Sigh…
The news of remakes of classic horror movies just keeps on coming with word that Dimension Films (The Weinstein Company’s genre film division) have acquired the rights to remake An American Werewolf in London.
Screen Rant reported last June that original American Werewolf director, John Landis, said that Hollywood has been wanting to remake his movie for ages, but the fact that he owned the rights were stopping them. Well, it appears Landis has sadly buckled and sold those rights, which will eventually deliver us a remake of his horror masterpiece.
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Bloody Disgusting has nabbed the exclusive that Dimension has acquired the remake rights to An American Werewolf in London – BD was also the site that reported on the rumblings of AAWIL remake over a year ago. Some of you out there may remember the horrible sequel to Landis’ movie that was released in 1997, entitled An American Werewolf in Paris – please avoid it at all costs and seek out the original.
Even if you’re not a hardcore horror movie fan (a description I would apply to myself), Landis’ original An American Werewolf in London is an absolute must-see (it’s worth it for the werewolf transformation scene alone).
In case you don’t know (and if you don’t, what are you still doing reading this instead of going out and renting or buying the movie right now?) the original story follows two American backpackers as they make their way through the English (Yorkshire) moors. They are attacked by a werewolf and one of them is killed, but the other is mauled and before long starts to realize that the werewolf attack may have affected him in more ways than he first realized. It’s a great plot and a tremendous horror movie, and it saddens me that they’re remaking it.
I will make concessions for remakes if a particular idea truly warrants it – maybe the original had a great idea but didn’t make the most of it; maybe the effects could use an update; maybe the original is flat-out bad and therefore the remake couldn’t do any worse. Whatever the reason, there are occasions when I don’t mind a remake. But in the case of An American Werewolf in London, is there really any reason that we need a remake? IMHO they’re never going to top the original.
Halloween, Halloween II, The Amityville Horror, Black Christmas, the upcoming Hellraiser and now An American Werewolf in London – and those are just the horror remakes/updates the Weinsteins have made happen!
Sigh…
What do you think of the idea of remaking An American Werewolf in London? Are you sick of all these remakes or do you not mind them?
An American Werewolf in London doesn’t have a release date as of yet.
Sources: BloodyDisgusting (via /Film)
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36 Comments
Remakes are getting annoyin, but its not like they affect the original in ANYWAY.
Please remake the cult movie Hawk the Slayer!!!
manowar- i read that they are making a SEQUEL to hawk the slayer and that it will star the actor who played picard’s clone in “nemesis”. i’m with you, i’d love to see a remake of that film. remakes don’t bother me. my thought is “why not”. you don’t have to like it, you don’t have to see it and it’s not going to effect the original in anyway. i often see them just to observe and compare the two. i’ve said it before- remakes are usually not made for original fans anyways- so our thoughts usually don’t matter. most of the time they are made to introduce the film to a whole new audience who probably have never even seen the original, and wouldn’t like it if they had because it would appear “too dated” and doesn’t have any of today’s “yound and hip” “actors”… (and they are also made to make more money of course..)
correction “younG and hip”…..
Not An American Werewolf in London! That’s an awesome movie! I haven’t seen it in years but at the time, when the man (David Naughton, I think) turns into the werewolf the special effects were groundbreaking. Now they’d probably say that the change went on too long but back then, you wanted to see every gruesome detail.
And if I remember it correctly isn’t there a completely inappropriate song playing in the background during all of the screaming while he’s turning into a werewolf? I remember it as being way too happy and ironic for what was going on and I was laughing and impressed at the same time.
Griffin Dunne was terrific. He was sarcastic, ironic, and funny. Great job. Too bad he mostly directs now.
I say thumbs down to a remake but they’ll make it for a new generation of movie goers who either have no idea about the first one or they think that the original was “lame”. I can guarantee that my 20 & 21 year old boys would have stronger words than that to say about it if they saw it. Then again, they surprise me sometimes so who knows.
