An American Werewolf In London (1981) MOVIE REACTION! | FIRST TIME WATCHING!!
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- čas přidán 26. 10. 2020
- The Third most voted for movie for us to react to and one of Shaun's most anticipated, An American Werewolf In London (1981)
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"A naked American man stole my balloons!" 🤣 A classic movie.
SIDEBAR: Michael Jackson loved horror films, and this one was one of his favorites. In fact, this was the reason why he picked John Landis to make THRILLER.
And still the greatest selling album ever
I was just getting ready to post this. Also, this is why MJ wanted to turn into a werewolf in Thriller.
MJ also loved touching young boys
@@heywoodjablowme8120 Aaaand here we go
@@Evute02 😂 there’s always one isn’t there.
So sad that neither of you seemed to get it. "What is it?"......it's simply the greatest horror comedy ever made. A masterpiece and a work of genius.
I can see where it's a bit startling though and where it has an uneven tone.
It's like life. Most of us have a life story that can't be confined to one description; Drama, comedy, SciFi, tragedy, horror. We live in all genres at once
I always thought the comedic beats really made the horror so much more intense. The whiplash between extremes made both extremes stronger, in my opinion.
The Academy Award category for Best Makeup was created the year this movie came out. They basically saw this movie, and said "Oo. Wow. Um... let's create a new Oscar... and let's give it to THAT GUY."
Rick Baker did the fx and won an Oscar. They created an fx category just to be able to give him the award.
Rtuyi$
Not fx, but makeup :)
@@ScaryManiac still comes under fx lol
@@ScaryManiac No, more than makeup. Watch behind the scenes, they had to build some pretty serious machines to create some of the fx, the face changing scenes are more than stop motions
@@ScaryManiac it's effects man, there's a lot more than just makeup that he created for this film. Stuff that had never even been done before and literally revolutionized the industry. Very much falls under the FX category. Calling it just makeup is a big disservice
Best werewolf transformation seen ever definitely deserved the awards it won.
Agreed...even after four decades I've yet to see it topped.
I think this movie is actually more about survivor's guilt than it is about werewolves. The focus is really on David's trauma, both as a victim and a survivor of an attack. That's interesting because in a lot of horror films when a character dies they are instantly forgotten. There is no mourning, there is no impact (either on the audience or the other characters). Here, Jack's death defines David and everything that happens afterwards, even the funnier moments, happen in relation to that one moment. This is probably the best werewolf movie out there for that reason (as well as for the great practical effects).
This movie was totally original and so groundbreaking at the time. It’s a straight horror movie with touches of black humor and a self-awareness that was ahead of its time.
And the practical effects were like nothing anybody had seen before in a werewolf movie. I was a little kid when it came out and I clearly remember that it was really popular with pretty much everybody because it was both funny and a real horror movie, and the effects were game-changing.
10 out of 10. the Slaughtered Lamb, the Dreams, the Nurse, the Transformation, the Kills, the Decomposing Friend and the Rampage. how much more better could it be? none. none more better.
Absolutely love this film. It has such a perfect mix of weird, funny, and tragic that you just can't get anywhere else. Makeup effects still incredible today.
Nothing to add except FUN FACTS: Director John Landis, in his late teens, was a stunt performer on Sergio Leone's 'Once Upon A Time In The West.' He kept his union card and in this film he's the guy who gets hit by the car and thrown through the plate glass window. The climax is a masterpiece of economy, since they only had Piccadilly for a Saturday and Sunday night and the police would halt traffic for them for only 3 minutes at a time.
Funniest lines: "A naked American man stole my balloons" "Whaaat"
I think the transcription is, "Wot??" haha
These practicals are legendary.
Justin Long ... YES!! Best onscreen creature transformation to date that I've seen
Considering how mind numbingly awesome the transformation scene looks, the brief hokeyness of the wolf monster in the later scenes is a bit of a letdown. Otherwise a great movie. Great balancing act between comedy and horror, good acting, good writing.
Obiusly.....
Except if they use 24 Cars and after the movie they Scrap It.
@@jennrants44 damn right it is.
@@rikuruohomaki3230 These guys do not get the whole film to make, just parts of it.
The movie knows exactly what tone it's going for and captures it brilliantly. I wouldn't change a thing about this film.
It was great seeing the first time reaction, but this film is a 10/10. It’s perfect. Absolutely perfect and uniquely strange specifically BECAUSE of the tone. It’s just SO special.
