Not Your Mother’s Monster Movies
Halloween can be tricky for those who don’t enjoy being scared. While I like a little fright, most horror films don’t match my idea of fun. For me, the ideal horror movie blends terror with comedy.
Favorite Halloween Monster Movies
I have four favorite films for the Halloween season, each featuring one of my favorite monsters.
“An American Werewolf in London”
Werewolves are among the coolest monsters, but most werewolf movies lean heavily into horror rather than humor. The 1981 cult classic An American Werewolf in London breaks that mold. It follows two young men, David and Jack (played by David Naughton and Griffin Dunne), traveling through England. They encounter a mysterious town where a werewolf attacks them.
A few weeks later, David wakes up in London, trying to understand what happened. The film perfectly balances scary moments with silly ones. For example, David mocks the idea of lycanthropy (turning into a werewolf) but then suffers a grotesque and painful transformation.
The special effects used for the werewolf transformation in An American Werewolf in London won the first Academy Award for Best Makeup and still look frightening over 40 years later.
If I were to pick a werewolf film to set a spooky atmosphere, this would be my choice.
Author’s summary: Blending scares with humor, “An American Werewolf in London” remains a top Halloween pick for its timeless effects and perfect balance between fright and fun.