# An American Werewolf in London

> 1981 film directed by John Landis

**Wikidata**: [Q467290](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q467290)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_American_Werewolf_in_London)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/an-american-werewolf-in-london

## Summary
An American Werewolf in London is a 1981 horror-comedy film directed by John Landis, blending elements of comedy horror, black comedy, and traditional comedy genres. The film follows two American backpackers in England who encounter a werewolf, with groundbreaking special effects by Rick Baker that earned the first Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

## Key Facts
- Directed by John Landis and released on August 21, 1981, with a later release on April 30, 1982
- Production companies include PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Universal Pictures
- Won the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling in 1981
- IMDb ID: tt0082010, Rotten Tomatoes rating: 89%, Metacritic score: 55/100
- Budget: $1.8 million, Box office gross: $30.5 million
- Runtime: 97 minutes
- Country of origin: United Kingdom, United States
- Genre classifications: comedy horror, black comedy film, comedy film
- Followed by sequel "An American Werewolf in Paris" (1997)
- Wikidata description: "1981 film directed by John Landis"
- Wikipedia sitelink count: 40 language editions

## FAQs
**What is the plot of An American Werewolf in London?**
The film follows two American backpackers, David Kessler and Jack Goodman, who are attacked by a werewolf while traveling in England. Jack is killed, and David survives but becomes a werewolf himself, struggling with his transformation while falling in love with a nurse in London.

**Who created the special effects for the film?**
Rick Baker created the groundbreaking werewolf transformation effects, which won the first-ever Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling in 1981. The transformation sequence is considered one of the most iconic in horror cinema history.

**What makes this film unique in the horror genre?**
An American Werewolf in London uniquely blends horror and comedy elements, creating the comedy horror genre. It combines genuinely frightening werewolf sequences with dark humor and witty dialogue, setting a new standard for genre-blending films.

**Where was the film shot?**
The film was primarily shot in England, with scenes filmed in Yorkshire (standing in for the fictional East Proctor) and London. The London sequences include famous locations like Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus.

## Why It Matters
An American Werewolf in London matters as a groundbreaking film that redefined the horror genre by successfully blending comedy and horror elements. Its innovative approach created the comedy horror subgenre, influencing countless films that followed. The film's special effects, particularly the werewolf transformation sequence, set new standards for practical effects in cinema and earned the first Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, establishing this category as a permanent fixture in the Oscars. Beyond its technical achievements, the film's unique tone—balancing genuine scares with dark humor—demonstrated that horror could be both terrifying and funny, expanding the creative possibilities for filmmakers. Its cultural impact extends to popular culture, with references and homages appearing in numerous subsequent films, television shows, and other media.

## Notable For
- First film to win the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling (1981)
- Created the comedy horror genre through its successful blend of scares and humor
- Features one of cinema's most iconic werewolf transformation sequences
- Directed by John Landis during his peak creative period (also known for "The Blues Brothers" and "Trading Places")
- Achieved significant box office success relative to its modest $1.8 million budget
- Influenced the development of practical special effects in horror cinema
- Contains memorable dark humor and quotable dialogue that became cultural touchstones
- Shot on location in both rural England and London, adding authenticity to the story

## Body

### Production and Creative Team
An American Werewolf in London was directed by John Landis, who also wrote the screenplay. The film was produced by George Folsey Jr. and Jon Peters, with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Universal Pictures serving as the primary production companies. Rick Baker served as the special makeup effects artist, creating the groundbreaking werewolf transformation that would earn him the first Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling. The film's cinematography was handled by Robert Paynter, while Elmer Bernstein composed the memorable score that blended traditional horror elements with ironic musical choices.

### Plot and Characters
The story follows David Kessler (David Naughton) and Jack Goodman (Griffin Dunne), two American backpackers hiking across the Yorkshire moors in England. After being warned by locals to "beware the moon" and stay on the road, they are attacked by a mysterious creature. Jack is killed, and David survives but is taken to a London hospital where he falls in love with nurse Alex Price (Jenny Agutter). David soon discovers he has been cursed to become a werewolf, experiencing horrific transformations and visions of his dead friend Jack, who warns him of his fate. The film climaxes with David's final transformation and rampage through London's streets.