I agree 100%
Guys, this was hugely popular when it came out in America and became one of the first cult-classics. I would say, put down your film critic caps this time, and just ENJOY it!
Well, film critics actually understood that this was a horror comedy by design, just like the audience. These two guys seem to think movies should express only one emotion or idea at a time. But I have hope that their palates will get finer the more great films (as opposed to modern franchise "content") they watch.
How can it be a cult classic if it was hugely popular when it came out? Thats kindve an oxymoron.
The contrast between the comedy and the horror, and that the audience never knows what to expect next, is what makes it a classic. It’s genuinely shocking, and it’s laugh out loud funny, often within the same minute. It was like a breath of fresh air after a string of horror films that took themselves ever more seriously.
The ending seems rushed, though, and there’s no resolution of what the heck was going on at the Slaughtered Lamb.
The highlight of this video is the “Oooooh!!!!” squeal at 6:06! 😂
Perennial Favorite Line: "A naked American man stole my balloons."
I’m American and this line Still makes laugh.
Hey, it's what we do.
David’s transformation into a werewolf at the flat was a HUGE deal for makeup/special effects back when this movie came out. Brilliant.
Still brilliant
this movie literally TRAUMATIZED me as a child. in blockbuster i wanted to rent this and while my mom was hesitant, dad thought i could handle it. flash forward to us watching it as a family; when they get attacked off the trail 20 mins in i'm SOBBING my eyes and soul out. nightmares ensued for years.
nowadays i cherish it for the memories as well as its impact on special effects makeup :-)
The point is that the film successfully pulls you in different directions from laugh out loud comedy moments to horrific bloody horror. There’s really no movie like it.
(Guys, it’s not ‘The Fly’ - a super serious drama)
I think it’s perplexed you - you’ve already “got a soft spot for it “ - but given time you’ll absolutely love it.
Good points! I think sometimes you have to live with a film a while and learn to speak it's "language". It's already got its hooks in Shaun and Tom...they just have to roll it around in their heads for a while. Personally, I think it's EXACTLY the film John Landis set out to make, none of it is by mistake or chance...and I probably relate this film to him much more than Animal House, Blues Brothers, or any of his others. It IS John Landis...
Guys. It’s ok to like, even love a horror-COMEDY, it’s not sacrilegious or anything
"How do they do that?" Words of wonder we sadly don't hear anymore.
Well said and totally correct!!! So much of the wonder has gone!!
Jenny Agutter. God she was hot in her prime.
The pentagram is actually usually used as a symbol of protection.
This film was directed by John Landis, who is known for directing classic comedies like "National Lampoon's Animal House", "The Blues Brothers", "Trading Places", Michael Jackson's "Thriller", and "Coming To America". It's stands out in the horror genre because it is the rare combination of comedy, horror and fantasy.
Rick Baker won an Oscar for best makeup for this movie.
He made one of the best transformation make up works. It’s really top notch.
I love this movie. I feel that the comedy elements make the jump to horror scarier as you actually like and sympathise with the characters.
Me too but the film could really reign in with the psychological horror with the victims in the theater tormenting him but I belive at the time the social commentary openly discussing suicide was shocking especially discussed in a comical tone.
I like the ideas of the fish out of water, Americans in England and the ideas of the invincible youth mixed with care free attitudes of being on vacation juxtaposition to the fact he is cursed and needs to end his youth.
The movie was 1hr 37min runtime and I think they could've added another 20 minutes.
John Landis wrote the film and is also responsible for writing comedies like Animal House and Blues Brothers.
He got the idea when he was helping with a film production in Yugoslavia and came across gypsies performing rituals on a man being buried so that he would not "rise from the grave." This made Landis realize he would never be able to confront the undead and gave him the idea for a film in which a man would go through the same thing.
Dude, this is a dark comedy horror. That’s the tone! Surprised your ratings weren’t above 8.0 at least. I think the humor is brilliant.
Thank you for the funniest facial expressions while watching though 😂 you had me laughing.
They seem timid to give horror-comedy high praise, not sure why though
I've found that An American Werewolf in London improves with multiple viewings. Tonally, it can be jarring the first time that you see it. Director John Landis is primarily known for his comedy films, so naturally when he does horror it's horror comedy. But watching it again and knowing what to expect, it's pretty brilliant. The makeup effects by Rick Baker are the stuff of absolute legend.
