Urban Legend

Plot

In the areas around a vast University campus, a killer is targeting a group of friends, and using old Urban Legends as inspiration.

The killer also seems to be targeting Natalie, who has a dark secret of her own in her past.

Who is the killer, and will they be successful in their mission?

Direction

Directed by Australian Jamie Blanks. He would go on to direct several horror thriller films. Sadly he passed away earlier this year.

Cast

Jared Leto gets first billing (despite being a secondary character) playing Paul, the campus journalist who wants to help uncover who the killer is… and in doing so uncovers Natalie’s dark past.

Alicia Witt provides none of her talent playing Natalie. Sadly this is one of her poorer performances.

Tara Reid plays one of Natalie’s best friends Sacha, who hosts the local ‘sex talk’ show on the campus radio station.

Michael Rosenbaum plays Parker, Sacha’s boyfriend. He is definitely one of the funniest parts of the film, and seems to be the “Stu” of the film.

Rebecca Gayheart plays Brenda, another of Natalie’s friends.

Other cast include Joshua Jackson as Damon, another of Natalie’s friends, Loretta Devine as Reece the campus security guard and John Neville as the Dean of the University.

It also stars horror movie royalty including Brad Dourif, Robert Englund and Danielle Harris.

Breakdown

Coming out of the 1990s when every man and his dog wanted to make a slasher film, this sits in the ‘not so great’ category for a number of reasons. Unfortunately because it takes stock of so many films before it, it struggles to find its own two feet, and even adds some moments it shouldn’t have (the killer calls Parker in a voice disguise ?), and the killer keeping all the dead bodies in their ‘hideout’ (mimicking Ben from IKWYDLS)

Sadly there are some rather on the nose performances, especially coming from cast members who have done brilliant work in the years that followed.

The premise itself is fine, with a killer targeting a group of college students in the idea of Urban Legend (axe wielding maniac in the back seat, hanging someone above the roof of a car, mixing pop rocks and … draino).

The film is full of the usual cliches, and even has some semblance of self awareness at times (Pacey Damon’s car stereo playing the Dawson’s Creek theme). This joke was funny in 1999, but might be lost on viewers today. Also it ‘lives in an era’ much like Billy Loomis having a phone in Scream – here Natalie can’t use her phone because her roommate is on the internet (oh the flashbacks to the arguments in my household).

The score is great, and it adds dramatic flair to certain scenes… like when Damon tricks his class mates about the risks in eating pop rocks and drinking soft drinks.

some performers feel like they are trying to mimic other films? I’ve been to University, and my lecture halls were never that grand… or dark.

I quite liked the many red herrings of who the killer could be – and it questions so many characters (Paul, Wexler, the Janitor). It takes the suspicion of the real killer who is actually a genuinely good surprise (but why not go after the driver’s friends???). Because of who it is, we have another ‘killer has superhuman strength’ while wearing the mask that many other films have done (looking at you Screams 2,4,5,6 &7).

The big up for me was Loretta Devine’s Reece – even if she was far from the one to call Harris’ Tosh’s murder a suicide… no leave that to the Dean of the University??? And did Paul and Natalie say they left her after being shot… alone… wtf?

Overall

I debated reviewing this due to some behind the scenes deaths in recent years, but I’ve done it anyway.

I’ll put the links and numbers for lifelines if you are struggling, reach out.

This one struggles to stand on its own, relying too much of other slasher films from the decade of its release. Ok, but lives in the 90s. Some poor performances, and odd choices within the screenplay (seriously, a Dean says it’s a suicide???)

2/5

This information is for general knowledge, is not medical advice, and you should consult with a healthcare provider. If you are in immediate danger, please call your local emergency services. For confidential, 24/7 mental health and suicide prevention support, major countries use the following dedicated lifelines: [1]

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