Talk about synergy - not only does this selection feature backpacking in

Europe (authentically represented according to Movienight’s resident

European backpacker Eric Coolbaugh,) and a wonderful depiction of a game

of darts, but to top it off the crew watched this often overlooked John Landis

classic under the light of a real full moon (November’s Beaver Moon to be

precise.) 

“I never missed that board before.”

Coolbaugh comments:

What a classic. A true 80s masterpiece that, at the end of the day, delivers a perfectly plausible story, assuming you have the good fortune of being able to look up from your theatre seat and see the fullest of moons emerge from behind the cold clouds. Such was the case for the Fellowship this wonderful evening. 

Despite being hopelessly “tagged” by a generation we all sort of wish we could forget, this Landis sleeper gets out of the gate quickly. It jumps right into the story like a good porn flick.  The film opens with our American backpacking duo hitchhiking through the moors of the northern England countryside, making their way into a town that doesn’t see many visitors. Certainly not just after dusk. And most especially not on a night when the full moon slowly reveals its macabre intentions. When it appears, it’s as if it was rudely awaked from a deep hibernation. They decide to seek shelter from the rain, and stumble upon the most bizarre, creepy pub you’ve ever imagined. It reeked of satanic worship at first sight, but you soon come to realize there’s more to this pub than scotch and 8-day old steak pies. Despite being much of what was notorious about traveling Americans in the 1980s, the duo was relatively true to the vibe of backpacking. Moreover, the film’s settings were spot on, right down to the northern English Yorkie accents, properly changing as the film’s locale switches to London.

‘An American Werewolf in London’ is a remarkably solid story. In fact, the only time you need to let your mind make a leap is with regards to whether or not werewolves actually exist. And even then, you find yourself saying, “maybe…why not?” Every single detail in the story’s plausibility is addressed. Even the breaks in the story’s momentum are entertaining. Whether it’s the scenery, or the film’s dark, film noir sense of humor, it’s all in there. And you can rest assured that it won’t be long before the moon fills up again.

Onward.