Don McKillop Movies

While wandering the English moors on vacation, college yanks David (David Naughton) and Jack (Griffin Dunne) happen upon a quaint pub with a mysterious patronage who warn them not to leave the road when walking after dark. Irreverent of such advice as characters in horror films always are, the two decide to find a short cut....David wakes up in the hospital with a nasty bite wound to his shoulder; the freshly deceased, and rapidly decomposing, Jack arrives soon after to deliver the grim news that, unless he commits suicide, David will become a werewolf when the moon is full. David dismisses the encounter as a hallucination, but all indicators point to lycanthrope; evenings of barking and bloodletting follow closely behind. While the story is thin and much of the tongue-in-cheek humor is overdone, there are plenty of genuine jolts thanks to makeup guru Rick Baker's eye-popping special effects. The werewolf, resembling a cross between a bear and a wolverine, appears frighteningly real, and, given the fantastic premise, the gore is most convincing (although surprisingly and refreshingly scant). The hospital dream sequences are creative, and the scenes in which the werewolf runs rampant through downtown London are particularly good. In all, An American Werewolf in London is an original, atmospheric film that manages both to scare and amuse. While dismissed by most American critics upon its release, the film managed to secure a place in the annals of American cinema when Baker won an Academy Award for his amazing effects and creature designs. ~ Jeremy Beday, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the five-part story "The Daemons," the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) is unable prevent the Master (Roger Delgado) from stealing the powers of Azal, last of the Daemon race. It takes an act of awe-inspiring selflessness on the part of the Doctor's companion, Jo (Katy Manning), to persuade Azal not to destroy the world at the Master's behest. But the story is far from over as the Doctor tries yet again to put the Master out of commission for good and all. The miniature shot of a church exploding resulted in an abundance of call-in complaints to the BBC. Written by Barry Letts and Robert Sloman, "The Daemons, Episode 5" originally aired on June 19, 1971, as the final episode of Doctor Who's eighth season. (All five episodes were edited into a single compilation special on December 28, 1971, and it is this version that has traditionally been telecast since). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of the five-part story "The Daemons," the renegade Time Lord the Master (Roger Delgado) has summoned the spirit of Azal, last of the Daemon race. Though in the past Azal has benefited mankind with his scientific expertise, the Master hopes to use the spirits awesome powers for his own evil purposes -- and the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) may not be able to thwart this scheme. Written by Barry Letts and Robert Sloman, "The Daemons, Episode 3" originally aired on June 5, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Gerald Arthur Otley (Tom Courtenay) is a British secret agent called in to investigate the murder of a suspected influence pedlar and document smuggler. He trails double agents and double martinis at a posh cocktail party before discovering the villains have the cooperation of top government officials in Parliament. Otley is pegged to masquerade as a possible defector to oust the criminal mastermind who plans to sell some stolen documents vital to national security to any enemy agent with the most money. Murder, blackmail and auto chases dominate the action as the femme fatale Imogen (Romy Schneider) first has Otley beaten up by her thugs before combining forces to go after the real villains in this confusing and sometimes funny spy yarn. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide