WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

American Werewolf in London, An
Genre:Horror

Reviewed In Issue 19 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
David Naughton, Griffin Dunne, Jenny Agutter.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 2.5
Sound Rating: 1.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Live Entertainment
(Catalog Number): LD15101-WS
(MPAA Rating): R
(Retail Price): $39.99
(Running Time In Minutes): 90
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): No
(Theatrical Release): 1981
(LD Release Date): 12/1/95
(THX® Digitally Mastered):

Credits Information
(Director): John Landis
(Screenplay/Written By): John Landis
(Story): NA
(Music): Elmer Bernstein
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Leslie Dilley
(Visual Effects): Effects Associates Ltd.
(Costume Designer): Deborah Nadoolman
(Editor): Malcolm Campbell
(Supervising Sound Editors): John Poyner & Don Sharpe
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Peter Guber & John Peters
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): George Folsey, Jr.

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Mono Sound
(Theatrical Sound): Optical Mono
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
This beastly cult favorite tells of two young travelers on a three-month European adventure, which turns to terror after they are attacked by a werewolf on their first night in England. Jack (Dunne) doesn’t survive his wounds, but David (Naughton) wakes up in a London hospital. When he hears reports that they were attacked by a lunatic, David recalls amidst strange hallucinations and nightmares that their attacker was not human. With visionary help of a mangled undead Jack, David realizes he is a werewolf, and after several murders and two chaotic evenings in London, David meets his destiny.

LaserDisc Picture:
This widescreen 1.85:1 transfer exhibits poor image quality. Images lack sharpness and detail, and appear plugged-up. Color fidelity and fleshtones are inconsistent throughout. Noise and artifacts further degrade the mediocre presentation.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The monaural soundtrack quality is not exceptional, sounding excessively bright, but the music score is classic.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
(Aggressive System Surround):
(Intense 25Hz Bass):
(Deep Bass Challenging):
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield):
(Aggressive Split Surround):
(Center Back Surround Imaging):
(Directionalized Dialogue):
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: