AMERICAN WEREWOLF
American Werewolf is a iconic horror-comedy media franchise created by writer and director John Landis. Known for pioneering practical creature effects and blending genuine terror with dark comedy, the franchise centers on American tourists contracting the curse of lycanthropy abroad.
Cronologia
Overview
Created by writer and director John Landis, the American Werewolf franchise debuted in 1981 with the release of An American Werewolf in London.
Celebrated for pioneering a distinct balance of terrifying horror and comedic timing, the series is renowned for its groundbreaking practical transformation effects designed by Rick Baker.
Its theatrical footprint consists of two feature films: the original 1981 masterwork and a 1997 standalone sequel, An American Werewolf in Paris. Despite various remake attempts and development efforts over the decades, the IP maintains a focused legacy rooted in its feature films and physical media releases.
Origins
The franchise began with John Landis's original film An American Werewolf in London in 1981.
The story follows two American college students, David Kessler and Jack Goodman, who are attacked by a ferocious werewolf while backpacking across the English moors.
Jack is killed in the attack while David survives, only to be cursed. As David recovers in London, he is visited by the increasingly decomposed apparition of Jack, who warns him that he will transform under the next full moon. The production set a new standard for special effects, with Rick Baker's practical creature work earning critical acclaim.
Personaggi
I PEZZI DI AMERICAN WEREWOLF
Collecting
For horror collectors, the primary focus of the American Werewolf franchise resides in high-end physical media and premium home video releases.
Boutique labels such as Arrow Video, alongside studio releases from Universal Pictures, have produced definitive 4K UHD and high-definition collector sets. These releases are prized for their pristine restorations and exhaustive retrospective documentaries detailing Rick Baker's practical makeup effects. Memorabilia connected to the original film's makeup milestones remains highly sought after by genre enthusiasts.
Film
### An American Werewolf in London (1981) Directed by John Landis, this seminal horror-comedy follows an American student cursed with lycanthropy in England.
### An American Werewolf in Paris (1997) Directed by Anthony Waller, this standalone sequel shifts the lycanthropic terror to France with a new cast of characters.
Serie TV
No official canonical television series have been produced for the American Werewolf franchise.
Videogiochi
No official video game adaptations have been officially produced for the franchise.
Libri & Fumetti
No official multi-issue comic book lines or novel series have been officially produced for the IP.
