If theres a list of cinematic crimes, the Weinstein Brothers have successfully checked off most of them. Whether its making needless cuts to the foreign films theyve acquired or just simply producing Shakespeare In Love, the duo truly know no bounds. If they succeed in remaking An American Werewolf In London they very well may top themselves. What truly makes An American Werewolf In London a classic is that it finds a perfect balance of gallows humor and horror. And since its not entirely a horror film, John Landis is in no rush to deliver the scares until were completely invested in the characters hes created. We dont even see the Oscar winning werewolf transformation scene into almost an hour of the movie. Sure, Landis delivers a few tropes of the horror genre but were talking about a movie with the world werewolf in the title. It doesnt matter though. Were along for the ride and were totally buying into David Naughton as an American backpacker cursed with lycanthropy and not as a spokesperson for Dr.Pepper. John Landis is less concerned with making a great horror film as he is with making a great movie and for that reason it works. Now the Weinsteins want to modernize American Werewolf in London. If the lackluster sequel, American Werewolf in Paris, is any indication that means ditching the clever soundtrack of the original in favor of flavor-of-the-month bands and get to them werewolves a lot quicker. Oh and that transformation sequence that is so memorable and still holds up to this day? Lets just use CGI, thus taking the magic out of that moment entirely. All bad signs so far. Not worried enough? Apparently the Weinsteins have secured The Number 23s screenwriter Fernley Phillips to bring this travesty to screen. To date he does not include movies like The Blues Brothers or Animal House on his resume. This does not bode well for fans.
