To this day I don't understand the 'Stay off the Moores' warning. - An American Werewolf in London (1981) Discussion

[–] Littlebitsofgaming 11 years ago

No, if they stayed on the road there would be less chance of being attacked.
It's not that hard to grasp really.

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[–] Nikon11 11 years ago

by J McClane

No, if they stayed on the road there would be less chance of being attacked.
It's not that hard to grasp really.

Ok, why?

Does the werewolf dislike roadways? Scared of cars? Respects the no-attack zone within the right-of-way?

Please, for those of us who are ignorant of werewolf habits, exactly why is it, "not that hard to grasp really"?

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[–] digitalboy72 11 years ago

Exactly, thank you!

As for J. McClane, he has a talent for smart-ass answers.

"Mr. Treehorn treats objects like women, man."

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[–] Littlebitsofgaming 11 years ago

Ok, why?

Does the werewolf dislike roadways? Scared of cars? Respects the no-attack zone within the right-of-way?

Please, for those of us who are ignorant of werewolf habits, exactly why is it, "not that hard to grasp really"?

Given basic wolf habitant patterns.
They tend to stay in wilderness/remote areas. So roads that have cars on them would not be in their interest.
Plus as wolves are territorial, it's more a case of the humans setting foot on the wolfs turf and it "protecting" itself...which it would not do if they stayed on the road...away from where the wolf would typically be.

Now explain to me why that is "hard to grasp"?

To put it in basic terms, don't want to get bitten by a shark...don't go swimming in shark infested water.

And so, God came forth and proclaimed widescreen is the best.
Sony 16:9

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[–] Nikon11 11 years ago

The OP's point here, (I think), is what difference does it make whether you're in the moors or on some narrow gravel track running through the middle of said moors?

There isn't a fence that separates the moors from the road - so the werewolf can easily access the road too.

Plus, if you want to take it further, since this is a werewolf and not an actual wolf, the man who becomes the wolf most likely doesn't live in the middle of the moors - so he's coming from somewhere else to begin with.

Sure, don't go swimming in shark-infested waters, but if you're going to swim in the ocean 50 yards from where you know there to be sharks, you might still get bit.

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[–] stones78 10 years ago

you are brilliant

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[–] Bel_Zedar 11 years ago

Surely, like any doggy, he'd chase the cars

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[–] balboa34 11 years ago

iknow..they are completely surrounded by moor land.

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[–] SkittlesMilly 11 years ago

It could be maybe if they get lost on the moors, they couldn't run back to the village or the next one quicker and will get lost easier. They were probably in more danger isolating themselves for the werewolf to attempt to pick them off.

Believe me, nothing is trivial. - Eric Draven, The Crow.

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[–] digitalboy72 11 years ago

Nikon11, yep, that's precisely what I mean.

SkittlesMilly, that's probably the most reasonable explanation that I've heard.

"Mr. Treehorn treats objects like women, man."

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[–] SkittlesMilly 11 years ago

Glad you think so, thanks.

Believe me, nothing is trivial. - Eric Draven, The Crow.

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[–] vestdennis 11 years ago

Best answer. Once they got off the road and onto the moors they got lost.

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[–] frostylikas 11 years ago

Indeed, and thank you.

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[–] doowopfan 11 years ago

I think it is a lot more simple than just being lost. A road will lead somewhere. The moors will just make you wander around (like they ended up doing, actually).

--------------------------------
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[–] roguetel 11 years ago

I'll toss my two cents in here.

If I recall correctly they knew letting them leave the pub at all was certain death. So even though they let them leave they passed a feeble warning to help their consciences.

Sure enough they were on the moors when they were attacked and everyone could breathe a sigh of relief that it was the boys own fault/ doing.

Man he ripped that green jacket to shreds.

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[–] bibliogh 11 years ago

Silver cattle grids-werewolves can't walk over them.

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[–] wears-alan 11 years ago

Even the guy who gave them a lift told them to stick to the road. I'm going with the werewolf probably usually attacked sheep and as such pretty much stuck to the moors itself.

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[–] Nikon11 11 years ago

That's the best answer - the werewolf goes to moors to hunt, so keeping to the road means you'll have less of a chance running into him.

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[–] SlickySlixta 10 years ago

I'll toss my two cents in here.

If I recall correctly they knew letting them leave the pub at all was certain death. So even though they let them leave they passed a feeble warning to help their consciences.

Sure enough they were on the moors when they were attacked and everyone could breathe a sigh of relief that it was the boys own fault/ doing.

Agreed, I think the patrons of the pub were just going through the formalities in telling them to stick to the road and keep off the moors. However, as some of the previous posts have stated, if they were to have any chance at all of surviving then they would have to stay on the road as it would eventually take them somewhere safe. Wandering off into the moors as they ended up doing got them lost and killed/badly injured.

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[–] woozle_wuzzle 9 years ago

Agreed, I think the patrons of the pub were just going through the formalities in telling them to stick to the road and keep off the moops.

OK George Costanza.

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[–] Attila_Krieger 11 years ago

Imo i think its more about delivering an eerie message to the audience, like in red riding hood "don't stray from the path into the dark forest" it gives you a little chill(kinda) if you are immersed enough.

And another point(the most logical one) is for them not to get lost, simple.
If they stray from the road they might go in circles per se, around the fog, the road would make you go further away from that point(tavern) faster, it was probably a warning of "dont wonder around! just go straight ahead and don't look back".

And the old woman from the pub was still a little concerned saying not to let them go alone.

Which would you consider logically less dangerous, roaming around the moor, or having a road to follow in a more straight line.

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[–] liverpool26 10 years ago

Why would anyone walk into the moors anyway even if there wasn't a werewolf, walking into the moors in the middle of the night with no torch would probably be certain death as it leads nowhere you would be lost for days and probably fall into a ditch in the pitch black and break your leg or ankle.

I get what your saying though being on the road wouldn't save you from a werewolf.

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[–] TorontoJediMaster 10 years ago

Maybe after every full moon, the locals would find the carcasses of sheep, deer, etc. on the moors but never on or close to the road. Thus, they'd rationalize that the werewolf hunted on the moors and kept a distance from the road. So, keeping to the road would maximize their chances for survival.

As well, as a previous poster said, staying on the road would at least ensure they wouldn't get lost as they'd eventually wind up at some sort of town or village -perhaps the people at the pub figured if they'd stayed on the road they could make it to the next town before the moon rose.

Also, even if they weren't worried about the werewolf, it was advice that going across the unfamiliar moors at night was very dangerous as David and Jack didn't know them or even have flashlights.

Personally, I couldn't imagine they'd actually step off the road like they did. They had no idea where they were going and surely would've stuck to the road.

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[–] HalBanksy 8 years ago

walking into the moors in the middle of the night with no torch would probably be certain death

Exaggerate much...
There just fields. Plenty of people walk the moors.

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[–] friendoffilm 10 years ago

I personally think that the "Beware of the moon, stay off of the Moors" warning that was given to Jack and David prior to their nighttime travels was well-advised, given the fact that werewolves often hunt on the moors during a full moon.

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