[The News Bot]

Reviewed by Chris McEneany, 13th September 2009
Hotly anticipated on BD, Landis' grisly gem certainly comes up with the goods and makes for sure-fire worthy upgrade. It leaves all SD version behind and goes a couple of steps further than the HD version, adding a few new features whilst cleaning up the image quality somewhat and defiantly boosting the audio.

The film itself remains a rare thing indeed, in that it succeeds both as a comedy and as a terrific horror film. The opening scenes on the moors are a supreme example of likeable people facing horrific circumstances, the perennial fear-flick staple of there’s something out there working the senses overtime. The FX are wonderful, not only for their time but standing up extremely well and even trouncing most similar-themed CG work that we see today. The gore is still a vivid and nasty delight – and let’s face it, you just can’t have a proper werewolf film without some ferocious disembowelling and throat-ripping, can you? – and the characters are well-drawn and reasonably credible, given the outlandish (or should that be out-Landis) circumstances. I still have some lingering doubts about the extracurricular care afforded tourists by the NHS, though … but you simply can't complain about an in-her-prime Jenny Agutter's bedside manner, can you?

The Slaughtered Lamb has made it into horror film history, if not the Good Pub Guide, the London Underground has never been better employed as a terrifying setting – Creep, pah! - and the whole Thatcherite era of Great Britain is splendidly evoked. And it took a Yank to do it. David’s tragic tale is etched with comedy, cruelty and pathos and, if the film has a peculiar only-half-completed vibe, then I feel this only adds to its atmosphere and notoriety – you simply don’t want it to end.

With Paul Davis' simply excellent retrospective documentary providing virtually an entire new film on the topic, I’ve just got to say it, haven’t I – it’s a howling success!

Without a doubt, the best filmed treatment of werewolfry so far, and it surely belongs in any horror buff’s collection. Until The Wolf Man, then … all together now, “Blue moon … you saw me standing alone …”


Read the full review...

[ninja tattoo]

Great review mate, I was brought up on this film as a 9yr kid.
It was on TV just the other evening and what started as 'I just wanna watch this bit' turned out to me being that 9yr old kid again scarred n jumping at certain zombie moments.

I'll definatly be buying this even if its to hear "Stay on the roads keep off the moors" again and see a cleaned up picture version.

If there was ever a cult classic genre THIS is the film that all movie fans must own.


Blue Moon...............................

[Ex_machina]

Great Review,although i wasn't at the empire in leicester square where this showed at frightfest,i had heard that mr landis had altered the colouring in certain scenes,and the BR had a brighter look to it than what mr landis had wanted.

[inzaman]

Originally Posted by ninja tattoo

Great review mate, I was brought up on this film as a 9yr kid.
It was on TV just the other evening and what started as 'I just wanna watch this bit' turned out to me being that 9yr old kid again scarred n jumping at certain zombie moments.

I'll definatly be buying this even if its to hear "Stay on the roads keep off the moors" again and see a cleaned up picture version.

If there was ever a cult classic genre THIS is the film that all movie fans must own.


Blue Moon...............................

Same here, i also remember being scarred s***less at the bit in the woods scene where he is having that dream

I has not seen this for years (the film frightened me that much as i was only 9) and it is only recently that i have caught on to the fact that it is also considered as a comedy.

Also another great review.

[bosque]

Excellent review. I'd forgotten how good American Werewolf is and the Piccadilly Circus sequence is a breathtakingly good piece of cinema. I wish the studios would ditch a lot of the needlessly expensive, boring CGI work and go back to using more of the hand-made special effects of artists like Rick Baker, not just in one-offs like the forthcoming Wolfman (if it's ever released).

[invisiblekid]

For me as a kid ( and even now ) the standout moments are the attack on the moors and the underground.

thanks for the review.

[mad mac]

Hi guys,

thanks for the feedback, my furry friends.

