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With groundbreaking special effects, American Werewolf still holds up well today and has clearly been cemented as THE classic horror/comedy filmic experience.  

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VIDEO
After a little bit of a spit and polish, the Anamorphic Widescreen Transfer (the dvd is also encoded for 4x3 Pan & Scan - your DVD player Video setting needs to be set to this for 4x3 playback) looks quite nice, but is far from perfect.

Colour saturation is a bit lacking and sharpness is on the safe side (so lacks any real definition) Noise reduction has been applied in an attempt to reduce grain and and other nasties, and so there's low level of grittyness of the image.  But it's not all bad.  it's really quite a nice looking transfer if you take into consideration it's over 20 years old, and was made on a low budget.

Spread over two layers of an RSDL DVD, the layer change occurs at 72:11 as the doctor places his hand on the telephone to dial a number.   it's actually a really well placed layer change occurring on minimal movement.

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AUDIO
The Region 4 version of Amercian Werewolf offers only 1 movie soundtrack, in Remixed Dolby Digital 5.1.  Unfortunately, those outside Region 1 will find their version of this DVD missing a DTS5.1 track!
Reports of this DTS5.1 track on the Region 1 version are that it is quite superior in detail and resolution to that of the Dolby Digital 5.1 version.  It's really quite a shame we missed out again :(

However, our Dolby Digital 5.1 mix had been encoded with a bitrate of 448kpbs and is quite good for a film of this vintage.  While mainly a front stagestage mix.  The Spread is quite wide with good depth.  Surround usage is present, but mostly of a low level ambience.  There are a few instances of split surround FX usage and they come through nicely.  Dailogue is a little thin, but nothing too serious and quite intellegable.
Director john Landis has also seen fit to riddle the film with some true music classics (many of which somehow relate to Lycanthorpy Legend)

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EXTRAS
For this special edition DVD, a very nice collection of goodies have been included for your viewing pleasure.

• Audio Commentary. Actor's David Naughton and Griffin Dunne have lent their voices to nice little comm track.  but it's a pity Landis didn't as in the past he's proven very vocal and quite excited in his talking of movies (as you'll see in the interview also included) (Universal have also been very nice by including a subtitle commentary track for all listed languages on the disc)
• Behind the Scenes - a 5 minute featurette with interviews, etc
• Outtakes - several scenes shot for the film ..without dialogue.   The last segment is err, "interesting" :)
• Interview with John Landis - this for me, was the highlight of the DVD extras.  it's an 18 minute interview with Landis on the making of American Werewolf.   (this guy really is a nutter! ..in the good way :)
• Interview with Rick Baker - this man is a LEGEND!  11 minutes worth on his work in the film with some excellent behind the scenes snippets of the werewolf creation
• Focus On Technical Effects - shows the various stages of making a cast for a prosthetic arm for "David" (another very welcome addition)
• Storyboard to Film comparsions.  3 minutes worth of comparisons (the story board is in the top left of screen, with the movie sequence in the bottom right)
• Photo Gallery - a montage of publicity photos backed with music from the film

What a great film. Anyone who loves horror, loves this film (and if they don't i want their name, address and telephone number! :)
American Werewolf has been very nicely presented on DVD, with a cleaned up Picture, remixed 5.1 mix and terrific collection of extras.  it's just a pity we missed out on a DTS mix, but it's not a total loss and i can still highly recommend this verison.