Tonight on MeTV- it’s an iconic 1981 horror movie from director John Landis-featuring groundbreaking make-up and special effects by Rick Baker that won him an Oscar- in the story of two young men who end up out on the moors- and have an encounter with a werewolf that leaves one of them ready to assume the title of “An American Werewolf in London”!

IMPORTANT NOTE:

We have done some editing of the film for content, but- there is still some frightening gore and things that may be too intense and upsetting for younger and more sensitive viewers. I will be giving warnings throughout the film- but PLEASE- take them seriously. I know we have had some comments regarding some of the films our Sven Squad have shown- and this film falls right in line with some of their content. As we say, viewer discretion is advised- strongly!

This story begins with David and Jack, a couple backpacking New Yorkers, travelling out on the North York Moors in England. As it gets late, they stop in a pub with the cheery name of “The Slaughtered Lamb”- and receive a rather hostile welcome. When they decide it’s best to exit-one of the locals warns them to stay on the road and keep clear of the moors.

Naturally, they get lost and wander into the moors -where they are attacked by a vicious creature, leaving Jack apparently dead and David badly mauled. Fortunately, some of the pub patrons have followed them and shoot the attacker. When David half-consciously looks over at the target the men killed- it does NOT appear to be an animal, but-a human!

David regains consciousness days later in a London hospital, being cared for by the attractive and compassionate nurse Alex. When a police inspector comes to question David- he says that his attacker was an escaped lunatic- while David insists it was an animal, a huge dog or a wolf. Naturally- nobody believes him. Even he doesn’t know what to believe- when he is visited by- Jack! The mauled and undead friend reveals to David that he was indeed attacked by a werewolf- and now will also become one. Sadly, this means he will not rest in peace until the werewolf bloodline ends- meaning David must die to free his friend from his state of being neither alive or dead. Jack urges him to end his life before the next full moon to keep any new victims from harm.

When David is released from the hospital, Alex offers him lodging at her apartment. It is there that, one morning, he is again visited by the even more decaying Jack- who warns him that the full moon will appear the next night- and again urges him to commit suicide before it’s too late!

David is confused and still not convinced- until the next full moon- when he painfully transforms from man to wolf! As predicted, there are more attacks. Meanwhile, one kindly doctor who wants to find out the truth about what happened to David, heads out to the pub near the moors, and is met with the usual stony silence- until one of the locals finally tells him the truth about what has happened to David- and what he has become.

David realizes that Jack is right- but can’t bring himself to end his own life. Meanwhile, his rotting pal reminds him that it is the only way to stop the carnage- but there’s still another night of the full moon…

As I mentioned, the amazing transformation of David that Rick Baker created is outstanding. We’ll talk about how he did certain things, we’ll give the history of the film, introduce you to the key players, including David Naughton- best remembered as the “I’m a Pepper” guy in 1980s Dr. Pepper commercials, Griffin Dunne as the ever-deteriorating Jack, and the lovely Jenny Agutter as nurse Alex. We’ll also bring you a new song, discuss a well-known “Easter egg” that appears in John Landis’ films, and more!

“An American Werewolf in London” will arrive tonight on MeTV at 8 pm eastern/pacific, 7 central time. We expect there will be plenty of live-Tweeting on Twitter and live commenting on Bluesky during the movie, and you can join in- please include the hashtag #svengoolie in your posts. This morning in the Chicago viewing area, viewers get one more chance to spend time in the “House on Haunted Hill” at 11am on our main local station WCIU the U.

Let me make a quick correction to something I mentioned in the April Sven newsletter- this week actually marked 15 years of us being on nationally, not 14 as I had stated. We had conflicting stories from a couple sources- my apologies!

I again want to thank the many fans who came out to visit with the Sven Squad and I at the C2E2 convention last weekend! The great reception we got from the attendees certainly made us all feel honored. Here’s hoping we can all appear together and meet more of you soon!

Tonight, be here when there’s a bad moon rising- and an even worse werewolf on the prowl!