(Reviewed by Snake-666) - Horror-comedy perfection!  John Landis directs this exceptional addition to the werewolf sub-genre featuring a beautiful soundtrack, some of the best comedy in any movie and a solid story. David Kessler (David Naughton) and Jack Goodman (Griffin Dunne) are American college students on vacation and wandering the English moors. On their travels they happen upon a quaint English pub with some rather unusual patrons. Unfortunately the pair seems to offend the pub regulars by enquiring about a pentagram painted onto the walls and decide that it is best to leave. Before their departure they are warned about walking on the moors at night and are told to stick to the roads. Irreverent of such advice the pair soon find themselves walking on the moors and suffer a horrendous attack in which Jack loses his life. David wakes up a few weeks later in a London hospital and is disturbed when he starts to see his dead friend who informs him that unless David commits suicide he will become a werewolf on the next full moon.

From the enchanting opening scenes of the English moors accompanied beautifully by the elegant song ‘Blue Moon' to the tragic final moments ‘An American Werewolf in London' is one of the finest examples of horror comedy in the last thirty years. The special effects genius of Rick Baker, who created one of the most convincing werewolf transformations in film history, justifiably is what this movie is mainly remembered for but it unfortunately leaves the other equally impressive aspects of this amazing movie neglected. The sharp and strong screenplay also written by director John Landis is full of witty jokes and clever dialogue. Landis also directs this movie competently and creates an undeniably comic atmosphere yet intermingled with some shocking horror sequences. In fact the nightmare sequences that feature early on in the movie are possibly the most effectively dark and disturbing horror scenes of the 1980's!

On top of the impressive screenplay and direction we are treated to some of the better acting that any horror has to offer. David Naughton plays his role so well that it is impossible not to feel sympathy for him throughout the movie and especially towards the end. Jenny Agutter in the role of Nurse Alex Price also offers an inspired performance and one feels for her during the dying moments of the movie. No comments about ‘An American Werewolf in London' would be complete without commenting on the hilarious performance by Griffin Dunne whose occasional appearances as a zombie in various states of decomposition offer some of the most amusing scenes in any horror movie including a truly side-splitting sequence in a theatre where Griffin's character, along with other zombies, discuss the best ways to commit suicide – it has to be seen to be believed! Full marks must once again go to Rick Baker for his talented make-up work which created some grotesquely brilliant decomposing zombies.

Like with most movies there are some flaws such as David being sent to hospital in London after his accident took place in Yorkshire and occasionally the film drags a little (and I do mean a little) but overall these can be ignored as ‘An American Werewolf in London' is a highly entertaining addition to the horror genre and a must-see for all horror fans. Although the exceptional make-up effects and the marvellously created werewolf transformation undeniably stand out this movie has far more to offer. Packed full of witty one liners and gory horror scenes ‘An American Werewolf in London' stands out as one of the greatest horror movies of the 1980's and maybe even one of the finest horror/comedy films in history! My rating for ‘An American Werewolf In London' – 8.5/10