Aye, the moors, the dreams, the Underground, the transformation - it's got more scares and shocks than u think. I grew up with the film as well, but I remember it actually coming out at the flicks. Although I was able to get in to see most movies (well underage btw, and for nothing, as well) I couldn't get to see this at the time, but the images in those early Starburst magazines fuelled my enthusiasm and still haunt me even now. Surprisingly, it was the shot of David and Jack out on the moors, half turning and looking up at the moon, and the caption stating that they can "hear the werewolf stalking them" that really got me. Man, I couldn't wait to see it.

I love the moment when the bobbie hauls down the shutter on the porno cinema and, almost immediately, something BIG hurls itself against it. "Tell 'em to bring rifles!!!!!" It's really exciting stuff. Landis takes a werewolf out on the city streets and tots up a bodycount - no-one had ever done this sort of public rampage before ... except for the equally hairy Kong.

Plus, we have all the moody menace of East Proctor and the Muppets getting backheeled by a demonic Nazi werewolf from Hell.

Gotta hand it to him ... Landis totally nailed it.

Right - the problem is this, though ... now I've touted that I want to do another Full Moon Frenzy series, what do I cover next? Now that the re-release of the original The Wolf Man has been put back there isn't exactly much more in the way of forthcoming lycanthropic releases on BD or SD.

I'll still cover Mad Jack in Mike Nichols' Wolf (a disappointment, I know ... but it IS worth re-evaluating, I think) and do a revamped, expanded BD review of Company Of Wolves vey soon ... but we're still without The Howling, Wolfen (can't wait to see that in hi-def glory ) and Silver Bullet - hey I like it!

Oh, isn't Monster Squad out on BD soon, though??? Wolf Man's got nards, you know ...

But what about Fred Sears' The Werewolf? or Universal's actually very good first hairy foray with Werewolf Of London? And then there's Ollie Reed getting all snarly ... and that's before a drink!

Bring em on, I say. But what do u think ... do we want more Wolf Man coverage??

Cheers guys,

Chris McEneany

[bosque]

Although not exclusively about a Werewolf, and not a movie, the last three episodes of the BBC 3 series "Being Human" seemd to me to be a seriously good effort at taking the horror format forward and is genuinely scary as well. I think a lot of people were put off by the first three episodes - which weren't great IMO - but the last three episodes are well worth a look for anyone interested in a story about a Vampire, a Werewolf and a Ghost as flatmates in a modern-day setting. (Hint to Chris: I don't think it's been reviewed yet by AV Forums.)

[Andrew Mogford]

Ah, I can recommend that series too. And I felt there was only one weak episode amongst the six. I'm actually working through the Blu ray now. If people want it reviewed, and Chris isn't interested...............

But seriously Chris - if you haven't seen it you should

[Stefan_Tapp]

Think I'll add this to the collection, thanks for the review.

I for one can never travel down an underground escalator without expecting to see the werewolf at the bottom coming to get me!

A great piece of movie history!!

Stef

[mad mac]

Originally Posted by Andrew Mogford

Ah, I can recommend that series too. And I felt there was only one weak episode amongst the six. I'm actually working through the Blu ray now. If people want it reviewed, and Chris isn't interested...............

But seriously Chris - if you haven't seen it you should

This is a fine idea. I deffo agree that Being Human should be covered. I haven't got the BD release ... yet ... and I only caught about the half the series. I always have trouble keeping up with shows on TV, although I'll never miss Shooting Stars - it's back!!!!

So, with me having bitten off more than I can chew - got loads to do besides the wolf-stuff - and with Andy actually having the set on BD (which helps), I reckon he could give it the treatment if he wants.

What say, dude?

Chris McEneany

PS - gonna have to find a smilie with fur, fangs, pointy-ears and a snout!

[Andrew Mogford]

The boss has spoken behind the scenes.

Being Human will be my next covered disc.

[jfsebastian]

Thanks for a great and in-depth review. I greatly admire Landis' achievement in this film, in it's masterful handling of tone and unique mix of horror and comedy. Rick Baker's efforts are also a career high and have stood the test of time like no other in the field of make-up effects. The only sour note for me was reading the full story of Landis' tragic decision to cut corners on Twilight Zone: The Movie. This has certainly coloured my impression for the worse of Landis as a director and human being. I'm not sure I'd want to purchase any of his films now.