An American Werewolf in London 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

An American Werewolf in London 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Directed by John Landis ('Trading Places'), the 1981 classic tale of a young man who turns into a werewolf returns to 4K UHD disc in 'An American Werewolf in London 4K' courtesy of Universal. The film stars David Naughton ('Hot Dog') as the ill-fated traveler, along with Jenny Agutter ('Logan's Run'), John Woodvine ('The Devils'), and Griffin Dunne ('Johnny Dangerously'). The release brings forward all of the legacy material from a previous Universal Blu-ray edition, and includes on new 30-minute extra. The 4K UHD presentation with Dolby Vision is accompanied by a new Dolby Atmos track that is unique to this release. A Blu-ray disc identical to the one found in An American Werewolf in London: Restored Edition, a Digital Code redeemable via Movies Anywhere, and an embossed and foil enhanced slipcover are also included.

An American Werewolf in London 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Based on what I'm seeing, there is little if any substantive difference between the 2160p presentation with Dolby Vision found on this disc and that which was found on the recent Arrow release. In the opening credits, the same chunky grain in the optical dissolve mentioned by my colleague Jeffrey Kauffman in his review of that 4K disc is still observable. Though noticeable, due to the film's vintage I'm perhaps a bit more forgiving of it, but it's worth mentioning. Colors are wonderfully saturated, with the the occasional primaries popping nicely but never garishly, and splashes of blood being quite vivid. Skin tones are generally healthy and realistic, though, as Mr. Kaufman indicates, there are moments were where a ruddiness or sallowness creeps in. Though detectable if one is looking for it, it's hardly to the point where it will jump out at a viewer who is simply looking to enjoy a classic werewolf picture. Fine detail is impressively high, with such set elements as the pub's aged dart board displaying years of use, and the tables which are scattered about the place showing every nick, scratch, and drink ring. The stony exterior of The Slaughtered Lamb presents with excellent textural realism, as does David's bristly fur once his transformations begin. Woods are rich and warm, hospital whites are bright, and blacks are deep and inky. The included 1080p disc is identical to that of the An American Werewolf in London: Restored Edition and the score for that disc is reflected accordingly.

Screenshots are downscaled to 1080 and are in SDR.

An American Werewolf in London 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

As with their previous Restored Version from 2016 which featured a solid English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, a vintage original Mono track is missing. But rather than porting that now ten-year-old track over to this release, a new Dolby Atmos audio track has been included. Those in search of a transformative audio experience from watching the film with this new track will certainly find things here to enjoy, but improvements are more modest than major. In the early goings, as David and Jack take their fateful walk after leaving the pub, the heights are employed to provide not only some spooky atmospherics by way of the wind, but they also help encircle the viewer with the haunting howls that precede a change to David's life and an end to Jack's. Later, as he walks to Alex's flat, they are leveraged to place the viewer squarely in the bustle of the city. The Atmos track also expands the stage noticeably during such moments as when David and Alex start their amorous adventure in the shower to Van Morrison's "Moondance". Allowed to dominate, keys are precise, strings are crisp, and the bass receives pleasing but not overpowering support from the subwoofer. Dialogue is typically front and center and is free from defect or issue. Properly prioritized, it sits neatly on top of effects and the film's score. Contemporary sound effects such as flushing toilets, closing doors, and the like are handled well, as are the more chaotic and vigorous sounds of creature violence. Directionality is spot on. It's a great track. Still, I'm a bit disappointed at the lack the film's original mono track. While many may not ever select such a track when a well-done Atmos track is available, fans should be allowed the choice.

An American Werewolf in London 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

All of the supplemental material from the An American Werewolf in London: Restored Edition Blu-ray is ported over to this release. To see an accounting of this material, please follow this link. For fans, one new feature is also included. Monster by Moonlight: The Immortal Saga of the Wolfman - Hosted by John Landis (32.42) traces the history of werewolves in early cinema accompanied by a host of clips from various films. Beginning with various folktales and moving quickly to sideshow performers, the segment also touches on Bram Stoker's novel Dracula, before moving on to classic monster movies. Quickly enough, it transitions to Universal's werewolf movies beginning with Werewolf of London prior to looking at Lon Chaney Jr.'s portrayal of Larry Talbot, Jack Pierce's make-up effects, and other elements of the films as well. Time is also given to the sequels before it briefly covers the other films that followed in its wake, including offering a clip from Hammer's The Curse of the Werewolf The newly added vintage extra is an interesting watch.

An American Werewolf in London 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

That the film deserves a spot on the shelf of every horror fan goes without saying. Whether or not this release warrants a spot is a trickier question. For those who have already acquired the previous Arrow 4K UHD release in either of it's forms, but especially the stacked Limited Edition, the addition of a Dolby Atmos track and one 30-minute extra may not be enough to warrant a purchase. For those who haven't upgraded the film to 4K yet, the choice is potentially a bit easier, though the Arrow disc does have the Mono track and some supplemental material that isn't found here. And then, of course, there's the Digital Code that is included with Universal's release and the importance or value one places on that. Those who have Arrow's LE Blu-ray release are perhaps in the best position, as this release provides an excellent 2160p presentation along with the Dolby Atmos track and the new vintage extra, and buying this disc would give them the best of both worlds. Whatever your situation, though, Universal's An American Werewolf in London 4K is highly recommended for those considering a purchase.