Until Universal decides to release a 4K box set with these fragments (don’t hold your breath), the deleted scenes of An American Werewolf in London remain exactly where they belong: howling in the dark, just outside the frame, waiting for the next full moon to rise.
In a deleted sequence, the werewolf encounters a group of young street toughs or "punks" in a secluded alley. Instead of fleeing, the group attempts to fight the beast, leading to a highly stylized, incredibly violent confrontation where the werewolf systematically dismembers them.
If you are a fan of horror, I can share more details on the practical effects or other famous 80s horror movies. an american werewolf in london deleted scenes
🩸 If you thought the final rampage in London was intense, the original cut was apparently much more violent. Landis trimmed significant chunks of the werewolf’s attack on the hospital staff to avoid an X rating. Gore hounds would have seen much more carnage before the tragic freeze-frame ending.
The legendary transformation scene almost had a very different tone. Rejected Score Until Universal decides to release a 4K box
However, a significant piece of this puzzle has recently been uncovered. The German media company Turbine Medien, known for their painstakingly detailed collector's editions, has officially located and restored this exact footage, though in a raw form. The workprint footage, which runs for just over two minutes, shows the werewolf brutally attacking the homeless men in a fully lit, unflinching sequence. While it's unclear if this specific footage will ever be reintegrated into the film itself for a new "director's cut," its discovery and restoration is a monumental event for the film's fans.
Landis felt the extended wandering slowed down the pacing of the film's first act. He wanted to transition from the tension of the "Slaughtered Lamb" pub to the terror of the wolf attack as quickly as possible to maximize the shock value. The Extensively Gory Attack on Jack If you are a fan of horror, I
One deleted dream involved David looking into a hospital mirror only to watch his own face visibly distort and rot away in real-time. Another extended scene featured David interacting more with his doctor, Dr. Hirsch (John Woodvine), showcasing David's rapidly deteriorating mental state and his growing fear of the upcoming full moon.
: On certain European DVD releases, this scene was missing due to a technical mastering error rather than intentional censorship. Scoring Changes
: Test audiences reacted negatively, finding the violence distracting from the film's core narrative.