An American Werewolf in London

Two American backpackers, David Kessler and Jack Goodman, venture onto the Yorkshire Moors and encounter a terrifying creature that leaves one dead and the other scarred in body and mind. John Landis, fresh off the success of Animal House, directs this genre-blending film that mixes horror with dark comedy. David Naughton plays David, the survivor who wakes up in a London hospital under the care of Nurse Alex Price, played by Jenny Agutter. Griffin Dunne costars as Jack, whose fate becomes a haunting presence. With a budget of $10 million, the film grossed nearly $32 million worldwide, a solid return that reflected its cult appeal. Landis's script balances gruesome werewolf transformations with witty dialogue, while Elmer Bernstein's score adds an eerie layer. The movie kicks off the American Werewolf Collection, though it stands alone as a unique entry in horror-comedy.[edit]

David Kessler and Jack Goodman, two American college students backpacking through Europe, find themselves lost on the Yorkshire Moors as night falls. They seek shelter at a remote pub called The Slaughtered Lamb, where the locals behave oddly, warning them to stay on the road and beware the moon. Dismissing the warnings, the pair head back out into the foggy countryside. A terrifying howl pierces the silence, and a massive wolf-like creature attacks them. Jack is killed, and David is severely mauled before villagers arrive and shoot the beast. David wakes in a London hospital with no memory of the attack, treated by Dr. J.S. Hirsch and cared for by nurse Alex Price, with whom he forms a close bond.

As David recovers, he experiences disturbing nightmares and hallucinations. The ghost of Jack appears, decomposing further each time, and warns David that he has been cursed to become a werewolf. Jack insists David must kill himself before the next full moon to prevent more deaths. David struggles to accept this, trying to live a normal life with Alex. But his body begins to change: his senses sharpen, he becomes irritable, and he has violent urges. The film builds tension as the full moon approaches, with David caught between his humanity and the monster within.[edit]