Some more additional info:
While this was John Landis' 5th film, the script for An American Werewolf in London was the first script he ever wrote. He wrote it when he was 18 working as a PA on other people's films.
Landis is Jewish-American and so is the character of David. Makes the nazi werewolves in David's dream make... slightly more sense, lol.
The first Oscar for Best Makeup went to Rick Baker for his work in this film. Again, Rick Baker's work is the stuff of absolute legend. He's retired now, but still makes stuff for fun and shows it on his Instagram account. Absolutely check that out, it's so incredible what he does.
It's interesting that even though the werewolf caused all that mayhem on Picadilly Circus, it only killed one person and that was the sergeant. Everything that happened afterwards was pretty much a domino effect when all the cars are crashing into people.
The werewolf at that scene was pretty much in flight mode as it knew that it was in a vulnerable position so it had no choice but to escape and find somewhere to hide.
What puts this movie so high on we older horror fans' lists is that in context of the time when this came out it was groundbreaking, for the special effects as well as being the first highly successful American horror-comedy hybrid of the time. Being the first, even the small bit of humor that the movie does have really stood out as something new, very different from what American horror fans were used to and we all ate it up. Also the director John Landis had just come off of doing two of the most successful comedies of all-time (Animal House & The Blues Brothers) so people were expecting the comedy, it was actually the seriousness of the horror that was surprising and blew our minds. Even a cornerstone like Evil Dead was most likely influenced by it
Not so you can see j,a bite her lip again then ?,,
"Shall I b forced 2 feed u ?" Awil
"Not had yr tea,love ?" Sotd
Compare n discuss,, with 5k words by friday
Not groundbreaking, well received nostalgia for those whose normal TV exp of the ext. world wasn't r-rated, i.e. ex-underage teens and suburbanites , and it's hooky as hell ,, has huge post-modern influence as self-homage maker, like alot of good films, it races by like an MTV pop video ,, 1 min yr talking , Debbie Kline's unrequited love and beautiful body, the next ,, boom , that's it y'all,, quintessential and self-encapsulating ,, class of its own ,, unchallengeable ,,,
Also not a comedy,,,, contains comedy, like somes' reality,,
This is probably my favorite reaction, not because its An American Werewolf in London, but that you guys were just going from laughing to being confused & a little bit scared
That's what the movie is about: a little of everything. Few films have so deftly woven humor into the horror, and people found it quite difficult to process at the time. Apparently, they still do.
Literally instantly become my favorite CZcams channel
When this movie was made it won an AWARD for SPECIAL EFFECTS. It was Innovative for its time.
Not just any award, the oscar for best makeup, the first Oscar for best makeup. It was the first year best makeup was even a category for the academy awards.
I was sixteen when this film came out, and a lifelong werewolf movie lover, with a dark sense of humor, so everything in this film worked for me. I loved it so much that I saw it on opening night and went back for the next two nights in a row. For me it's a top film in the werewolf sub-genre of horror, along with The Wolf Man (1941), Dog Soldiers, Ginger Snaps, Late Phases, and The Howling.
You have great taste , brah. Great list
Probably one of the best transformation scenes ever
You should watch it again to fully understand it. The film is actually a black comedy, and it really is easy to see that in the way it's directed. John Landis, the director, actually pulls it off perfectly. The sequel however is bad, avoid it. The werewolf transformation effects was done by the legendary Rick Baker, and STILL looks brilliant almost 40 years on. Baker won an Oscar for best make-up for the film. Remember, when this was made there was nothing like it, and it quickly became a cult legend. No CGI was used because back then it was impossible. What you see is animatronics and make-up, and it took them a week to film it! The werewolf transformation is in my opinion, the best one ever put on film. The movie's a 10/10 from me! An absolute classic.
Agree
Dog Soldiers is worth a watch
The practical effects are legendary
I love this movie, and I love the darkly comedic almost deadpan tone. I think the humor and humanity in it just softens you up so that the brutal violence and horror snaps so much harder. It's a really simple plot, but I don't think it really needs to be very complicated, and in a way, the visual effects sequences, and that incredible finale of mayhem and death shot in Piccadilly Circus kind of are the point of it. You're getting a classic, iconic werewolf story, totally modernized.
