The_Film_That_Changed_My_Life

An American Werewolf in London
7
mation sequence is obviously, rightly famous for John’s decision to do it in
bright light. Every previous werewolf transformation had always been done
in the dark and kind of obscured or using montage.
But the bit I love is that cutaway to a Mickey Mouse figure in the middle
of the scene, and the Mickey Mouse is kind of just observing this transformation.
And I never entirely understood it. I don’t really know why it’s
there, other than that it’s just a cutaway. But it always makes me laugh. It’s
just absurd and surreal.
Tell me about first encountering that transformation scene. In addition
to winning the Oscar, it’s one of the most memorable sequences in film
history.
Wright: That was probably the element of the film I was most aware was
gonna be in it. I’d read everything about the film, certainly seen lots of stills
of that scene.
The transformation is preceded by David Naughton sort of puttering
around the flat, bored. You have a whole sequence where he flips through
British TV. You’ve got this whole sequence then set to Creedence Clearwater
Revival’s “Bad Moon Rising” and him just puttering around, and you know
it’s coming.
And then when it finally comes, Sam Cooke’s version of “Blue Moon”
kicks in, and it just starts—it’s not in a dramatic scene. In fact, every other
werewolf transformation prior to that in film occurs at some dramatic
moment. You know, the lycanthrope is in human form and being chased
by villagers. Or it’s in the middle of a confrontation with somebody. Or a
revelation.
Even in something like The Howling, released the same year, there’s a
werewolf transformation in the middle of a sex scene. And in An American
Werewolf in London it starts off with Naughton sitting on the couch reading
a book, then suddenly it’s like “Jesus Christ!” It starts.
Every cliche setup from horror films is subverted with the mundanity of
the situation. It keeps putting these extraordinary scenes and really vivid,
graphic scenes in everyday settings. That’s what really makes that film.
You mentioned the music, so let’s talk about the soundtrack.