AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON: 30 Years Later and it's still the best werewolf movie I've ever seen

30 years ago a seminal film opened in movie theaters around the world. It was An American Werewolf In London and to this day, it is still the best werewolf movie I have ever seen. The story has two American tourists named David Kessler (relative newcomer David Naughton) and Jack Goodman (Griffin Dunne) in Britain who are attacked by a wild animal while walking on the moors one night. Said wild animal turns out to be a werewolf and after Jack is ripped to shreds and killed, David is bitten and will soon turn into a raging beast himself. 

Awesome transformation scene...


Damn Jack you really let yourself go...


He lucks up when at the hospital he is recovering from he meets Nurse Alex Price (the always beguiling Jenny Agutter (of Logan's Run and Walkabout fame) and the two immediately hit it off. Why aren't all nurses like Jenny Agutter, I swear.

David is soon having horrible nightmares and is visited by Jack's ghost, who every time you see him is decomposing worse and worse. He tells David that he must kill himself and be free of this curse or he will kill people. Of course David doesn't believe him. But once the first full moon happens, David changes into a werewolf and promptly goes on a rampage. The first werewolf transformation is a sight to behold. Done by master make up artist Rick Baker, that scene is realistic and painful. No CGI here folks, just good old makeup and prosthetics.

Ah sweet Jenny Agutter....I don't even notice David in this pic..at all


We are so screwed it's not even funny...

Soon David realizes he knows what has to be done but can't quite do it. So when he takes in a movie and changes one more time, he is on the loose in Piccadily Square. That scene is cool as hell, as the people of Britain are terrified and running for their lives from this savage beast. The climax has Alex rushing to David's side after he is cornered in an alley ready to be taken out by Britain's finest.

That's gotta hurt....

I loved this movie when it first came out and I love it still to this day. This is how you make a great horror movie with a lean and visceral feel that doesn't drag. The cast is top notch with solid direction by John Landis. Naughton and Dunne are perfect as the american tourists and Jenny Agutter is well Jenny Agutter. Nothing more needs to be said on that. She is awesome in every way. The music score is fantastic with some choice rocking tunes including Bad Moon Rising by Creedence Clearwater Revival. And like I said it is still the best werewolf  movie that I have seen. Mainly because its old fashioned makeup effects and not computer generated. And it also has a lot of inspired humor, helped being directed by Landis (Stripes, Ghostbusters, Trading Places). 

What was that noise?

An American Werewolf In London is how you do it. Stay away from that god awful sequel An American Werewolf in Paris. It's bad. London is the one to go with.
B+

Retro Goodness - Logan's Run (1976)

Logan and Jessica on the run

Recently watched a childhood favorite of mine called Logan's Run. And guess what, the film actually holds up remarkably well 34 years later. I was expecting it to not be as good as I remembered it, but it actually surprised me. It's the 23rd century and some type of holocaust has decimated the earth, and the survivors sealed themselves into a domed city near Washington, D.C. To maintain the population balance, the computers that run the city have decreed that all people must die at 30. Those who turn 30 must participate in the event called Carousel, in which they expect to be renewed, that is reborn. But no one actually has seen or heard of anyone being renewed. And those that chose not to take part attempt to run. This system is enforced by "sandmen" : black-clad police operatives who terminate (kill) "runners" (those who attempt to live beyond 30). Logan, a sandman, is sent on a mission to find "sanctuary," which is a code- word used by the master computer to describe what it believes is a place to which runners have been escaping. Logan begins to question the system he serves and after seeing for himself that there is life beyond the dome, he returns to destroy the computer. Michael York is Logan, fresh off the Three Musketeers film. His partner and friend Francis is played by Richard Jordan. And both do a solid job. British fan favorite Jenny Agutter is cast as Jessica 6, a woman who helps Logan escape and find the truth. And she is credible in the lead female role. Not too mention beautiful. Farrah Fawcett appears in an early film role as Holly, a doctor's assistant who is gorgeous but a little confused about things. A side note, this film may be rated PG, but there is a brief orgy like sequence where there are several women that are seen topless. The movie may be set in the year 2274, but that scene feels like the 1970's. God bless the film-makers for that.

Those freaky Carousel robes and masks......

I remembered Logan's Run being this cool sci-fi movie and to that effect it is still very cool. Some of the effects may be dated now, but they were state of the art then. And to be fair, the carousel scene is still very striking today. As the participants must wear some freaky robes and masks. Sweet. The sandman's weapon is a very cool blaster that fires 4 energy blasts that form a circle pattern and strikes with deadly impact. I always thought that was a fantastic weapon to have. As are the striking uniforms of the Sandman. The action scenes are still very exciting as Logan and Jessica are pursued relentlessly by Francis, who goes off the deep end a bit. There is also the sensational score by Jerry Goldsmith which is foreboding and intense.

Richard Jordan as Francis looking crazy as hell..........

So I am pleased to report that Logan's Run is still a highly enjoyable piece of sci-fi fun that does not, I repeat, does not need updating. It's one of those few films that film-makers should leave alone. It has stood the test of time. It was even spoofed in the cult comedy classic Free Enterprise but in a good way. And although Logan's Run the movie is still awesome, the unfortunate TV series that followed it, is best forgotten.
B