They’d have to have a really great cast for me to want to see it. A bunch of unknowns on a classic? For some things that’s ok but I’d rather see reliable actors do it if they insist on doing it at all. Don’t even need to talk about special effects for this one. Depending on the budget, that will be a piece of cake. Getting you to care while the guys bones are being reshaped and watch the fur start to grow, that’s impressive. Now a days? I don’t know…
You’ve really made me want to watch that again. I hope I can find it. Or maybe get it cheap on a DVD. Thanks for the reminder. I mean, it’s not like anyone can force me to see the remake and have it ruin the old one, right?
The Hollywood cookie cutter is definitely broken. For years now we have seen the trend of remakes get worse and worse. This is my first comment on this sight, but I am a regular reader. Reading this infuriates me, but I guess even Landis is affected by this economy….
Is Hollywood really that lazy. Instead of comming up with an original idea they have to do ‘Remakes’ or RE-imaginings, etc etc. I’ve seen American Werewolf in London, and personally it should be left alone. Having said that, I would definitely be up for a remake of Creature from the Black Lagoon, THAT would be interesting.
From what I understand, they’re working on Black Lagoon now.
THE PRACTICAL FX USED WERE PRETTY COOL, NOWADAYS YOU CAN TELL WHATS CG AND WHAT ISNT, IF THEY DO THE TRANSFORMATION WITH CG I DUNNO, FOR SOME REASON IT WONT FEEL THE SAME,SOMETHING ABOUT REAL,PRACTICAL FX, I SAY IF ITS TOTALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DO IT PRACTICAL THEN FALL ON CG, NOT OVER USE CG TO DEATH LIKE THEY DO NOWADAYS
@GUNSMITH
I agree with you about the FX. Those were the good old days. The first three Indy’s being great examples. The fourth Indy, well…I’m pretty sure there wasn’t a stuntman in that fridge. Ok, and it’s highly unlikely that either Harrison Ford OR his stuntman was in that raft when they jumped out of the plane in the second movie…fine, I’m sure they didn’t eat real monkey brains and I’m pretty sure that the FX in that scene was the sound of someone pulling Velcro apart when they opened the monkey’s skull and I think that the brains were made up of whipped cream, cherries and something else but it was still gross.
Imagine today’s movie, nothing’s really there, just the actor pretending like it is and that’s great for movies like Transformers but not Indy. I have no idea how I got on this rant about Indy but hopefully I’m making some sense, no matter how little.
Before I forget, writing in all caps means that you’re shouting. You probably already know that and if I sound condescending, I don’t mean it that way. Plus, trying to read all caps is hard on the eyes and I want to easily read what you’re writing. I’m lazy, ok?
There is NO DOUBT that I would see this! I was a HUGE fan of the Landis version, so they’d REALLY have to screw it up during production time, bad actors, bad storyline, etc., before i would decide not to see it.
@ prtfvr
“Bad Moon Rising” by Credence Clearwater Revival was the song used for the transformation scene. Tongue in cheek, but oddly appropriate given the circumstances. One of the things I always admired about the film was the balance of horror and humor. Remake = Sacrilege
im of the opinion, that if they make it look cool, im good with it, times are changing, and some remakes are good imho, some are obviously bad, lets give them a shot thou, even if they improve just slightly the werewolve transformation, hell it will be pretty cool to me.
@nowhereman
That’s it! That’s the song. It’s so peppy. A good song to sit at the bar and drink too. Thanks for reminding me but I’m going to have that damn song stuck in my head all day…there, it just played again!
@Kale
I don’t want them to remake it, I want to buy an original script and make something new, even if it has elements of different movies in it. There aren’t too many original ideas any more. Or it’s the same old story with a face lift.
I agree with the person who said that they’d like to see a Black Lagoon remake. I’m all for that because it was a B movie and pretty camppy but I in no way consider it a classic so if they can make it better, that’s great, but some movies got it right the first time and I want them left the hell alone.
