Modern horror has seen the revival of franchises that were once thought dead. Legacy sequels have fueled these revivals, bringing horror icons like Michael Myers and Leatherface back to the screen to the satisfaction of modern audiences. Ghostface from Scream also made a lasting return, while the hook-wielding killer from I Know What You Did Last Summer recently resurfaced to wreak havoc again. That being said, why doesn’t the most underrated slasher killer of the 1990s also return? Where’s the long-awaited reimagining of 1998’s Urban Legend?
Yes, Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer were very successful franchises upon release, but Urban Legend came fairly close to the latter’s box office gross. Additionally, though many accuse it of being a Scream rip-off, the theme of the franchise just calls for further development. It’s safe to say that with a proper sequel or even a reboot, Urban Legend has a chance to stand alongside the horror franchises that have seen recent revivals.
What Is ‘Urban Legend’ About?
Release Date
September 25, 1998
Runtime
99 Minutes
Director
Jamie Blanks
Writers
Silvio Horta
Urban Legend follows students at Pendleton University as they grapple with a series of mysterious and violent deaths. Bodies continue to drop, and Natalie realizes the killer may be following a theme: each murder mirrors a famous urban legend. She digs deeper and realizes the events may be tied to a past incident she’s trying to leave behind. The Rotten Tomatoes synopsis reads as follows:
A university is beset by a rash of gruesome murders that resemble old urban legends. When her friend Michelle (Natasha Gregson Wagner) is killed by someone hiding in her car, Natalie (Alicia Witt) begins to notice the pattern. Her suspicions grow stronger when her own roommate is strangled to death. Soon, the quiet college campus is transformed into hunting grounds for a maniac, and Natalie struggles to find the killer and stop the bloodshed before she becomes the next victim.
Is ‘Urban Legend’ Good Enough To Stand Beside Iconic Slasher Movies?
TriStar Pictures
Naturally, like most effective slasher films, Urban Legend had sequels. However, for comparison with its genre peers, let’s focus solely on the original entries. Scream was a major hit in 1996, and competing studios attempted to capitalize on the horror film’s success. 1997 saw the release of I Know What You Did Last Summer (and Scream 2), and 1998 featured Urban Legend (as well as I Still Know What You Did Last Summer). While I Know What You Did Last Summer was quite successful, it also felt like a straightforward thriller with a cool premise that fizzled out quickly. Urban Legend was the least successful of the bunch, which is unfortunate, given the potential of its story.
Urban Legend was always accused of being a Scream rip-off. The script was good enough to keep you hooked, and the performances, especially those by Robert Englund, Rebecca Gayheart, and Joshua Jackson, were also compelling. It also had an opening sequence that deserves a spot among horror’s best. The set pieces were well-designed, and let’s face it, the setting at the prestigious university had its charm.
‘Urban Legend’ Is an Underrated Gem in the Slasher Genre
It Needs a Legacy Sequel
TriStar Pictures
Urban Legend had its respective sequels: 2000’s Urban Legends: Final Cut (also underrated) and the 2005 straight-to-video entry Urban Legends: Bloody Mary. The franchise remained dormant for some time until the early 2020s, when rumors arose that a reboot was in development. The project went nowhere, but a few months ago, new reports suggested the franchise was finally being revived. There are no further details about the reboot, and all we know is that the writer of 2017’s It, Gary Dauberman, is set to write a script.
The question remaining is: Does Urban Legend deserve a spot in the modern revival wave of horror? Scream’s return was quite successful, and many attribute its success to the refreshing look that the franchise took on in the hands of new writers, directors, and characters.
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I Know What You Did Last Summer recently saw the release of its latest installment, with a whole new set of characters and some legacy figures who decided to return. So far, the reception from critics has been mixed, with the film sitting at 37% on Rotten Tomatoes. The audience score is noticeably higher at 68%.
If Urban Legend were to be remade for modern audiences, coming up with a compelling story based on the same theme should not be a challenge. After all, urban legends remain as relevant today as ever, especially with the rise of social media, the popularity of creepypastas, and nostalgia-based reimaginings. Its cast, at least those who played surviving characters, is still active today. Who’s to say a legacy sequel to Urban Legend can’t work? Urban Legend is available to rent on Prime Video and Apple TV.
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