Full Moon Madness: The Legacy of An American Werewolf in London

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What happens when horror and comedy collide on the foggy English moors? In 1981, John Landis gave us the answer with An American Werewolf in London—a film that’s as bloody as it is hilarious, and as tragic as it is unforgettable.

This week on The THING about Films, we’re diving deep into one of the most iconic horror-comedies ever made. From its strange real-life inspiration to the decade-long struggle to get it produced, we’ll unpack the story behind the nightmare. Along the way, we cover:

• 🎬 How John Landis went from Animal House to werewolves
• 🐺 The wild back-and-forth over casting, including the almost Aykroyd & Belushi version
• 🎭 Griffin Dunne’s rotting makeup and the dark comedy hiding beneath it
• ❄️ David Naughton’s freezing barefoot runs and terrifying zoo scenes
• 🧟 Nazi werewolf nightmares, cultural clashes, and hidden allegories
• 🎶 Why every song on the soundtrack has “moon” in the title—and what didn’t make the cut
• 🩸 Rick Baker’s groundbreaking transformation effects that literally created an Oscar category

We’ll also break down the film’s deeper themes—identity, folklore, loss of control—and how this cult classic paved the way for Shaun of the Dead, Evil Dead II, and even Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

So grab your pint at The Slaughtered Lamb, keep an eye on the full moon, and join us as we unravel why An American Werewolf in London still has horror fans howling more than forty years later.

👉 Listen now to this week’s episode, and don’t forget to check out past episodes on our The THING about Films -https://thethingaboutfilms.buzzsprout.com

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