### Special Effects and Technical Achievements
Rick Baker's special effects work revolutionized practical effects in cinema. The werewolf transformation sequence, which shows David's body contorting and changing shape over several minutes, was achieved through a combination of prosthetics, air bladders, and mechanical effects. This sequence took weeks to film and required extensive preparation and testing. The effects were so groundbreaking that they established new standards for creature effects and directly led to the creation of the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling category. The film also featured innovative use of blue screen technology and practical gore effects that were shocking for their time.

### Cultural Impact and Legacy
The film's success established comedy horror as a viable and popular subgenre, influencing films like "Evil Dead II," "Shaun of the Dead," and countless others. Its blend of genuine horror with dark humor created a template that many filmmakers have attempted to replicate. The film's quotable lines, such as "A naked American man stole my balloons," became part of popular culture. The transformation sequence has been referenced and parodied in numerous films and television shows, cementing its place in cinematic history. The film also helped establish London as a viable location for American-style horror films, showing that the city could serve as an effective backdrop for supernatural stories.

### Release and Reception
An American Werewolf in London premiered on August 21, 1981, in the United States and received a wider release on April 30, 1982. The film was both a critical and commercial success, grossing over $30 million against a budget of $1.8 million. Critics praised the film's innovative blend of horror and comedy, with particular acclaim for the special effects and Rick Baker's work. The film currently holds an 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has maintained its reputation as a classic of the horror genre over four decades after its release.

### Music and Soundtrack
The film's soundtrack, composed by Elmer Bernstein, cleverly uses moon-related songs throughout the film, including versions of "Blue Moon" and "Moondance." This musical choice adds to the film's ironic and darkly comedic tone. The score itself blends traditional horror elements with more contemporary sounds, reflecting the film's modern setting and tone. The use of music as both a narrative device and a source of dark humor became one of the film's signature elements.

### Locations and Setting
The film was shot on location in England, with the Yorkshire moors sequences filmed in the Peak District National Park, standing in for the fictional East Proctor. The London sequences were filmed throughout the city, including Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, and various London Underground stations. The contrast between the rural English countryside and the urban London setting mirrors the film's tonal shifts between horror and comedy. The authentic British locations add to the film's atmosphere and help ground the supernatural elements in a recognizable reality.

### Sequel and Franchise
The film spawned a sequel, "An American Werewolf in Paris," released in 1997 and directed by Anthony Waller. While the sequel was not as critically acclaimed as the original, it continued the story of American characters encountering werewolves in Europe. The original film has also inspired various other media, including comic books, merchandise, and references in video games and television shows. The enduring popularity of the original has kept interest in potential reboots or remakes alive in Hollywood.

### Technical Specifications
The film has a runtime of 97 minutes and was shot in color using traditional film stock. The aspect ratio is 1.85:1, standard for films of that era. The special effects were achieved entirely through practical means, without the use of computer-generated imagery, which was still in its infancy in 1981. The film's practical effects have aged remarkably well, contributing to its continued appreciation by modern audiences who often prefer practical effects over CGI.

### Genre Classification
An American Werewolf in London is classified under multiple genre categories: comedy horror, black comedy film, and comedy film. This multi-genre classification reflects the film's unique approach to storytelling, where elements of traditional horror (werewolves, gore, suspense) are seamlessly integrated with comedic elements (witty dialogue, ironic situations, dark humor). This genre-blending approach was relatively novel for its time and helped establish new possibilities for horror filmmakers.

## References

1. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
2. [Source](https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1982)
3. Letterboxd
4. The Movie Database
5. An American Werewolf in London. Rotten Tomatoes
6. The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures
7. BFI Film & TV Database
8. Academy Awards Database
9. Lexicon of international films
10. Freebase Data Dumps
11. [Source](http://www.insidekino.com/DJahr/D1982.htm)
12. [Source](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082010/locations?ref_=tt_dt_dt)
13. [Source](http://www.thestudiotour.com/movies.php?movie_id=308)
14. Kinopoisk
15. terjesztesre_kerulo_filmalkotasok_nyilvantartasa.xlsx
16. [Source](http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=1082.html)
17. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
18. [Source](https://www.cnc.fr/professionnels/visas-et-classification/54873)
19. Bechdel Test Movie List
20. mymovies.it
21. [Source](https://elonet.finna.fi/Record/kavi.elonet_elokuva_659475)
22. [Source](https://www.acmi.net.au/works/92803)
23. TheTVDB
24. Trakt.tv
25. FilmVandaag.nl