10 Ingenious Uses Of End Credits Songs In Movies
4. Blue Moon – An American Werewolf In London
It is extremely rare to get a laugh with just the use of an end credits song in a movie. However, 1981's cult classic An American Werewolf in London might be the ultimate example of managing to achieve this.
As the titular American Werewolf lies naked and (spoilers) dead in an alleyway, surrounded by soldiers and his grieving girlfriend, we abruptly cut to black and the upbeat song 'Blue Moon' plays. While this is in keeping with the rapid pace of the breezy 97 minute film, cutting to a doo-wop end credits song while the lead character is barely cold in his grave is quite shocking.
However, in many ways this musical decision perfectly encapsulates the kind of black comedy that made John Landis' cult film such a revolution, to both the world of comedy and horror. Landis made a very conscious decision to ironically have his Werewolf film's soundtrack made up purely of 'Moon' themed songs: Bad Moon Rising, Moondance and three different versions of Blue Moon. Using The Marcels' doo-wop version of the latter song contrasts perfectly with the final gory image, managing to elicit both shock and laughter out of its viewers.