This is a ridiculous example and in no way am I comparing AAWIL, but, would you want a remake of Gone with the Wind? Or The Matrix? Star Wars? George redid some of the special effects and the re-released.
A walking Jabba the Hut? No way that dude’s getting of that couch. Now he’s just CGI and he looks so perfect it actually looks fake. I like the day of Jim Henson’s shop making most of the creatures. At least they were really in the picture. Something to act against instead of the boom operator.
I suspect that you’re under 35 so the original looks hokey and would benefit from CGI. I don’t mean that as a put down at all! Seriously. What I mean, I guess is that I actually went to the movies to see AAWIL when it was released and in my mind it doesn’t need a thing done to it to make it better.
My 20 & 21 year old boys would still think that the jokes were clever but they’d consider the production value lame. It’s all a matter of opinion and/or the times you grew up in. I just think it shows a lack of ideas to remake something just because it was successful once so why not do it again. It just HAS to make money. It’s a shoe in. You know what I mean?
@nowhereman @prtfvr
Actually guys, Bad Moon Rising plays during the daytime scene when the main character is stuck in the house and is doing all sorts of things to try and pass the time. During the transformation scene, the song you hear is one of three different versions of “Blue Moon”. The other two versions are played during the opening and closing credits.
Didn’t they try this with An American Werewolf in Paris? With CGI transformation?
Also…
aren’t the Weinsteins going bankrupt?
@garmi
Darn it! Well, I knew it was in there somewhere. I should have taken my lazy fingers over to The IMDB and just looked the soundtrack.
Thanks for the info!
There’s so many remakes I’ve got nothing left to say.
Enter, the (Generic remake comment)///
“Remakes are lame I won’t support them!!! Damn you Hollywood scum.”
Yada yada yada.
@790
That’s called a “re-run” not a generic statement.
The Rape of 80’s Horror films by “New Hollywood”!!
@ viper moon
What a great title for a horror movie!
“Viper Moon, Snakes on the Shuttle”
“Well somebody get these mother***king snakes out of my airlock !!!”
«Summer 2012»
@790
ROTFL!
“Snakes on a train”? I mean, no air lock but having one installed would make about as much sense as a passenger plane carrying thousands of poisonous snakes that just happen to get loose.
What I love about Samuel L. Jackson is that he said he didn’t even read the script. As soon as he saw the title of ‘Snakes on a Plan’, he agreed to star in it. LOL
{Correction}
“Viper Moon, Snakes on the Shuttle in 3-D”
“300 million miles from earth,,,this time the snakes are weightless and they aint drinkin no Tang!”
“Well somebody get that mother***king floating snake out of my airlock !!!”
«Summer 2012»
The film will have loads of graphic language and violence but will still get a PG-13 rating.
I would soooo see Viper Moon over any remake !!!
@790
You’re killing me! Cut it out! ROTFL!
“So awesomely money making the first time now, see it again as you never have before – for the first time…again!”
“Don’t tell me there ain’t no motherf@#$ing snake handlers on this thing! Well bitch, today I’ll be handling me some motherf@#$ing snakes on this motherf@#$ing shuttle! Now shut up and fly like you mean it, before something comes up and bites you in the ass!”
“Some language may not be appropriate for children under the age of thirteen but if you want to bring your screaming baby into the movie theater, no problem. For some reason everyone will wait until you either finally have the good sense to realize that you’re being rude by thinking you’re the most important person in the theater and your baby has rights too!
Oh and by the way, we have really enjoyed your running commentary through out the entire movie. Particularly the screaming at the screen while your baby chimed in.
Using your Bluetooth earpiece with the constantly blinking blue light was no bother at all. Please don’t worry about using your cell phone in here and in a average tone of voice. We’re as certain as you are that you’re phone conversation is just as fascinating if not more so, than this movie. You shouldn’t have to miss an all important phone call just because people paid to see the same movie and you’re only one person. You’re number one! Have a nice day. ” God I hate people!
Lol,,, I would totally see “Viper Moon” !!!!
