In the opening scene of the iconic horror movie “American Werewolf in London”, two American backpackers, Jack and David, are wandering through the moors of England. Suddenly, they hear a terrifying howl and are attacked by a mysterious creature. While Jack is killed, David survives but is bitten by the creature and becomes a werewolf himself.
But who was the werewolf that attacked them in the first place? The movie doesn’t give us a clear answer, but there are some clues that can help us piece together a theory.
The Legend of the Werewolf
Before we dive into the possible identities of the creature, let’s explore the legend of the werewolf and its origins. The werewolf is a mythical creature that has been part of folklore for centuries. It is usually depicted as a human with the ability to transform into a wolf or a hybrid wolf-human form during full moons or when it desires to hunt.
In many cultures around the world, werewolves were seen as evil creatures that preyed on humans and livestock. They were often associated with witchcraft and black magic, and people believed that they could only be killed by silver bullets or weapons.
Clues from the Movie
Now let’s take a closer look at some of the hints we get from “American Werewolf in London” about who could have been responsible for attacking Jack and David.
- The Prologue: The movie begins with an eerie prologue that shows different stages of the moon while ominous music plays in the background. This sets up an atmosphere of dread and foreshadows what’s to come.
- The Pub Scene: After their attack, David is taken to a local pub where he meets some of the locals. One of them mentions that there have been sightings of a large dog-like creature on the moors.
This could point to the possibility that the attacker was a wild animal rather than a human.
- The Dream Sequences: Throughout the movie, David has vivid and disturbing dreams that involve his transformation into a werewolf. In one of these dreams, he is visited by his dead friend Jack, who tells him that they were attacked by a werewolf and that David will become one too. This could mean that the attacker was indeed a werewolf.
Theories
Based on these clues, there are several theories about who the werewolf at the beginning of “American Werewolf in London” could have been.
A Wild Animal
One possibility is that Jack and David were attacked by a wild animal such as a wolf or a large dog. The mention of sightings of such creatures on the moors supports this theory. However, it doesn’t explain why David becomes a werewolf himself after being bitten.
A Human Werewolf
Another theory is that the attacker was a human who had the ability to transform into a werewolf. This would explain why David also becomes one after being bitten. However, we don’t get any specific clues about who this person could be.
An Unknown Werewolf
The most likely theory is that the attacker was simply an unknown werewolf who happened to cross paths with Jack and David. This would explain why they were attacked and why David becomes one himself after being bitten. The dream sequence with Jack’s warning also supports this theory.
Conclusion
While we may never know for sure who was responsible for attacking Jack and David in “American Werewolf in London”, exploring different theories can add to our appreciation of this classic horror movie. The use of visual elements such as bold text and lists can help organize and highlight the different theories, while subheaders can break up the text and make it easier to read.