An American Werewolf in London

“An American Werewolf in London” is a 1981 film written and directed by John Landis. Prior to the film’s release, Landis directed the blockbuster comedies, “Animal House” and “The Blues Brothers.” Although Landis had written the first draft of “Werewolf” in 1969, he had shelved it for over a decade because financiers were worried that it treaded the line too ambiguously between comedy and horror. Despite the financiers’ doubts, the film would go on to achieve blockbuster commercial success and cult status.

The film centers around David Kessler, an American student traveling in Europe, who gets bit by a werewolf in Northern England. He wakes up in a London hospital days later, where he befriends a nurse with whom he shares a brief affair. He stays at her flat for the next couple of days while she works the night shift, and when the full moon finally arrives, he transforms.

The film’s most memorable scene is undoubtedly the transformation. Michael Jackson would later cite this scene as to why he hired John Landis to direct his legendary “Thriller” music video. What makes this film’s werewolf transformation special is that it is explicitly shown on-screen, instead of merely suggesting it using a series of cuts. Using time-lapse photography and close-up shots of particular body-parts, Landis was able to show the hair rapidly growing on David’s back, his hands and feet elongating, and his face morphing into that of a wolf’s.

To me, what is most striking, are the sound effects of this scene. A relaxing rendition of “Blue Moon” plays in the background. Juxtaposed against sound effects of crunching bones and David’s constant screaming, Landis’ odd choice of music and its soothing quality make the transformation seem all the more realistic.

The werewolf transformation in “An American Werewolf in London” is undoubtedly groundbreaking and influential.