Arrow Video’s Limited Edition An American Werewolf in London 4K UHD set debuts in stores on March 15th 2022. Featuring a brand new 4K restoration by Arrow Films from the original negative and utilizing Dolby Vision, this package is simply an impeccable presentation of a one-of-a-kind classic.
If you’re considering picking up this release, you probably already know the impact An American Werewolf in London has had on the horror genre, movie special effects, and American film in general. Writer/director John Landis crafted a modern werewolf story with equal parts heart, horror, comedy, and the bizarre. There are at least five scenes in this film you’ll never forget after watching it for the first time… all for different reasons! And there’s a transformation scene to rule all other transformation scenes. We are still talking about this movie 41 years later for good reason, and it easily still holds up today as one of the greatest horror films of all time.
An American Werewolf in London has been released and re-released on the home video format for decades with varying levels of quality. For those with a set-up which supports the technology, this 4K UHD edition of the film is simply the best way out there to watch this movie. The detail of the picture is top notch, and this becomes especially enjoyable when watching many of Rick Baker’s dazzling practical special effects. HDR has been applied conservatively, only enhancing the colorful elements of the film which always existed on the print in the first place. Colorful balloons and punk hairstyles pop off the screen, and neon colors stand out against the dark nighttime scenery of the final act of the film. Otherwise, low light scenes such as the earlier outdoor moments maintain a consistent canvas without anything appearing too distracting or unnatural. The lighting of indoor environments like The Slaughtered Lamb feels warm and lifelike and rain glistens on streets. However, never once did my viewing experience feel any different from how I remember the movie looking on all of my prior watches over the years. This transfer brings the best out of the film without ever feeling revisionist in its approach to HDR.
In addition to housing one of the greatest werewolf films of all time, the disc is packed to the gills with engaging video bonuses. My personal favorite special feature is Mark of The Beast: The Legacy of the Universal Werewolf, a feature-length documentary by filmmaker Daniel Griffith, with interviews with John Landis, the film’s star David Naughton, Joe Dante, and more. This documentary tracks the entire history of every Universal werewolf flick to date and it dazzles with all sorts of interesting fun facts and tidbits. It does a great job of communicating all of the different ways the transformation effects have evolved over the years. In addition, there are numerous meditations on every aspect of the film, from its special effects to its subtext to its influence on every monster movie to come out since.
Arrow’s new 4K UHD set contains all of the great bonus features which were originally available in the 2019 blu-ray edition set. An oversized, sturdy slipcase houses the disc’s case with reversible artwork, a double-sided folded poster for the film and an attractive booklet featuring images and essays on the An American Werewolf in London. Inside the case are postcard-sized reproductions of the original lobby cards. This set is going to look great sitting on any serious collector’s shelf.
Arrow Video simply knocked it out of the park with this 4K UHD release of An American Werewolf in London. If you care about owning the best possible presentation of this much-loved and highly influential werewolf film, this limited edition set is the one to buy.