I don't think you need to focus so much on trying to put it into a box, at the end of the day the only question is - were you entertained? And this is one of the most entertaining "horrors" ever made. The comedy works every bit as much as the scares and for me I don't think that one gets sacrificed for the sake of the other.
The bedlam in that final scene is horrific just because it shows just how quickly and how easily all this organised chaos that surrounds us 24/7 can spiral out of control. I love it.
I agree.....just take it for what it is. Maybe they went in thinking it was a straight horror movie and that’s why they seem a bit disappointed.
@@cflournoy1529 I think the boring drama and romance are the problem.
I was 12 at the time and a friend of mine and me went to one of the old theaters. There were 2 movies that you could watch in those theatres at the time in Buenos Aires. It was 1982, and we watched both of them. The first was Endless Love and the second one was An American werewolf in London... I can't tell you how hard was coming back home after seeing this movie... And it was night time ... Amazing movie.
To me this movie is brilliant. The "shifting tone" makes it more believable in a sense, because that's how life really is - silly one moment, serious the next, confusing the one after that.
Also, the whole movie is one of clashes - cultural clash between American and British people, clash between the mundane modern world and the world of superstition, clash between the absurdity and seriousness of life in general. The werewolf is also a creature with two forms. Maybe the duality is intentional.
It's funny how you used the phrase "in limbo" just like Jack and the other victims who have to exist in limbo. Maybe the tonal quirkiness puts the audience in limbo... it seems we're all victims of the werewolf.
The nightmares in this film were extremely disturbing and visceral, and they stuck with me for years.
Don't forget that this movie was kinda revolutionary in terms of mixing comedy and horror. Nothing like it had been made before this. So yeah, they didn't pull everything off at it's peak in making it. It definitely could have been longer ... more love story for example would have made the ending more bittersweet but even as it was I remember feeling sad for the love loss at the end. I give it a strong 9.
I love the way yall react. You actually watch the movie. No acting like you trying to win awards for how many jokes you can make in 2 hours & dont talk over entire scenes. My favorite movie reactors. You guys rock
I second that emotion.
This is THE best Werewolf movie ..EVER!!!
I agree
The scariest werewolf transformation I’ve ever seen especially when he looks directly at the camera. Brilliant makeup and effects by Rick Baker.
What I love about you guys and why Cinema Rules works, is because you are both so frigging down to earth and genuine. Your chemistry is fantastic. Keep it up lads and Happy Halloween for Saturday! :)
This movie's excellent. It's multi layered, not "one note" hence the well balanced mixture of comedy, drama, romance and horror styles. And very well paced. The werewolf's a bit fake, but still looks freaky enough. The amount of time and labor that went into the "transformation" scene, and the fact they pulled it off to the point you were feeling every inch of pain David is experiencing gives the film high marks from me.
It's weird, when I watch AWiL interviews and they've got the four-legged model of the werewolf behind them that's used in the Piccadilly scenes, it looks terrifying. They got the snarling facial expression spot-on. But there is a bit of a fakeness issue with the wolf in the film once we see more of it, from when it bursts out of the cinema onwards. Still works, doesn't wreck the film, but it's a shame after all the amazing efforts that went into it. I guess it's because of the puppeteering - maybe how it moves can't quite fool the eyes? Or it's just always more effective to see less of the monster, like in Jaws?
The horror and the comedy in this film are good. The problem is all the other stuff is dull, i.e. the doctor and the love interest.
As someone has already said, I think this film absolutely knows what it is. It's juxtaposing American and British culture, comedy with drama. If you haven't already, PLEASE watch some interviews with John Landis about this film, you'll learn a lot. I do think AWIL deserves muliple viewings. Now watch The Howling!
Don't you see how this film changed tones all the time to keep the viewer unsettled and not so they could become comfortable with what they were seeing. It made the horror more confronting and the laughter at the humour also came from a place of discomfort as well. This movie is 40 years old. There wasn't the focus of copying ideas or doing sequels like we have to a detrimental extreme today. I look forward to more of the times when a film based on an old story is done with a very different twist. I love how you are so vastly contrasted in your views at the end. But I think you are always going to enjoy any movie you watch if you stop trying to compare them to one another. They are unique. No one has successfully done anything like this since as is the case with The Fly. But watch the making of this film and enjoy the special effects. The creative imagination that comes from not having CGI to rely on is wonderful.
The pacing is based on Hitchcock's plot template ,,, if you make a film without any comic relief, audiences walkout !
