An American Werewolf in Paris
An American man unwittingly gets involved with werewolves who have developed a serum allowing them to transform at will.
Working with a respectable budget of $22.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $26.6M in global revenue (+21% profit margin).
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
An American Werewolf in Paris (1997) demonstrates carefully calibrated plot construction, characteristic of Anthony Waller's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 38 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.7, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Andy McDermott
Serafine Pigot
Claude
Brad
Chris
Main Cast & Characters
Andy McDermott
Played by Tom Everett Scott
An American thrill-seeker who becomes infected with lycanthropy after saving a suicidal werewolf from jumping off the Eiffel Tower
Serafine Pigot
Played by Julie Delpy
A mysterious French woman struggling with her werewolf curse and part of an underground werewolf society
Claude
Played by Pierre Cosso
Leader of the werewolf cult who seeks to expand their numbers and create a werewolf army
Brad
Played by Vince Vieluf
Andy's friend and fellow adventurer who accompanies him on their European trip
Chris
Played by Phil Buckman
Andy's friend and the third member of their thrill-seeking trio
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Andy, Brad, and Chris are carefree American tourists in Paris engaging in extreme "daredevil tourism," establishing their thrill-seeking lifestyle and Andy's fear of commitment.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Andy witnesses Serafine jump from the Eiffel Tower in a suicide attempt. He bungee jumps after her to save her life, getting entangled in a world beyond thrill-seeking tourism.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Andy is bitten by a werewolf during an attack at the club. He chooses to stay in Paris with Serafine despite the danger, crossing into the supernatural world and abandoning his tourist safety., moving from reaction to action.
At 50 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Andy discovers Claude's full plan to unleash werewolves on Paris. Brad is killed by werewolves. The stakes escalate from personal survival to stopping a massacre - false victory turns to real danger., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 74 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Serafine is captured by Claude and his werewolves. Andy loses her and faces the reality that he may have to kill her or be killed. His friend is dead, he's becoming a monster, and he's alone., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 78 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Andy learns that killing the source werewolf (Claude) will break the curse. He accepts his werewolf nature as a tool, synthesizing his daredevil courage with supernatural power to save Serafine., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
An American Werewolf in Paris's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping An American Werewolf in Paris against these established plot points, we can identify how Anthony Waller utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish An American Werewolf in Paris within the horror genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional horror films include Lake Placid, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Cat's Eye.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Andy, Brad, and Chris are carefree American tourists in Paris engaging in extreme "daredevil tourism," establishing their thrill-seeking lifestyle and Andy's fear of commitment.
Theme
Brad challenges Andy about taking risks in life, not just stunts: "You gotta take the leap sometime" - foreshadowing the theme of courage to embrace love and responsibility.
Worldbuilding
The trio explores Paris, performing dangerous stunts. We meet Serafine, a troubled French woman connected to an underground werewolf cult led by Claude. The werewolf underworld is established.
Disruption
Andy witnesses Serafine jump from the Eiffel Tower in a suicide attempt. He bungee jumps after her to save her life, getting entangled in a world beyond thrill-seeking tourism.
Resistance
Andy becomes obsessed with finding Serafine. He tracks her to a nightclub and discovers the werewolf underworld. He debates whether to pursue this dangerous mystery or leave Paris safely.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Andy is bitten by a werewolf during an attack at the club. He chooses to stay in Paris with Serafine despite the danger, crossing into the supernatural world and abandoning his tourist safety.
Mirror World
Serafine reveals her werewolf nature and begins a romantic relationship with Andy. She represents the thematic counterpoint: embracing one's true nature versus denying it.
Premise
Andy experiences his transformation and the "fun" of werewolf powers. He and Serafine bond while uncovering Claude's sinister plan to create a werewolf army. The horror-romance premise plays out.
Midpoint
Andy discovers Claude's full plan to unleash werewolves on Paris. Brad is killed by werewolves. The stakes escalate from personal survival to stopping a massacre - false victory turns to real danger.
Opposition
Claude's werewolf cult closes in. Andy struggles with his transformations and losing control. Serafine is torn between her loyalty to Claude and her love for Andy. The body count rises.
Collapse
Serafine is captured by Claude and his werewolves. Andy loses her and faces the reality that he may have to kill her or be killed. His friend is dead, he's becoming a monster, and he's alone.
Crisis
Andy confronts his darkest moment: the werewolf curse, the loss of Serafine, and the weight of responsibility. He must decide whether to embrace his werewolf nature to save her and Paris.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Andy learns that killing the source werewolf (Claude) will break the curse. He accepts his werewolf nature as a tool, synthesizing his daredevil courage with supernatural power to save Serafine.
Synthesis
Andy confronts Claude and the werewolf army in a climactic battle. He saves Serafine, defeats Claude, and breaks the curse. He proves his courage extends beyond stunts to genuine love and sacrifice.
Transformation
Andy and Serafine, both freed from the werewolf curse, embrace in Paris. The commitment-phobic thrill-seeker has become someone capable of love and sacrifice, taking the true "leap" his friend mentioned.