An American Werewolf in London

Synopsis: David (David Naughton) and Jack (Griffin Dunne), 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.
Genre: Comedy, Horror
Production: Universal Pictures
  Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations.
 
IMDB:
7.6
Metacritic:
60
Rotten Tomatoes:
88%
R
Year:
1981
97 min
Website
723 Views


FADE IN:

MAN'S FOOTPRINT

on the moon.

EXT. MOON

Camera begins to pull back slowly, straight up - the song

"Moon Shadow" by Cat Stevens begins. Once we are high enough

to see the entire moon, the main title is superimposed.

AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON

We continue to retreat from the moon, looking on as it grows

farther from us, continuing credits until the full moon is

the size it appears to us from earth.

EXT. CROSSROADS ON THE MOORS - NIGHT

Tree branches enter into the frame, the camera pans down and

we see a truck approaching. We are at a crossroads in the

moors, looking sinister enough to have earned their literary

reputation.

The truck stops at the crossroads, the DRIVER, mustached and

wearing tweeds, boots, and a muffler, climbs down.

"Moon Shadow" ends.

CUT TO:

Loud bang of the back grating on the truck as it slams down.

Revealed among the sheep are two rudely-awakened young

American boys. They look exhausted. They both carry backpacks,

two American kids on a jaunt in Europe. They are both in

their late twenties.

It is very cold and they clamber out of the truck none too

happily. Pushing sheep aside they step out and stretch.

JACK GOODMAN AND DAVID KESSLER

They've been cramped for hours.

TRUCK DRIVER:

Here, lads, East Proctor and all

about are the moors. I go east here.

JACK:

Yes, well thank you very much for

the ride, sir. You have lovely sheep.

TRUCK DRIVER:

(as he clambers back

up on his truck)

Boys, keep off the moors. Stay on

the road. Good luck to you.

DAVID:

Thanks again!

He drives off. LONG SHOT of the two boys as the lorry pulls

away. Surrounding them are the moors. They put on their packs,

David points to the signpost pointing towards East Proctor.

EXT. ROAD ON THE MOORS - NIGHT

As they walk, their breath visible:

JACK:

Are you cold?

DAVID:

Yes.

JACK:

Good.

They walk on, finally:

DAVID:

Jack.

JACK:

David.

DAVID:

You're not having a good time are

you?

JACK:

Oh, I don't know. I mean look around.

Isn't this a fun place?

The camera shows us the moors - desolate, cold, foreboding.

DAVID:

Well, I like it here.

JACK:

I'm sorry. Northern England first,

Italy later.

DAVID:

Right.

They walk on.

JACK:

Do you think she'll meet me in Rome?

DAVID:

I think Debbie Klein is a mediocre

person with a good body.

JACK:

Debbie is not mediocre and she has

one of the great bodies of all time.

DAVID:

She's a jerk.

JACK:

You're talking about the woman I

love.

DAVID:

I'm talking about a girl you want to

f***, so give me a break.

JACK:

Well, anyway, do you think she'll be

there?

DAVID:

I don't know.

JACK:

(like an announcer)

Rendezvous in Rome starring Jack

Goodman and Debbie Klein. The love

affair that shocked Europe! See torrid

lovemaking at its most explicit! See

Jack and Debbie expose their lust in

the sacred halls of the Vatican!

Never has the screen dared...

DAVID:

If you don't stop, I'm going to kill

you.

JACK:

I have to make love to her. It's

very simple. She has no choice really.

DAVID:

It just fascinates me that you can

spend so much energy on someone so

dull.

JACK:

It is impossible for a body like

that to be dull.

DAVID:

We've known Debbie what, since the

eighth grade? How many years of

foreplay is that?

JACK:

She says she 'likes me too much'.

David just laughs and laughs and laughs.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. EAST PROCTOR MAIN STREET - NIGHT

David and Jack entering East Proctor. It is brightly moonlit.

East Proctor consists of a few shops, all closed, a petrol

pump and a pub. East Proctor has a very small population and

the place looks empty. David and Jack enter the middle of

town and look about. The camera sees what they see. A few

shops, dark and shuttered. Light and laughter come from the

pub.

Rate this script:4.5 / 2 votes

John Landis

John David Landis is an American film director, screenwriter, actor, and producer. He is known for his comedy films, his horror films, and his music videos with Michael Jackson. more…

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