10 Best Creature Features Of The 1980s
3. An American Werewolf In London
It's no surprise that many of the best creature features happen to have the best special effects. With that in mind, An American Werewolf in London had to make the list as it's the first film to win an Academy Award for Best Makeup.
And how could it not? Even if every other aspect was garbage, this buddy horror-comedy would still be talked about endlessly because of its special effects.
Though watching our protagonist unleashing his inner animal is the defining moment, the rest of An American Werewolf In London isn't to be sniffed at. Prior to this, director John Landis helmed comedy classics Animal House and Blues Brothers. As such, he had no trouble injecting clever one-liners and creative visual gags throughout this movie. The lighthearted moments are so funny, they juxtapose brilliantly with the horror elements. One moment, a family is watching The Muppets, the next, they're being mowed down by Nazi demons.
Though the tone should be jarring, Landis manages to craft a story that's simultaneously hilarious and creepy. Seeing the actors effortlessly playing up the silly moments, then conveying sincere terror straight after, makes the comedic parts funnier and the horrifying moments scarier.