The protagonist/antagonist David Kessler (played by David Naughton, I know a lot of David's here), was extremely similar to Schimmer's character Ross, in that the mannerisms, vocal tone, and just general presence were so strong. Ross was sweet, funny, bumbling, necrotic and sometimes just plain dumb. This was exactly what David was like in An American Werewolf in London.
Now Friends didn't begin until 1994 and I doubt Schwimmer was channeling anything from this film into the character of "Ross." But, when we watch AAWL you see all those characteristics in David Kessler. Right from the get go of the film he is likable and carries a bit of charm. After the attack he displays neroticism, which is understandable considering he is having nightmares and seeing his dead friend Jack, (in the beginning of the film Jack is killed by a werewolf while David in merely injured). However, he displays a mixture of sweetness and bumbling American just enough that the head nurse that cared of him in the hospital, eventually takes him home and sleeps with him, (close a Ross and Rachel moment). Even the conversation between Jack and David is reminiscent of a conversation between "Ross" and "Chandler."
Even how David reacts to the news that he is a werewolf, is more than likely how "Ross" would have reacted. Unbelief and the search for a logical explanation until it is to late.
Writer director John Landis probably wanted me to be scared when I watched this movie. I unfortunately was not, but I have never really been frightened of werewolf movies. Silver Bullet, The Howling, all kind of ruined ever since I watched Teen Wolf, (you are no longer scared of werewolds when they become the star player of the high school basketball team).
Not to say this was not an excellent movie. This movie inspired the Academy to start an award for best make-up design. Michael Jackson was so blown away by this movie, that he personally acquired John Landis to direct Thriller. (If you watch this movie, and if you can remember the video for Thriller at all, there are tons of similarities). But instead of being scared, I ended up thinking about the other cast-members of Friends.
It got me thinking if they were cast in a horror film, what role would they play? Would any of them survive? Would one of them be the villain? I am strictly speaking of course of the Friends characters that they portray.
The easiest of the remaining "friends" to come up with this conclusion was Matt LeBlanc or "Joey." "Joey" would be easy, if he were in a horror film he would be hacked up in the first fifteen minutes. You know "Joey" is going to sleep with someone, and by the "rules" or nature of horror films, if you have sex with a psycho around, you have to die.
"Phoebe" I imagine playing the unwilling villain, a Carrie type of character. Unlike "Ross" who has no clue he is a bad guy, "Phoebe" fully realizes what she is doing. A gal that gets pushed over the edge and made fun of for being quirky one to many times, she would show up to the gym or show, covered in pig's blood and mentally just burning the place to the ground. She would have no remorse and leave no bully unharmed. Than, possibly end her own life in the end, or go take down a slaughterhouse next.
"Chandler" would end up being the nice guy in the film that makes to many jokes and is sickenly nice, while his other friends are total douche bags. He is the guy that the damsel in distress usually falls for, but wonders, "how the fuck did he end up with this crowed?" He would help ward off the bad guy for a while, some how get injured or knocked out, and than come around at the end of the film. Or worse, or I guess in "Chandler's" case more predictable saved the female lead, who would probably be "Monica."
Oh yeah, "Monica" has "survivor girl" written all over her. She's tough yet vulnerable, baby crazy but wants a decent man (lucky you "Chandler"), and constantly takes the high road and tries to save everyone else. What is funny about this is Courtney Cox-Arquette, who portrays "Monica" has been a major character in the Scream franchise, and is anything but my description. But, if "Monica" were in a horror film, she would be duking it out with the monster at the end and saving the day. Afterwards, she would make pie.
"Rachel" would end up playing the annoyingly hot chick in a horror film that you hope gets naked but never does. She will meet her untimely demise, but not until the very end of the film. She would be the gal that would be nasty to the "survivor girl," and hardcore flirt with her secret crush, even though the secret crush wants nothing to do with her. She will end up making out, or even sleeping with some surprise dude at a party,(although we will never see the sex scene due to a contractual agreement.) But shortly after she will be the very last victim of the psycho, but she will have annoyed us enough with her presence that the audience is actually thankful her head has been split into two pieces.
America's favorite "Friends" dispatched and dispatching.
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