The Heartbreaking Truth Behind David’s Final Moments

Added: 2026-05-13

[00:00:00]An American Werewolf in London has a uniquely nihilistic story and explosive gory violence. That's undeniable.

[00:00:07]Despite this, I've always loved this film and felt a sympathy for its main character, David.

[00:00:13]And one scene in particular seems to divide the audience on its meaning and what the film is trying to say.

[00:00:20]American Werewolf was a hit upon release, grossing $62 million on a $6 million budget.

[00:00:26]I was surprised to find out this movie is classified as a comedy.

[00:00:30]I never felt that way.

[00:00:32]Director John Landis has been quoted saying it is definitely not a comedy.

[00:00:37]He sat on the script for over a decade.

[00:00:39]No film studio wanted to make it.

[00:00:42]He was told it was too funny for horror and too horrifying for comedy.

[00:00:47]That being said, there are many comedic moments throughout the film.

[00:00:57]Hello, Benjamin.

[00:00:59]No. No what? No. Well, all right then, be like that.

[00:01:04]Here, swallow this.

[00:01:07]Feeling better?

[00:01:08]No.

[00:01:22]Lot of weather we've been having lately.

[00:01:30]This film still resonates with fans today.

[00:01:33]It balances its comedic elements and shockingly violent moments in such a masterful way.

[00:01:39]The story follows two young American men on holiday in Europe.

[00:01:43]David and his friend Jack find themselves in the English countryside.

[00:01:47]They spot a small town and an old-fashioned pub with an eerie title, The Slaughtered Lamb.

[00:01:53]Ironically, the sign has a wolf's decapitated head, not a lamb.

[00:01:58]After angering the townsfolk, they are tossed back out into the bleak weather, stumbling through the darkness.

[00:02:05]Jack is suddenly and viciously attacked by a huge black wolf that lunges and tears out his throat.

[00:02:11]David is also injured, but he's saved when the townsfolk shoot and kill the beast.

[00:02:16]As David falls into unconsciousness, he watches the wolf turn back into just an ordinary man.

[00:02:23]And thus the story begins.

[00:02:25]David bears the mark of the wolf and is burdened to bear its awful curse forever.

[00:02:30]He wakes in an English hospital.

[00:02:32]The authorities tell him he was attacked by a crazed lunatic.

[00:02:36]David knows they were attacked by a huge animal, but no one will believe him.

[00:02:41]During his stay, he suffers horrific nightmares over and over again.

[00:02:45]There aren't many horror movies that have given me nightmares, but American Werewolf in London is one of them.

[00:02:51]It wasn't the huge werewolf tearing people in half that did it.

[00:02:55]It was those damn Nazi demons knocking on the door that scared the hell out of me.

[00:03:01]These creatures arrive wearing Nazi uniforms and toting submachine guns.

[00:03:06]As David's father opens the door, the demons open fire, systematically murdering his entire family as he's forced to watch.

[00:03:14]The last demon slits David's throat and he's jolted awake.

[00:03:19]Of all the horror movies I've ever seen, this film was the one to give me nightmares.

[00:03:25]Anyway, back to the story.

[00:03:28]Jack appears to him in the hospital torn to shreds with a gaping wound across his throat. He tells David that they were attacked by a werewolf and that he will become a wolf under the next full moon.

[00:03:40]David doesn't know whether he's awake, asleep, or going mad.

[00:03:45]He is scared, confused, and feeling completely alone.

[00:03:49]A beautiful young nurse named Alex Price feels sympathy for him and he tells her that he's going insane.

[00:03:56]He's afraid he might hurt or kill someone.

[00:03:59]She convinces him it was just a nightmare and they begin to bond.

[00:04:04]Nurse Alex falls for him and she takes him home.

[00:04:07]Their time is brief but a deep romance begins to build between them.

[00:04:12]We as viewers know their love story will not end well.

[00:04:16]Alex tells him, I find you very attractive and a little bit sad.

[00:04:23]They make love and David begins to feel whole again.

[00:04:26]That is until Jack reappears now more decayed and rotting than ever before.

[00:04:31]Jack tells him he will murder and make others suffer as undead ghouls.

[00:04:36]They will walk in limbo throughout eternity.

[00:04:40]That is unless David takes his own life and severs the wolf's bloodline.

[00:04:45]David refuses to believe him.

[00:04:48]Nurse Price hears David arguing with no one and comes to comfort him. She believes he is feeling guilty for Jack's death and that this guilt is manifesting into nightmares.

[00:04:58]David asks if she's ever seen a film called The Wolf Man.

[00:05:02]Why are you telling me that? Then listen.

[00:05:05]Claude Rains is Lon Chaney's father and he ends up killing him.

[00:05:09]Well, I think that a wolf can only be killed by someone who loves him.

