American Werewolf in London: A Review

This is a pretty good film in the scheme of things. In fact the only thing keeping it from being one of the best in werewolf cinema is the dismal acting throughout. The writing is mediocre, but serviceable and the director is definitely talented, but the acting… It just does not quite reach the level of hair raising horror that would make it perfect, mostly due to the fact that none of the characters ever show any real fear, but it does have its moments.
The film begins with beautiful sweeping shots of the English country side, slightly reminiscent of certain romanticism type elements. The camera then pans down onto two young American tourists, backpacking through England. After some personality revealing dialogue, the two young men happen upon a small pub and enter as to escape the cold. Eventually, however, the two figure they are unwelcome and leave, stepping out beneath a full moon. Continuing on, our two young adventures decide to turn around after being spooked by foreboding howling noises. Unfortunately, they do not make it in time and are attacked by a monstrous wolf. The locals soon arrive on scene, guilt ridden for sending them out in the first place, and shoot the beast to death. It is too late though for one of the boys is already dead, the other wounded, but only superficially.
David, the surviving kid and our main, wakes up in London Hospital confused and upset by the news of his friend’s most untimely end. The plot slows as we see dreary set of scenes slowly setting up the relationship between David and his nurse, Alex. Things truly begin with the apparition of Jack, David’s dead friend, totally gruesome and bearing devastating news. David, he explains, is a werewolf and must kill himself before the full moon as to prevent the potential destruction that will result if David transformed in such a populated city. David, already suffering from intense nightmares, dismisses the event as fabrications of his traumatized mind. Eventually, he is discharged from the hospital, and moves in with his newfound love interest.
The plot shuffles on, as David and Alex’s relationship reaches a physical level and David’s doctor, Dr. Hirsch, begins to investigate the true happenings behind David’s afflictions. After another apparition by Jack, once again pleading with David to just kill himself, the next day begins. David stays behind whilst Alex goes to work setting the stage for that night’s full moon. Finally, after an interesting confrontation with the locals that saved David, Dr. Hirsch discovers that David truly is a werewolf, or at the very least, lycanthropic. Calling Alex to warn her, it is already too late, for David has begun his transformation.
David then goes on a killing spree, spreading terror throughout the city. Waking up the next morning, he finds himself at the zoo and stark naked. Returning home he finds a worried Alex, whom, upon his arrival, heeds Dr. Hirsch’s warnings and takes David to have the doctor examine him. David, however, finding out about six grisly murders of last night, realizes what he is and runs deeper into the city, away from Alex. Attempting to commit suicide, but finding himself unable, he follows jack into a porn theater, hoping for advice. There he finds, not only Jack, but all of his victims from the night before. Losing track of time, the full moon comes out, and David once again begins his transformation. Creating even more havoc then the previous night, he is eventually cornered by police. Alex attempts to calm him, but to no avail. David leaps at her and is shot to death. Alex begins to cry hysterically, and the credits roll.
As I mentioned previously, the acting is what really brings this film down. Throughout the film there is not one character, with the exception of Alex and a few supporting characters, whom can act with any degree of emotion. Even the mentioned exceptions do not really act astoundingly well, simply the apex of mediocrity. The most prominent of these so called actors is David Naughton, playing David. His best friend was killed in a horrible accident, and besides one completely over the top scene in which he was supposed to show anguish, he never alludes to that fact in any way. The rest of the characters could have gotten away with it, but come on, the title character?
The directing is what truly makes the film. The writing is pretty good as well, Landis was able to convey many characteristics just through dialogue, without having to resort to direct action on the part of the characters. They way he brings it to life is much better, it is a pity he never really went anywhere in his career. He could have if he had kept writing horror films. Anyway, the camera shots never really belied anything spectacular, although his forest dream sequences are really well done. In the directing arena it is probably the excellent moments of suspense and great appliance of the background score that are most prominent.
Almost every scene meant to scare did so to its fullest potential. If a better writer had been hired it might would have been better, but it was sufficient. The scenes created to make the audience jump worked well and the tempo was kept during the suspense scenes. The best by far however, was the pure, unfiltered creepiness of Jack’s apparitions. The scenes were very much like those shown in The Sixth Sense, where the ghosts all still bear the wounds that kill them. Each of these scenes was expertly crafted for maximum affect, so that even with the special effects being substandard in today’s digital age, it was still creepy. It is too bad Jack was not portrayed by a better actor, it would have been even better.
The soundtrack was also selected very well, from the opening credits all the way to the end ones. The only weird piece of music I heard was the one played during David’s first transformation. It was a very happy, light hearted piece, and although it provided excellent contrast with what was happening visually, I think it would have been better to just go ahead and play some uncomfortable sounding music instead.
Overall, it was a pretty good movie. I would not be against watching it again in the future, but it did not quite make it to the “truly awesome” category, mostly because of the suckish acting, but I repeat myself. It was not bad as far as horror movies go, it did have some scary parts in it, although I would not put it on a Stephen King level. And really, even with the sort of cliffhanger ending, it worked. Thumbs up.