The pentagram is for protection from evil. It is not a devil worship thing. Devil worshippers invert the pentagram (so the two points are at the top, instead of the one), in the same way they invert the Christian Cross/Crucifix.
devil worshippers are misnamed and pentagrams are agricultural,, used as a calendar,
Herbalists and physicians were condemned for having an education, inverting crosses- you've fallen into the teachings of Christopher Lee's characters
I can't wait for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre reaction tomorrow.
Same
Remake is better. Original is just that chick screaming non stop. Had a headache at the end. Lol
love this movie. It's a classic
American Werewolf In London is a dark comedy horror. You take it as just that.
that's actually the misconception with Pentagrams, they were originally used by Pegans as a protective mark. But because it's a Pegan mark the Christian Church made it into a devil symbol. But it was as the Cross is to Christians, used to ward off evil.
I was looking for this comment
Another excellent reaction, fellas.
I think the opinion shared by many, if not most horror fans is that American Werewolf in London is the best werewolf movie, full stop. I do tend to agree with that assessment. To be fair, there aren't too many films in the werewolf sub-genre, for it to compete with, for what it's worth, it's the shit.
I think that many people hold it in high regard primarily for the transformation scene. Certainly the effects, the way it's shot (lit bright so you see every-frickin-thing) have a lot to do with the iconic status of that scene. But, there is something beyond horrific about that scene. Watching it kinda upsets your life for a little while, or something like that. That one scene, and only that one scene in this film, achieves a kind of horrific feel that I would associate with a film like The Exorcist.
I think the film is able to attain that level of horror specifically because of the see-saw tone of light comedy and deep, weird, uncomfortable horror in the scenes that lead up to the wolf transformation. The tone of the film gets us a little off-kilter, yet keeps us interested and involved with the film. Then right in the middle, it smacks you right between the eyes with a ball pein hammer.
The rest of the film doesn't quite live up to the transformation scene, yet it keeps you going, because by then we really like David, and want to find out if there is a way out of this for him. But, though there are many who would describe American Werewolf in London as a Horror/Comedy, I disagree. Ultimately, this is a horror film, and not the derivation Horror/Comedy of Horror Spoof, etc. I think true Horror occurs with the film, story, etc. leaves us in a some what darker world than the one we thought we lived in before the story began. By leading us along David's sometimes funny, sometimes grim tale, and giving us such a pitch-black finale, American Werewolf in London sets itself firmly as a genuine horror flick.
I used to go the pub at the start of the movie all the time with my Dad as a kid. They added a fake wall for the scene which was never there in real life. The pub's called "The Black Swan". Also good seeing a young Rik Mayall snuck into this movie 🍺
*Rik
@@Chrisbajs thank you 👍🏼😉
Does any UKTV viewers remember "the fast show" doing a "that's enough" parody?
I think it involved a recurring skit of 2 city types asking directions in rural countryside, getting a rambling answer,, turn left at the tree,not that left,etc, ,,except this week,,,
that's enough!! -That's, enough.
Apparently he offered a bit part to him and Ade Edmondson but Ade never showed up.
@@frosksdeadteeth5163 oh really! 😲
I grew up watching this as a little kid in the 80's. It's an absolute classic!
I saw this movie back in the day at the cinema, and when it finished I felt very odd. It was the type of movie that had to percolate in my brain for a while.
Over time I now see this movie as a tragedy, with the comedic bits adding a bittersweet note.
I also found that the simplicity of this movie makes the tragedy more pronounced. It gets in, throws this impossible situation at the audience, and then ends without any kindly resolution. Bam! Sadness.
Great reaction video!
You guys never talked about the change! It's one of the beat werewolf changes still to date! Also this movie is a classic and a must have in your collection!
No wonder John Landis is becoming the most legendary filmmaker of the 1980s. It has class, great atmosphere, well written script and Rick Baker is a wonderful make up artist. He deserves an Oscar for best make up. I love this movie. It's has great horror and comedy altogether. Great vid, gents.
Winner Saturn Award, Best Horror Film. Best Make-Up Rick Baker. Nominee Saturn Award, Best Actress Jenny Agutter. Best Writing John Landis. Satellite Awards 2009. Nominee Satellite Award, Best Overall DVD
Not an Oscar, but Baker was recognized for it.
If it was horror all the way through, I think we would get numb to it eventually. I found the comedy parts made the horror scenes that much more shocking.
