8.1 | / 10 |
Users | 4.2 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.2 |
The tale of a tourist from the U.S. whose stay in London is disrupted when, after being bitten by a wolf, he turns into a werewolf.
Starring: David Naughton, Jenny Agutter, Griffin Dunne, John Woodvine, Brian GloverHorror | 100% |
Supernatural | 24% |
Dark humor | 17% |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
4K Ultra HD
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Arrow is offering An American Werewolf in London in 4K UHD in this new release which duplicates the limited edition packaging,
supplements, and non-disc swag that were part of
An American Werewolf in London. This review repeats relevant portions of my original review.
Having recently returned from a wonderful trip to northern England and Scotland, I can state with some confidence that I encountered virtually no
werewolves of any kind — that I remember, anyway. In just one of several kind of cheeky approaches writer-director John Landis takes in An
American Werewolf in London, those “quaint” (backlot) locations that were typically either fictional, fictionalized or even unnamed in any
number
of the vintage
Universal horror films are given a relatively more realistic depiction here, with two American hitchhikers, David Kessler (David Naughton) and Jack
Goodman (Griffin Dunne) supposedly trekking through the North York Moors (actual filming was evidently done in Wales, for what that's worth).
Despite the obviously winking subtext of a lot of An American Werewolf in
London, there’s an at least somewhat more authentic feeling to the opening scenes of the film, where David and Jack interact with
some of the locals before unwisely venturing out into the moors on a night with a full moon, which is when they interact with another
“local”,
to disastrous effect for both of them. An American Werewolf in London is probably best remembered today for its bracing “combo platter”
of
comedy and horror, as well as its Academy Award winning makeup effects by Rick Baker (the first ever statuette awarded for such work), and it
remains a rather entertaining romp that can simultaneously provoke laughs (or at least titters) along with more shocked responses from what are
some pretty graphic depictions of wounds and, later, transformations.
Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080 disc. Note that this release follows Arrow's somewhat puzzling "tradition" of not including a
1080 disc with their 4K UHD releases.
An American Werewolf in London is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Arrow Video with a 2160p transfer in 1.85:1. Arrow's insert booklet
contains verbiage that is just slightly different from what I reproduced in the video section of my original An American Werewolf in London Blu-ray review:
An American Werewolf in London is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 with mono and 5.1 sound and has been exclusively restored in 4K by Arrow Films.Anyone who is still fearful of Universal's once notorious use of digital noise reduction need only pop this 4K UHD disc into their player to be greeted with a clear (actually chunky) disabusing of that notion, since the opening few minutes of this film, and a few interstitial scenes thereafter, have some of the most ungainly yellow grain that I've personally seen in a 4K presentation, to the point that it almost looks like swarms of little yellow birds are flickering across the screen. Of course this is due in part to the opening scenes having optically printed credits, and you'll be able to see some of the same almost comical spikes in grain during a number of optical dissolves (as in the lovemaking montage much later in the film), though I have to say this aspect popped up a couple of times apart from any opticals that I was able to discern. That presentational aspect aside, this 4K version shows some nice upgrades in detail levels, with things like the bristly hair on David's "alter ego" looking really precise and nicely rendered. The gruesome makeup that adorns Griffin Dunne's face, especially the first "vision" in the hospital, is also noticeably more detailed in this version, which may or may not be a good thing, considering some viewers' more squeamish sensibilities. HDR and/or Dolby Vision add a rather interesting slightly darkened burnished look to the palette, which tends to make things like David's bright red jacket look gorgeously suffused, but also perhaps pushed just a bit more toward purplish tones than in the 1080 version. And in fact a number of flesh tones looked just a bit ruddy to me in this 4K presentation.
The original 35mm camera negative was scanned in 4K 16-bit resolution at NBC Universal Post. The film was restored in 4K and graded in HDR10 & Dolby Vision at Silver Salt Restoration, London. The key grading reference was a prior HD master approved by director John Landis.
The mono mix was sourced from the original mono mix reels and remastered at Deluxe Audio. The 5.1 mix was originally created by NBC Universal at Twickenham Film Studios, however the original 5.1 master print mage reels were newly remastered by Arrow Films at Deluxe Audio to correct for a pitch error introduced in the original mix.
Neither Casey nor Marty was that blown away by the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks on the releases they reviewed, but neither of those releases offered the original mono track from the initial theatrical exhibition, which is included here via DTS-HD Master Audio Mono. The mono track is obviously more "confined" sounding than the surround track, but is quite enjoyable on its merits, offering good fidelity and generally smart prioritization. As Casey and Marty noted, the surround track isn't a nonstop array of "showy" effects, but it certainly does engage the side and rear channels with a fair degree of regularity, offering good placement of ambient environmental effects both outdoors (the moors sequence is notable in this regard) but even with regard to some of the urban environments. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.
This 4K UHD release continues Arrow's commendable tradition of porting over all of the supplements from their previous 1080 release, along with the
1080 release's nice packaging and non-disc swag. Therefore, this section will repeat my list from my original 1080 review:
Several of these supplements were included on the previous Universal releases. I've attempted to mark what I think are the new supplements with
an asterisk (*) below:
- Trailer (1080p; 2:53)
- Teaser (1080p; 1:01)
- TV Spot (1080p; 00:31)
- Production Stills (1080p)
- Behind the Scenes (1080p)
- Posters (1080p)
- Lobby Cards (1080p)
- Storyboards (1080p) contains some really interesting introductory (text) comments by artist John Bruno.
- Shooting Schedule (1080p)
An American Werewolf in London is actually a rather sweet love letter to Universal's heritage with the Wolfman, but it manages to update the basic storyline with some post-modern irony and healthy doses of both humor and gore. This was one of my favorite films the year it came out, and I've continued to admire its rather bracing blend of gross out effects and at times rather trenchant comedy. This 4K UHD presentation may offer a few hurdles in terms of seeing through almost scrim like grain fields on occasion, but it does provide a really deeply burnished palette and some excellent detail levels. Arrow's kind of odd decision not to include their previous 1080 releases with their 4K UHD discs is a bit puzzling, but the label commendably offers fans the excellent supplements and very handsome packaging and non-disc swag of that original 1080 release. Highly recommended.
Hand Transformation Statuette
1981
Special Edition
1981
Full Moon Edition
1981
Limited Edition SteelBook with Slipcase
1981
Academy Award Series
1981
1981
1981
1981
Limited Edition Iconic Art
1981
1981
Limited Edition
1981
Restored Edition
1981
Full Moon Edition
1981
1981
2019
Late Phases
2014
1981
1982
2016
Night of the Demon
1957
2013
1986
2011
2015
2015
2002
Collector's Edition
2000
1941
2018
Quella villa accanto al cimitero
1981
1948
Collector's Edition
1982
1943
2014