is pretty grim and the way we would respond to something so insane would actually be quite ridiculous. So that's what the writer and director did. They wrote good horror and just let the comedy fall out.

Listen here, this movie is mandatory viewing for Horror Heads. But here's the thing, it's actually pretty good. Good enough for even general adult audiences.

SPOILERS!!!

This movie was far from perfect. The circumstances that got the male lead and his buddies on the moors at night were hamfisted. This one local tells them to leave, then has second thoughts, the one guy you figured would know better than to send them out at night is the guy who sends them to their death, this whole thing seems like an extreme punishment for the male lead being a clumsy tourist, they kinda hang a lantern on it but really don't explain it, then the male lead and his bud inexplicably walk off the road when they would have zero reason to do so, and then the locals decide, too late, to save them. The opening, the driving force of the plot, meanders more than that last sentence. That's just not good writing. But it's interesting enough to keep you going before the movie really gains its legs.

This wasn't the only misstep in what is an otherwise great movie. There's the kick-off to the werewolf transformation that was pretty hammy. The male lead has a hard time really selling the idea that he think's he's losing his mind. When he hears about the murders he jumps to some incredible conclusions that just seem forced. It's just noticeable things of that nature that knock it down a peg, just out of the reach of truly legendary. Frankly, however, they're all forgivable because the movie is so damn good otherwise.

Seriously though, you are required to watch this movie. Don't make me come to your home, tie you to a chair, staple your eyelids to your forehead, and force you to watch it.