An American Werewolf in London (1981)

An American Werewolf in London follows two American college students, David and Jack, backpacking through the English countryside. Their trip turns nightmarish when a wolf-like creature attacks: Jack is killed and David survives with horrific bite wounds. Back in London, David recovers in a hospital and begins suffering violent nightmares and ghostly visitations from his dead friend, who warns that David will become a werewolf at the next full moon and urges him to take his own life to stop the curse. As David grows close to a nurse named Alex and tries to hold on to his humanity, the inevitable full moon forces a brutal transformation that sends him on a bloody rampage through the city. Watching the film is a mix of dread, dark humor, and visceral shock. You’ll feel mounting tension and eerie atmosphere in the quiet English moors and the seedier corners of London, punctuated by unexpectedly funny moments that make the horror more unsettling. The movie is famous for its striking transformation sequences and realistic makeup effects, so expect vividly gruesome sightlines, sudden violence, and haunting dream imagery. Emotional currents — survivor’s guilt, isolation, and the loss of control — give the scares weight beyond jump scares. If you like horror that balances black comedy with intense practical effects, character-driven dread, and a tragic undercurrent, this film delivers a memorable, unsettling experience.

Actors: David Naughton, Jenny Agutter, Joe Belcher

Director: John Landis

Runtime: 97 min

Genres: Comedy, Horror

6.7 /10 55 /100 7.5 /10 6.6 /10