Thanks for watching and making the reaction. Really enjoy your channel. I think this one might be a situation where a bit of context about the movie beforehand may have helped your perception of it. The tone and style of the movie was very deliberate. The director John Landis was known for his comedies but has an appreciation for classic horror monster movies and wanted to pay tribute to elements of those films but transplant the familiar elements into a modern situation using the familiar landmarks and urban environment of London to breathe new life into genre, and draw upon revolutionary prosthetics and makeup effects to create one of the first and probably the best on-camera practical transformations to this day. Although The Howling is wonderful too, for me, this movie is classier, more self-aware, has better cinematography, acting and music to become a timeless classic.
Oh and to answer your question - this is a 9 out of 10 for me and one of my top 10 movies of all time :) Probably influenced by having seen it when I was a kid on VHS so it was very evocative and I had never seen anything like it before!
I thought both of you would have rated it a little higher. This has been a favorite of mine since I was a kid in the 80s. I suppose maybe this movie comes off a bit corny by today’s standards but this was considered really good back then. I do think you’ll appreciate a bit more after a second viewing. It’s one of those kinds of movies.
Jenny Agutter was divine
I think to really appreciate this movie you have to think of the two toned aspect as more of a comedy duo.. the goofball and the straight man... England is the straight man and America is the goof. That's at least the way it always came through to me.
This is one of the very few “horror comedies” where both the horror aspect and comedy aspect work. The tonal shifts are a little jarring, but it works for me. 99% of “horror comedies” inevitably are taken over by the comedy aspect.
And at the time, it was so revolutionary that the studio had no idea how to market the movie.
Yes, there could be more development of the romantic relationship, but I never thought it was all that crucial. It’s a lean, mean 90 minutes that gets in there, has some fun, and leaves, not overstaying it’s welcome.
I think you're right. And "Scream" does the whole comedy/horror thing very well too. But are much different for sure.
Fun fact: This film won the first Best Makeup Oscar when the category was introduced in 1981.
Also, I'm most hyped for tomorrow's upload. These boys are not prepared for what they will see...
John Landis, the director, was 19 when he wrote the script to this movie which explains a lot
He's got a great mind for a 19 year old.
Best werewolf transformation scene ever filmed, hands down! 👍😲🏆
I love this movie, it's both terrifying and funny. I think it's the first example of comedy horror abd gas always been praised as such. The practical effects are timeless and utterly incredible.
They have been doing horror comedies since the silent days!
Rick Baker is the absolute genius that did the Special Effects in this movie. He has retired now. There is loads on CZcams about Rick and he has a great Instagram.
There is no other film like this , and never will be , it's a one off.
For that reason it's top five of all time.
1. Jenny Agutter played Jessica in Logan's Run.
That would be a great firs time/share. HINT HINT
2. "A naked American man stole my balloons".
3. All of the songs played have something about the moon.
4. Those towns people gather together at that pub for protection when the moon is full.
5. It makes you wonder what the speed limit was in Piccadilly Circus.
6. He had to die.
Great video as usual, fellas. You guys are nuts. The mood is what distinguishes this film from other monster flicks imo. Something like Tremors, which is a comedy, leans on the comedy even during the horror scenes, but the viewer can't really get invested in the horror. An American Werewolf in London and John Landis manages to get laughs AND bring the horror. It's a balance that I enjoy, and it is tonally unique.
The BEST part of this reaction video was hearing a pair of millennials literally say, "How did they DO that?" during the transformation scene, because THAT is exactly what people were asking back in 1981. The more recent Benicio Del Toro film, The Wolfman, was supposed to have a similar (practical FX) transformation scene with Rick Baker returning, no less, but the studio executives got cold feet at the last second and insisted that the producers make it more "believable" with CGI. It wasn't more believable. It just looks like CG. But that was a PRICELESS moment for me so, thank you, because it suggests that the film's still got it, and it makes a case for the judicious use of practical FX in modern films (or the more sparing use of CGI at any rate).