Speaking of scumbags in movie theaters. I was watching “Moon” a few weeks ago and this guy sitting a few seats away from me turned in my direction quickly said “excuse me’ and then sneezed like a hurricain in my direction.
Thanks for the swine flu dude !!!
@790
Yeah, and they wonder why no one wants to go to the movies anymore. People of all ages are just f@#$ing rude!
I went to see The Proposal starring Sandra Bullock and Deadpool. LOVE Deadpool. Don’t say it, I already know: Chick flick! Which explains why I was alone.
Well, not quite alone. It was the middle of a Friday afternoon and I was killing time waiting to pick up my husband from work. I wanted to see that movie. He didn’t. He was working, I wasn’t. Perfect!
Do you know who else goes to matinees in the middle of the afternoon? That’s right: senior citizens. Senior citizens with weak bladders, terrible hearing, and a ravenous hunger for things they shouldn’t eat and will be “sorry for later”. I was the youngest person in there and I’m 48!
But why would I care, right? I’m going to, hopefully, be a senior citizen someday and really soon the way time’s been flying by. Ill wanted to be treated respectfully then too so you behave accordingly. And surely (don’t call me Shirley – can’t help myself) they know how to behave in a movie theater after all, it’s just common courtesy. But they’re no better than anyone else.
The small, rag tag bunch of old timers in front of me kept switching off who got to watch part of the movie while the other one peed. Then, after that person came back from the bathroom, the other person would loudly repeat any dialog that was missed, word for f@#$ing word with bonus color commentary such as; “that blouse was just DARLING” or “she really shouldn’t wear horizontal stripes!” or “He is really holding up well, but his hair is much too long for his age. He should cut it. He looks foolish” Then the person giving the commentary would go pee and it started all over again when they returned.
And for some reason, they always forget the popcorn or whatever before they sit down, and watch the commercials, and watch the credits, and the movie vendor logo appear. Then the movie starts and they have to decide what to get while standing up in directly in front of you, your only view being their ass in their baggy, polyester pants that some evil manufacturer makes for just such occasions, with matching jacket and short sleeved polyester blouse covered with giant buttons printed loudly in pink, over sized cabbage roses. Saying;
“Oh, do you want popcorn?”
“Oh no, I really shouldn’t what with my diverticulitis and all.”
“How about some M&Ms with peanuts.”
“Oh no dear. Remember? The peanuts get caught in the tiny pockets in my colon and give me terrible gas and cramps.”
“Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry, how could I forget. What would you like then?”
“Oh, anything you pick would be fine.”
OMG! I just wanted to whip out my ice pick and stab myself, repeatedly, through the eye! Now granted, I was the youngster in their territory but for pete’s sake, turn up the volume on your hearing aid so you can actually hear someone whisper, take your frigging diverticulitis meds before you to the movies, and with all that peeing going on, Depends might be the logical next step for the comfort of everyone involved!
Really fun movie actually. No one transformed into anything, no one was hungover or lost, or was going to die at the end. Ah, I need one of those from time to time but only with actors I like. And I never go to a movie with “Dance” or “Sing” in the title. You’re only asking for trouble then.
I think that my husband should have gone for the entertainment value of that alone. He wouldn’t care about missing the movie and he would have laughed his ass off.
I’m an equal opportunity hater. No matter your age, race, creed or religion, if you’re going to behave like an ass, I’m going to hate you. Fair is fair.
Tirade over.
LOL, Prtfvr yeah I see alot of that too since I mostly see matinees. The guy that sneezed on me was learning disabled so I let it go but ghessh. The crowd was so strange during that show.
After “Moon” ended I almost stood up and said, “any of you get that ending?”
Just for laughs. I don’t think any of them did.
I forgot to mention that the learning disabled guy didn’t have a clue what was happening because I could hear him asking all kinds of questions during the film. Thanks.
Also whats the deal when I’m sitting in a practically empty theater and someone comes in and sits two seats down from me in the same isle?
You’re preaching to the choir man!
RENT REMAKES!!
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