horror

81. An American Werewolf in London

/ Chase Clark / Leave a comment

Two American travelers, David Kessler (David Naughton) and Jack Goodman (Griffin Dunne), get attacked by a wolf out in the Yorkshire moors, leaving David bedridden for weeks and killing Jack. David appears to be healing up rather quickly according to Dr. Hirsch and the nurse, Alex, but he’s convinced he’s getting worse. He and Alex fall in love and sleep together at her apartment. When she goes to work for her night shift, David transforms into a werewolf in one of the most excruciatingly long scenes ever, and then attacks people night after night. His reign of terror on London is ended when the police corner him in an alley behind an adult movie theater. The movie is funnier than you might expect, but it’s also truly horrific, with jump scares and intense shadows. Quite frankly, it’s one of the best monster movies of all time.

An American Werewolf in London revived the monster movie subgenre of horror, which had been on the decline in the US since Creature from the Black Lagoon. Monster movies still had a following in the UK thanks to Hammer Studios, but the US was beginning to become infatuated with slasher films. An American Werewolf in London was so beloved by Michael Jackson, that he hired director John Landis and famed makeup artist Rick Baker to work with him on his “Thriller” music video. Baker’s effects in this movie, specifically the horrific transformation scene, have become points of reference for all future practical horror effects.

On my copy of the movie, it comes with a video essay from Jon Spira called, “I Think He’s A Jew: The Werewolf’s Secret”, which puts the film in the frame of Jewish identity in a foreign land. David’s jewishness was not something I really caught on to on my first watch of the movie, and this video (plus confirmation from the director) helped me to catch little references to the Londoners’ infatuation and fear that is buried in David’s subconscious. This angle elevates the movie from simple horror schlock to a movie worth investigating. I recommend An American Werewolf in London to anyone who can handle some gross prosthetics and slight nudity.

Bonus Review: The Thing

John Carpenter’s best film takes place in Antarctica, where an American research team witness a helicopter blow up in pursuit of a dog. R.J. MacReady (Kurt Russell) investigates and finds an unusual-looking body, which he brings back to base to have investigated. However, it soon becomes clear that the body is that of an alien creature taking the form of a human. As the revelations about the aliens abilities come to fruition, MacReady and the others realize, in their isolation, none of them are safe. The alien could be impersonating any one of them. That paranoia of who is who they say they are drives the movie to it’s explosive end. Kurt Russell’s performance and the special effects, which are still quite impressive if not disgusting, make this film a must-watch.

But that’s looking at The Thing through a modern lens. When it was originally released, the movie bombed at the box office, particularly because of the grotesque effects. I can’t sugarcoat it; the effects are excessively gory, and I know that can be a turnoff for some people. So, if you have an upset stomach, maybe avoid it. But for those of you who can handle it, the story is really what makes The Thing so great. Based on a novella written in the 1930s, Who Goes There?, The Thing is essentially a sci-fi horror reimagining of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. Because the alien creature can imitate the form of anyone in the camp, no one is able to trust each other, and their attempts to prove who the alien is imitating are suspenseful to say the least. John Carpenter’s only truly-great film is a psychological masterpiece.

It Came from Outer Space

/ Chase Clark / 1 Comment

When I think of the slew of 1950’s Sci-Fi movies that were released on shoe-string budgets, a few things come to mind. Terrible acting, ridiculous special effects, and the most basic plots known to man. It Came from Outer Space is no exception to these things, but with one interesting twist. What if the aliens aren’t here to destroy or enslave us?

John Putman and his fiancee, Ellen Fields are out stargazing one night when John notices something shooting across the skyline from his telescope, watching it crash off in the distance. The two go investigate and, just before it sinks beneath the dirt of a landfill, John sees a spaceship. John tries to convince the town of what he saw, but no one believes him until the sheriff starts to notice some people going missing and returning with a strange air about them. The sheriff decides they have to kill the aliens before they themselves are killed, but John believes a peaceful solution can be reached. He discovers that the aliens aren’t killing anyone, they’re merely shapeshifting into humans they see in order to get ahold of supplies they need to repair their busted ship. Once they have all the parts they need, they will get out of Earth’s hair. It’s up to John to keep the sheriff and his posse from getting to the aliens before they can leave.

Most of the time, these Sci-Fi movies from the 50s are reactions to the Red Scare. The aliens are malicious and vindictive and out to conquer our planet, just like the Soviets. However, this movie, based on a treatment from one of the greatest Sci-Fi authors, Ray Bradbury, depicts the aliens as sympathetic. Not necessarily human, but deserving of a chance for peace. Just that tiny change elevates the movie above many of its peers. It still has the cheesy special effects, but they’re more subdued and used sparingly. It’s not like there’s a giant lobster off in the distance, ready to attack.

Credit can be given to the film’s director, Jack Arnold, for the intelligence behind the camera. Arnold’s other credits include Tarantula, Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Mouse That Roared, and a personal favorite, The Incredible Shrinking Man – all much smarter than their contemporaries. It will still make you laugh when you aren’t supposed to, but It Came from Outer Space is an enjoyable Sci-Fi romp, worth a look during the month of Halloween.