To give some historical perspective, Universal's 1941 film, "The Wolf Man", starring Lon Chaney in the lead role, and its "monster mash" sequels ushered in the modern concept of a Werewolf. Before that, they were more of a European folklore like witches or vampires that didn't quite catch on in the American colonies. But The Wolf Man was the most kid-friendly of all the Universal Monster films, largely because of Chaney's performance as a sweet, funny, likeable "nice guy" suffering from a horrible affliction he didn't ask for or deserve in any way. But he was also about a decade late to the whole Monster party of the era, and the sequels to The Wolfman became increasingly campy as they paired Chaney with Karloff's Frankenstein Monster and later Dracula, before embracing the absurdity of it all and making a pretty effective Abbott and Costello mash-up that even featured a cameo from Vincent Price as The Invisible Man. So while the original wasn't played for laughs, The Wolfman character quickly became associated with the lighter side of Universal Horror.
In my worthless opinion, Werewolf in London was John Landis' tribute to loveable-yet-tragic nature of the original Wolf Man - AND an attempt to modernize the classic transformation scenes (which had typically been done with a series of dissolves showing the different stages of make up before the 80's - I think even with Hammer Films' "Curse of the Werewolf" in 1961).
At the time, it was like a well-executed joke from The Kentucky Fried Movie (also directed by Landis), or The Naked Gun, or Monty Python, where they would play a scene absolutely straight, but you'd end up laughing because at the same time, what they're suggesting is just so absurd. So to me it was a flawlessly executed blending of American and British dry humor, where writer-director John Landis practically DARED audiences to take it seriously, while at the same time using that comedic front as a subversive excuse to make the film as gory and terrifying as possible and saying "What IF there were werewolves today?" And with Rick Baker's practical FX work, they knocked it out of the park.
At the time, the only basis for comparison was another Werewolf movie released earlier the same year called The Howling, made for about a fifth of Werewolf in London's budget, and also with Rick Baker working as FX consultant. And while good, it was nowhere near as loving towards the original Universal Monster, nowhere near as funny, and nowhere near as graphic, although with Joe Dante (Innerspace, Gremlins, The Burbs, Explorers) as director, it also had a quirky sense of humor and a few choice moments of gore and horror, making it something of a cult classic in its own right, sadly associated with a string of sequels that were (imho) complete and utter shite.
But this one was far more successful because (I think) the exaggerated sense of humor gave potential nay-sayers an outlet to deal with what was, at the time, excessive amounts of graphic gore. At the moment anyone might think to complain about the more horrific elements, Landis would throw in a pratfall or a sight gag that CLEARLY couldn't be taken too seriously. So like the best comedians, he used the laughs as a front to make people think about reality.
I thought it was perfect when you said you'd place it squarely between Evil Dead II and The Fly, because THAT is precisely where it belongs; neither in the "comedic-and-we-know-it" category like Evil Dead II, nor as deadly serious as The Fly. Is it joking? Is it serious? The best dry humor tends to make you wonder sometimes, so I'd say if you were left with a feeling of not knowing whether or not you'd been pranked, Landis succeeded in his goal.
I also think you nailed it when you suggested that its rating might improve for you over time. That's how it was received in 1981 - kind of with a bemused dismissal, and then over the years people kept going back to it over and over again, until it arguably became the best Werewolf movie of all time. And from what I gathered watching your reactions, it's still got it.
Hilarious, horrific, with terrific acting all around, an eye-popping transformation scene, and the versatile young Jenny Augutter looking absolutely scrumptious (you can see more of her in The Eagle Has Landed, Logan's Run, Child's Play 2, and a ton of older British miniseries, with more recent cameos in The Avengers and Captain America: Winter Soldier). Quite frankly, she's still got it too.
Can't wait to see what's next guys, sorry to prattle on with the trivia, but... you asked!
that’s a lot of words
^^^ What this person says...
This werewolf was one of Rick Bakers greatest creations.
there should be more films like this. not worried about tone, the writer/director in complete control of the content.
Was gonna recommend this one. It's the horror movie that got me into horror movies. It's still one of my absolute favorites.
yes sir definitely!
A movie with a great blend of comedy, horror and music is The Return of the Living Dead(1985).
brilliant movie
Fuck yes... I absolutely love that movie. One of my favorites for sure
Do you know that they were forced to eat animal brains in their contract. When I discovered this I haven't watched the movie since.
@@jamesfowler5100I didn't, but next time I watch I'll look out for the animal brains.
@@jamesfowler5100 Maybe they were leftovers?
Rick Baker won an oscar for the special effects in this movie. The transformation scene is still urivalled after 40 years.
