Sunday, October 9, 2011

An American Werewolf in London CR: #9

Everyone this month who does reviews are doing Horror themed movies. We'll I'm going to be ENTIRELY un-original and do the same. And, I'm starting with a classic 80's movie, and then another next week, and another..BUT after that, I'm doing a NEW movie! that was released in 2007...anyway, my first Halloween review is...


Let's begin...

PLOT
Location: Northern English country-side, Time:early 80's, People: best friends David and Jack, Context: Best friends hiking in the Northern English country-side. After leaving a strange pub, David and Jack are attacked by a werewolf! while Jack is killed, David survives and is in the hospital. After a few weeks, shocking dreams, and a visit from Jack's bloody and mangled ghost, David goes home with a hot nurse and just as soon as they get home, they start a moon dance and romance. The next day, David transforms into a werewolf. The next day he doesn't remember a thing, but soon puts 2 and 2 together and the only option left? David must die!



PROS
  This movie has a perfect blend of terrifying horror, and gut-busting comedy. This was John Landis's third film after Animal House and The Blues Brothers, so of course it has comedy. but, it's mixed well with the horror. One minute, you'll be jumping out of your seat it's so scary, the next, you'll be rolling out of that same seat with laughter.

The music collection for this film is very clever. Landis uses up-beat catchy music just because they have moon in the title. Songs like Bad Moon Rising and Blue Moon are used and, just like the comedy, mixes well with the horror.
     

This film is most known for having the best transformation scene in any form of entertainment EVER, and I have to say, I agree 110%. The amazing fact is that it's all done with practical effects, no CG. The guy who did the special effects, Rick Baker, even won an Academy Award for his work. He was even hired to do the special effects for The Wolf Man remake last year. But they were all cut out and replaced with crappy CG... screw you Hollywood.

The scenes with Jack's ghost are great. Every time David see's Jack his body is more mutilated and decomposed than the last time. Shaun of the Dead even did a parody of the famous "Mirror" scene.

The night David changes, he kills 6 people, and you barley see him actually kill them. I liked the restraint Landis had in showing the deaths. Any movie today would have stopped the movie for 20 minutes just to show WereDavid gruesomely killing the victim, but you would have no idea what was going on because the camera would be shaking like it was in a washing machine on it's highest setting.


CONS
The movie's pace moves a little too fast after David is put into the hospital. The pace goes back to normal the next day, but it still affects the movie.



CONCLUSION
This is a classic horror movie that anyone who loves horror MUST SEE. Also, if you think practical effects are "Fake" and "Stupid" then watch this movie and if you come out of it still thinking that, your a Lier and should be banished from this Earth!

RATING
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P.S. Next weeks review will be of the original of a remake coming out next week, BUT WHICH ONE!?!?!? Find out next week!


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