Urban Legend Blu-ray Review

"An urban legend, urban myth, urban tale, or contemporary legend is a form of modern folklore. It usually consists of fictional stories, often presented as true, with macabre or humorouselements, rooted in local popular culture. These legends can be used for entertainment purposes, as well as semi-serious explanations for random events such as disappearances and strange objects."

In the late 90's horror films had a resurgence especially with the teenage crowd. Because of this studios began casting "hot young actors" in these said films. Truth be told a lot of them were pretty good films that actually got major releases. One of the more popular ones was 1998's Urban Legend starring Jared Leto, Rebecca Gayheart, Tara Reid, and Joshua Jackson

The film centers around a group of college students who suddenly have to deal with a killer when one of there freinds is murdered. The hook to this one is the murders are all based off urban legends. Driving with the lights out then killing the first person to flash you. A maniac in the back seat hiding to kill you. Death by coke and pop rocks.

The main focus is on Natalie (Alicia With) shes a student at Pendelton University. She has a bit of a past, which I won't get into due to spoiler reasons. A rash of murders begin happening that are all based on Urban Legends, and they are all targeting Natalie's friends, Pop up Rocks and Draino being my favorite. It also turns out that the school is the site of the legendary Stanley Hall Massacre.

Really great gore effects, great pacing, and really good acting and chemistry makes this one of the better slashers of the 90's. The fantastic twist at the end is great as well.

The film plays out well and to this day will still hold your interest. It's one of the better slasher films of that decade, with a great ending sequence. Made for under 10 million it ended up grossing well over 71 million at the box office which gave it a follow up film. And now Scream Factory is giving it the Blu-ray Collector's Edition it deserves. 

Looking fantastic, sounding great, this transfer is great. It gives new life to the film. I saw this for the first time in the theater, and I must say it's still enjoyable to this day. And it even has the Scream Factory Special Features we've all come to love. In fact this is a double disc set so you get two discs with features.

DISC ONE

NEW Audio Commentary With Director Jamie Blanks, Producer Michael McDonnell, Assistant Edgar Pablos, Moderated By Author Peter M. Bracke

Audio Commentary With Director Jamie Blanks, Writer Silvio Horta, And Actor Michael Rosenbaum

Theatrical Trailer

DISC TWO

NEW Urban Legacy – An Eight-Part Documentary On The Making Of Urban Legend (147 Minutes) Including Interviews With Director Jamie Blanks, Writer Silvio Horta, Executive Producers Brad Luff And Nick Osborne, Producers Neal Moritz, Gina Matthews, And Michael McDonnell, Chairman And CEO Of Phoenix Pictures Mike Medavoy, Production Designer Charles Breen, Director Of Photography James Chressanthis, Editor Jay Cassidy, Composer Christopher Young, Actors Alicia Witt, Michael Rosenbaum, Natasha Gregson Wagner, Robert Englund, Loretta Devine, Rebecca Gayheart, Tara Reid, And Danielle Harris, Assistant Edgar Pablos, Author Peter M. Bracke, And More...

NEW Behind-The-Scenes Footage

NEW Extended Interviews From The Eight-Part Documentary

Archival Making Of Featurette

Gag Reel

Deleted Scene

TV Spots

This is a must own. It truly is an original film and the urban legend aspect sets it apart from other slasher film. I recommend adding it to you Collection, as well as part 2.

Overall 3 out of 5 Stars