: In some international versions, a scene where David calls his sister to say goodbye before attempting suicide was removed.
In an original cut, when the undead Jack is eating toast in David's apartment, pieces of chewed food were seen falling out of his mangled throat. This was trimmed to maintain an "R" rating in the US.
What survives: Makeup tests and behind-the-scenes stills. What’s missing: A handful of practical-effect-driven shots that were planned but replaced or trimmed: a more elaborate prosthetic for a partial transformation, alternate camera angles on the death scene, and extended aftermath makeup to show decay over time. Why it was cut: Technical problems and continuity. Rick Baker’s team produced phenomenal tests, but some setups didn’t match the film’s visual continuity or felt unnecessary given the iconic practical moments that survived.
While An American Werewolf in London (1981) is celebrated for its groundbreaking practical effects, several scenes were famously "cracked" from the final cut due to pacing, tone, or extreme gore that test audiences couldn't handle. The Infamous "Tramp Killing" Scene
Beyond the missing junkyard scene, several smaller moments were trimmed or altered for rating and broadcast purposes: