This Day in Horror History: AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON Opened in 1981
On this day in horror history, writer-director John Landis’ horror-comedy classic An American Werewolf in London with David Naughton, Jenny Agutter, and Griffin Dunne was released in 1981
Landis wrote the first draft of the screenplay in 1969 but financiers thought it was too frightening to be a funny film and too funny to be frightening. Then, after helming hits such as Kentucky Fried Movie, Animal House, and The Blues Brothers, Landis secured financing via PolyGram Pictures.
Filming took place in spring 1981 with An American Werewolf in London being the first film allowed to shoot in Piccadilly Circus in 15 years after Landis invited 300 members of London’s Police to a screening of The Blues Brothers.
An American Werewolf in London grossed $30M at the US box office and $62M worldwide against the budget of $5.8M. And if that wasn’t enough, it won Rick Baker the first-ever Academy Award for Best Makeup.
Hollywood Pictures released a sequel, An American Werewolf in Paris in 1997.
Landi’s son Max Landis was hired to write and direct a remake and confirmed on Twitter that he had completed the first draft of the script. However, following accusations of abuse from Landis, the project was put on indefinite hold.
The film tells the tale of two American college students backpacking through Britain who are attacked by a large wolf. David survives, but Jack is brutally killed. As David heals in the hospital, he’s plagued by violent nightmares of his mutilated friend, who warns David that he is becoming a werewolf. Horror and hilarity ensue.
The film sports an 87% approval rating over on Rotten Tomatoes with a Critics Consensus that reads: Terrifying and funny in almost equal measure, John Landis’ horror-comedy crosses genres while introducing Rick Baker’s astounding make-up effects.
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