An American Werewolf in London (1981) – WTF Happened to This Horror Movie?

A new episode of the WTF Happened to This Horror Movie? video series has just been released, and in this one we’re digging into the making of one of the most popular werewolf movies ever, the 1981 classic An American Werewolf in London (watch it HERE). To hear all about this movie, which won an Oscar for the werewolf transformation effects provided by Rick Baker, check out the video embedded above!

Written and directed by John Landis, An American Werewolf in London has the following synopsis:

David and Jack, two American college students, are backpacking through Britain when a large wolf attacks them. David survives with a bite, 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. When David discovers the horrible truth, he contemplates committing suicide before the next full moon causes him to transform from man to murderous beast.

The film stars David Naughton, Jenny Agutter, Griffin Dunne, and John Woodvine.

This is what the WTF Happened to This Horror Movie series is all about:

Hollywood has had its fair share of historically troubled productions. Whether it was casting changes, actor deaths, fired directors, in-production rewrites, constant delays, budget cuts or studio edits, these films had every intention to be a blockbuster, but were beset with unforeseen disasters. Sometimes huge hits, sometimes box office bombs. Either way, we have to ask: WTF Happened To This Horror Movie?

The An American Werewolf in London episode of WTF Happened to This Horror Movie? was Written by Mike Conway, Edited by Juan Jimenez, Narrated by Jason Hewlett, Produced by Lance Vlcek and John Fallon, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.

A couple of the previous episodes of the show can be seen below. To see more, head over to our JoBlo Horror Originals YouTube channel – and subscribe while you’re there!

What do you think of An American Werewolf in London? Let us know by leaving a comment!