[00:05:14]I remember seeing American Werewolf on VHS and being blown away by the amazing special effects.

[00:05:20]When Griffin Dunne, the actor who portrays Jack, saw his torn and tattered face in the mirror, he went into a slight depression.

[00:05:28]It was that horrifying.

[00:05:31]Other actors avoided him and couldn't eat breakfast if he was in the room.

[00:05:36]And David's werewolf transformation scene is still revered as groundbreaking.

[00:05:41]Rick Baker's special effects absolutely stand the test of time.

[00:05:46]John Landis felt that a full-body transformation should be painful, physical, and upsetting.

[00:05:53]Not dreamy or elegant.

[00:05:55]He wanted to hear bones cracking and to not cut away like other werewolf films.

[00:06:00]He wanted viewers to experience each moment of David's pain with him.

[00:06:04]And they did.

[00:06:07]Jack's prophecy rings true and David becomes a savage killer.

[00:06:11]Adding undead victims night after night.

[00:06:14]He's told six people were violently murdered during the night. And he begins to lose control.

[00:06:20]He yells at Alex and antagonizes a policeman attempting to get arrested.

[00:06:26]He knows he's a threat to her and everyone around him.

[00:06:30]He turns to her and says, Jack was real. He tried to warn me and I thought I was crazy.

[00:06:34]>> David.

[00:06:35]>> I love you.

[00:06:37]What?

[00:06:38]I love you. I But I think I did some terrible things last night. Things I can't remember. David, let's go and see Dr. Hirsch.

[00:06:44]>> No, you got to stay away from me, Alex.

[00:06:45]>> David, I can help you.

[00:06:46]>> No, I'm not safe to be with. You got to stay away from me.

[00:06:50]I love you, Alex.

[00:06:52]He calls back home to America to say goodbye to his family.

[00:06:56]He has accepted his responsibility and resigned himself to his fate.

[00:07:00]He places a knife on his wrist but cannot go through with the act.

[00:07:05]Jack appears again. Now withered and decomposed to a walking skeleton.

[00:07:10]They meet in an adult theater.

[00:07:13]And David is surrounded by his torn and bloody victims.

[00:07:16]They confront him attempting to convince him to take his own life.

[00:07:21]I could hang myself. No.

[00:07:24]No, if you did it wrong, it could be painful.

[00:07:27]You'd choke to death. So what? Let him choke.

[00:07:30]>> Do you mind? The man's a friend of mine.

[00:07:32]>> Well, he ain't no friend to me. No, a gun would be good. Yes, you just put the gun to your forehead and pull the trigger. What if you put it in your mouth? You'd be sure not to miss. Thank you. You're all so thoughtful.

[00:07:43]David's time runs out and he becomes the wolf.

[00:07:46]Nails bursting through his fingers, fangs begin to grow as he begs movie patrons to run for their lives.

[00:07:53]What follows is a horrendous and bloody feeding frenzy as the huge wolf tears through Piccadilly Circus, not only ripping citizens to shreds, but causing fatal car accidents and complete panic.

[00:08:06]Swarms of police and armed soldiers descend on the area.

[00:08:10]And that brings us to the controversial finale and the scene that makes the film so memorable.

[00:08:16]Nurse Alex is awakened and told about a mad dog on a bloody rampage.

[00:08:21]She races to the scene and finds a squad of soldiers armed with rifles blocking an alley.

[00:08:27]At the end of the alley is a huge and monstrous werewolf baring its bloody fangs.

[00:08:33]Alex pushes past the soldiers and confronts the wolf alone.

[00:08:38]She doesn't see a monster.

[00:08:40]She only sees the man she loves.

[00:08:42]The alley is a dead end. There is nowhere left to run.

[00:08:46]Alex is too close to escape.

[00:08:49]Alex begs him to let her help him, to surrender.

[00:08:53]Then she says, I love you, David.

[00:09:00]For a brief second we see his eyes go soft. It's David.

[00:09:04]He hears her, understands what he has become, and lunges forward.

[00:09:10]It's the only way he can end the curse without killing her.

[00:09:13]I've seen arguments saying David was never in control of the wolf.

[00:09:17]And viewers always have the right to their own interpretation of a story or a film.

[00:09:22]That being said, I stand by my belief.

[00:09:26]David decided his fate to spare her any more pain.

[00:09:30]The film ends with a weeping and brokenhearted Alex standing over David's body now returned to its human form.

[00:09:39]The film is an amazing blend of comedy, love story, and gory horror.

[00:09:44]Truly unique and still the best werewolf movie ever made.

[00:09:49]What did you think of American Werewolf in London?

[00:09:52]Was it scary or more of a dark comedy?

[00:09:55]Do you agree with my take or am I way off?

[00:09:58]Either way, I hope you join me for the next review and as always, thanks for watching.

[00:10:07]>> [music]