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Urban Legend
1998 100 min United States of America R 18+
★5.4
Horror, Mystery
Director: Jamie Blanks
Trailers
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Description
A college campus is plagued by a vicious serial killer murdering students in ways that correspond to various urban legends.
Budget:
$14M
US Gross:
$38.07M
Worldwide:
$72.53M
Starring
Jared Leto
Actor
Alicia Witt
Actor
Rebecca Gayheart
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 1999
— Best Young Performer
Key opinion
Urban Legend is a quintessential late-90s slasher that leverages a clever, premise-driven hook to stand out among its contemporaries. While critics frequently dismiss its derivative nature and uneven script, many viewers find it to be an effective, entertaining, and atmospheric piece of genre nostalgia.
| Originality | The premise of basing murders on well-known urban legends provides a compelling and original hook for the slasher genre. | |
| Production | The film benefits from a cohesive and moody collegiate atmosphere that helps sustain tension throughout the runtime. | |
| Acting | The cast—featuring young stars like Jared Leto, Alicia Witt, and Rebecca Gayheart—is widely considered a highlight that elevates the material. | |
| Originality | The effectiveness of the kills is debated: some appreciate the inventively staged and clever deaths, while others find them unmemorable or hindered by a lack of gore. | |
| Screenplay | Opinions on the screenplay are divided, with some praising the surprising plot twists and mystery, while others criticize the nonsensical logic and stilted dialogue. |