Urban Legend turned 22 a couple of days ago and the hot sequel Urban Legends: Final Cut turned 20 so its only fitting that I pay these two titles a visit as it's been a while and as a kid used to watch frequently. These two, next to I Know What You Did Last Summer & Scream were some of my favorites slashers back then and still are now.
Back in the day, these two were criminally underrated gems and I'm glad that with the help of Scream Factory (a company that releases collectors editions of black sheep) this is getting much-deserved love.
Urban Legend
Story: A college student suspects a series of bizarre deaths are connected to certain urban legends.
I know this post-scream is not the most original movie in the way it unfolds. You know from the get-go who will bite the dust, has every cliché in the genre (the killer's not dead? no way!) and is silly beyond reason. But I've always loved the cast featuring Jared Leto (Requiem For A Dream), Rebeca Gayheart (Jawbreaker), Joshua Jackson (Gossip), Loretta Devine (Waiting To Exhale), Tara Reid (American Pie), among others. I've always thought Alicia Witt (The Walking Dead) is kind of weak as a final girl both in her acting abilities (she comes off as bland and delivers her lines quite badly) but she doesn't tarnish the experience much and after a while becomes somewhat likable.
I also loved the appearances by Robert Englund (A Nightmare On Elm Street), Brad Dourif (Child's Play), and Danielle Harris (Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers). The killer's costume is quite memorable and so are the kills. Not as in gory but as in the way they're built up. The reason behind the murders is actually a solid one and it's grown on me over the years because at first, I thought it wasn't totally believable. Even though I never really bought for a second who the killer is but I still dig the idea behind it. Last but not least, Tara Reid's chase scene is one of the most memorable moments in the 90's slashers.
Urban Legends: Final Cut
Story: A film school is the center of a fresh spate of killings based on urban legends.
Compared to the first one this one lessened the quality. Feels like a somewhat cheap knock-off trying to pull off what Scream 3 did (the whole movie within a movie bit). Jennifer Morrison is a better final girl and actress. She makes her character so much easier to follow. I also like the rest of the cast, like Jessica Cauffiel (Legally Blonde), Anson Mount (All The Boys LoveMandy Lane), Eva Mendes (Ghost Rider), and Matthew Davis (Tigerland). The return of Loretta Devine (Waiting To Exhale) is a pleasant one. Glad to have her back.
The kidney kill is one brutal moment and probably the best scenes in this sequel. This scene alone is worth the watch. I'm still pissed that most kills aren't based on urban legends and instead turn into an average slasher with stale deaths. The final reveal is one of the stupidest I've ever seen but I considering nowadays people kill for less is pretty plausible. The killer's costume is less memorable but I still dig it. Matthew Davis ass is a plus.
Watch the trailers:
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