Was CGI Used in an American Werewolf in London?

By Anna Duncan

Have you ever watched the classic horror-comedy film “An American Werewolf in London”? If so, you may have wondered how the filmmakers managed to create such realistic werewolf transformation scenes.

Was CGI used, or was it all practical effects? Let’s take a closer look.

The Beginning of Practical Effects

When “An American Werewolf in London” was released in 1981, computer-generated imagery (CGI) was not yet widely used in filmmaking. Instead, practical effects were the go-to method for creating on-screen illusions. This meant that all of the werewolf transformation scenes in the movie were done using makeup, prosthetics, animatronics, and other physical techniques.

The Makeup Team

The makeup team for “An American Werewolf in London” was led by Rick Baker, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest special effects makeup artists of all time. Baker and his team spent months designing and creating the various stages of David’s (the main character) transformation into a werewolf.

Stage One: The Appliances

The first stage involved creating appliances that would be applied to actor David Naughton’s face and body to give him a more wolf-like appearance. These appliances were made from foam latex and carefully painted to match Naughton’s skin tone.

Stage Two: The Animatronics

As David’s transformation progressed, his face would contort and his features would become more pronounced. To achieve this effect, Baker’s team created animatronic devices that could move various parts of Naughton’s face via remote control.

Stage Three: The Full Body Suit

For the final transformation scene where David becomes a fully formed werewolf, Naughton wore a full-body suit made entirely out of fur and latex. This suit weighed over 50 pounds and was incredibly hot and uncomfortable to wear. However, it allowed Naughton to move and act like a real werewolf on-screen.

No CGI Required

As you can see, the werewolf transformation scenes in “An American Werewolf in London” were all done using practical effects. While CGI has become a more common method for creating on-screen illusions in modern movies, this classic horror-comedy film remains a testament to the skill and artistry of practical effects.

In Conclusion

So, was CGI used in “An American Werewolf in London”? The answer is no.

The filmmakers relied solely on practical effects to create the iconic werewolf transformation scenes that have become so memorable over the years. And while technology has advanced since then, there’s something special about seeing old-school practical effects in action.