Apparently I can't describe myself as an 1980's horror fanatic until I watch this, which is why I find it so peculiar I've been putting it off. Until now.
Starring: Jenny Agutter, David Naughton, John Woodvine
Directed by: John Landis
The Positives:
- Hellooooooo nurse!
- A Frank Oz cameo!
- Griffin Dunne's make-up is fantastic, and only gets better as the film progresses. His skeletal corpse puppet toward the finale is my favorite part of the movie.
- 'Bad Roon Rising' by Creedence Clearwater Revival may be the most perfect choice of song for a 1980's werewolf film.
- While we're on music, the rest of the film's soundtrack is excellent too. David's transformation into the beast was made 1000X more exciting thanks to 'Blue Moon' by Sam Cooke (I had to look that one up).
- John Landis balanced humor and horror incredibly well in this. Naked men stealing balloons in a zoo and neon haired punks loitering on the subway, the later Chucky films could take note.
- The scene where David ad the Nurse go shopping made me laugh hard, though unless John Landis was able to predict the future I'm sure he didn't intend for it to be funny but just a observation of his time. As all the groceries were ringing up one and two dollars, the nurse makes a remark on the groceries being "expensive" and on a nurse's salary she's unable to "keep up with inflation". Nowadays, I don't think I have ever been to a grocery store and spent less than twenty dollars, even if I was just picking up a few bags of ships and a case of soda.
- The porno film featured at the end of the film is by far the greatest thing ever committed to celluloid, and not just because of that actress' massive melons.
- Now that's how you end a movie (ie: Very quickly, with no time for closure).
- "Any resemblance to any persons living, dead or undead is coincidental." Huzzahs all around for that one.
- This film actually has me interest in The Wolfman from the 1940's. I also happen to notice it's on Netflix Instant Watch. A future 365 Day's film? I think so.
The Negatives:
- It's pretty easy to see why no Best Actor Oscar nods were given to this film.
- The werewolf puppet wasn't realistic in any way, shape, or form and it kind of bugged me. I can't really fault it though, as I understand that this was in the early 80's and I've probably been jaded from all the CGI that I grew up on. (I will say however, that the puppet does get better as the movie progresses and the frames allow more of the beast to be shown.)
- Something about the film, something I can't quite place my finger on, prevents me from totally enjoying it. Maybe it was the dark atmosphere mixed into the 1980's London setting that gave it a certain cheesy quality.
Grade: B-
It's a fun film and actually quite disconcerting here and there, but nonetheless it feels dated which can be bothersome at times.
Starring: Jenny Agutter, David Naughton, John Woodvine
Directed by: John Landis
The Positives:
- Hellooooooo nurse!
- A Frank Oz cameo!
- Griffin Dunne's make-up is fantastic, and only gets better as the film progresses. His skeletal corpse puppet toward the finale is my favorite part of the movie.
- 'Bad Roon Rising' by Creedence Clearwater Revival may be the most perfect choice of song for a 1980's werewolf film.
- While we're on music, the rest of the film's soundtrack is excellent too. David's transformation into the beast was made 1000X more exciting thanks to 'Blue Moon' by Sam Cooke (I had to look that one up).
- John Landis balanced humor and horror incredibly well in this. Naked men stealing balloons in a zoo and neon haired punks loitering on the subway, the later Chucky films could take note.
- The scene where David ad the Nurse go shopping made me laugh hard, though unless John Landis was able to predict the future I'm sure he didn't intend for it to be funny but just a observation of his time. As all the groceries were ringing up one and two dollars, the nurse makes a remark on the groceries being "expensive" and on a nurse's salary she's unable to "keep up with inflation". Nowadays, I don't think I have ever been to a grocery store and spent less than twenty dollars, even if I was just picking up a few bags of ships and a case of soda.
- The porno film featured at the end of the film is by far the greatest thing ever committed to celluloid, and not just because of that actress' massive melons.
- Now that's how you end a movie (ie: Very quickly, with no time for closure).
- "Any resemblance to any persons living, dead or undead is coincidental." Huzzahs all around for that one.
- This film actually has me interest in The Wolfman from the 1940's. I also happen to notice it's on Netflix Instant Watch. A future 365 Day's film? I think so.
The Negatives:
- It's pretty easy to see why no Best Actor Oscar nods were given to this film.
- The werewolf puppet wasn't realistic in any way, shape, or form and it kind of bugged me. I can't really fault it though, as I understand that this was in the early 80's and I've probably been jaded from all the CGI that I grew up on. (I will say however, that the puppet does get better as the movie progresses and the frames allow more of the beast to be shown.)
- Something about the film, something I can't quite place my finger on, prevents me from totally enjoying it. Maybe it was the dark atmosphere mixed into the 1980's London setting that gave it a certain cheesy quality.
Grade: B-
It's a fun film and actually quite disconcerting here and there, but nonetheless it feels dated which can be bothersome at times.
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