An American Werewolf in London (1981)

Second viewing; first viewed between January, 1983 and December, 1986.

Two American guys are touring the English countryside when they are attacked by a werewolf. Their fates are different but equally ghastly.

I don't much see what the fuss is all about when it comes to this movie. It's moderately enjoyable but that's about all. If I can indulge in a bit of analysis, I would say that what strikes me as singular about it is that this is one of the forerunners of a new trend in what I would call evilless horror. Werewolf movies are ideally cut out for this kind of take because ever since the 40s they are somewhat unlike most horror movies in that the monster is also a victim. But this films takes it one step further by erasing all references to absolute evil as a source of the events; things just happen, and then it is an ethical problem of sorts for the afflicted protagonist. Vampires, on the other hand, were traditionally distinct from werewolves in that they were just pure evil, unworthy of sympathy -- well, until one day of course they were not.

Rating: 50 (down from 60)