An American Werewolf in London
John Landis’s seminal werewolf movie boasted 80s hairstyles, a rather apropos soundtrack, a likable werewolf, and some amazing practical effects from maestro Rick Baker. The tale of a young American bitten by a werewolf while touring the English countryside embraces both horror and comedy as he grapples with the realities of becoming a werewolf. He’s haunted by the best friend he may have accidentally murdered, and a more corporeal young woman who just wants to help him. With plenty of body horror and a healthy dose of tongue-in-cheek humor, this was the werewolf movie that reinvigorated the sub-genre.
An American Werewolf in London was only made about thirty years ago, which in the memory-span of contemporary Hollywood makes it ancient. If you’re going to start remaking classics, might as well go for a film that played with subverting well-known tropes and see if you can subvert a subversion.