This film has everything. Lots of atmosphere likeable characters, humor, creepiness and amazing special effects/makeup. I love it
"Such a clash of America and England" - as an American who's lived in England since 2016, married to a lad from Ipswich: Welcome to my reality, haha!
fun fact - the voice of Yoda - Frank Oz - is the bald american embassy guy at the hospital
He was even in Blues Brothers:)
And "Spies like Us", with Dan Ackroyd & Chevy Chase.
Fozzy Bear, too!
He's also a few of the muppets.
Another fun fact, unless someone has already said it.
The film gave birth to the most successful album and single in music EVER..
Thriller by wacko jacko..
John landis did the effects of Micheal Jacksons werewolf in the famous thriller video..
And another fun fact, I watched on a bootleg VHS at my local youth club as a kid when it came out, and I sprinted home when it finished I would have over taken Usain bolt that night .
I shit myself..
But there was nothing like back then..
The transformation from man to werewolf is the best I ever seen still till today.
Can’t pigeonhole this classic. It simply is. Landis is a comedy director making a fish out of water horror flick. Magic.
I was expecting you to recognise and mention Rik Mayall. He was in the pub playing chess with Brian Glover.
Yeah, maybe they would if he was given any dialog. Also, they're 25ish, so would you expect them to remember seeing him in bottom & young ones when they were on TV during 80s-90s.
@@Blitzwing83 I'd expect most British people to know who Rik Mayall was.
I find your confusion a bit maddening I’m not gonna lie. What I saw was a couple of people thoroughly enjoying a movie while watching it and then......geezus. Anyhow, fun fact: Rick Baker, who was Dick Smiths makeup effects apprentice/assistant for The Exorcist, won the fist ever Academy Award for Best Makeup Effects for this movie. Best of luck with your channel.
I don’t think they didn’t enjoy it but if you can see it from their perspective they have crammed in a lot of really good horror. Whenever I have someone that doesn’t get or seem to not appreciate a movie that I love I tend to become very defensive but we have to understand we may have had years to enjoy and understand this film as where they are watching an early 80’s film in 2020. All that to say don’t be so hard on the guys lol.
Jenny Agutter is gorgeous in this film.
I come from a whole generation for whom the song "Blue Moon" will always remind us of werewolves and AWIL.
When this came out it was somewhat revolutionary as it was the first werewolf film where you actually saw the transformation, rather than a shadow on a wall or someone falling behind the sofa and coming out changed.
You did see werewolf transformations in the old Universal films, but it was done with a technique called lap dissolve, where the actor would have to stay perfectly still while makeup was gradually applied and photographed.
czcams.com/video/QAbjz9d4-nc/video.html
Lads I think your over egging the pudding, this film had budget restraints granted the film could off been longer. But just take it for what it is a dark werewolf horror with comedy and a bonkers transformation scene. You two are legends 👍🏻🤣
I absolutely loved this film. I saw it when it first came out and it was one of only two films that ever terrified me - this and Alien. This film gets better with each viewing. You will learn to love it. The plausible drama made it fresh but also gave it the proper gravitas and a great contrast for the shocks, because you can’t predict where they are. Also since there’s been five zillion previous werewolf movies. 10/10. John Landis is one to look up and learn about
Even after all these years I crap myself if I'm in a tube station late at night and the platforms are empty.
Same, I hate going to London just in case haha. And I'm definitely staying away from the moors! xD
This was one of the first horror/comedy hybrid films, the make up effect academy award was invented for this movie as a special achievement Oscar.
It helps to know that director John Landis also did the classic comedies "National Lampoon's Animal House" (another film you should consider reacting to) and "The Blues Brothers." It isn't a case of Landis "not knowing" what tone he was going for--he deliberately created a jarring juxtaposition between comedy and horror so that the audience's disorientation would contribute to the impact of the more shocking and horrific scenes, as well as the tragic ones. And at the time, this combination, carried to such extremes, was refreshingly new and different. This was one of the first movies I ever bought on videotape after getting my first VCR in 1981, back when movies on tape were very expensive (it cost $80.00 at the time).
Five pointed star on the wall has point facing upward, which is a pentacle (for protection). A pentagram (used in devil worship) has point facing downward.
Some movies refuse to be genre'd, appreciate it for what it is.
I think the reason for the extreme shifts between horror and comedy is to make it more jarring. Going from serious to the absurdity makes it funny because if the juxtaposition. And then the comedy to graphic gore and horror makes it scarier cause you aren't prepared. There is no build up.