Urban Legend (1998)

Director:

Jamie Blanks

Writer (WGA):

Silvio Horta (written by)

Release Date:

25 September 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller | Mystery

Tagline:

It Happened To Someone Who Knows Someone You Know... You're Next.

Plot:

A college coed suspects that murders around her campus are connected to Urban Legends.

Plot Keywords:

Urban Legend | Friend | Campus | Professor | College

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jared Leto	...	Paul Gardener
Alicia Witt	...	Natalie Simon
Rebecca Gayheart	...	Brenda Bates
Michael Rosenbaum	...	Parker Riley
Loretta Devine	...	Reese Wilson
Joshua Jackson	...	Damon Brooks
Tara Reid	...	Sasha Thomas
John Neville	...	Dean Adams
Julian Richings	...	Weird Janitor
Robert Englund	...	Professor William Wexler
Danielle Harris	...	Tosh Guaneri
Natasha Gregson Wagner	...	Michelle Mancini
Gord Martineau	...	David McAree
Kay Hawtrey	...	Library Attendant
Angela Vint	...	Bitchy Girl
J.C. Kenny	...	Weather Woman
Vince Corazza	...	David Evans (as Vince Corrazza)
Balázs Koós	...	Nerdy Guy
Stephanie Mills	...	Felicia
Danny Comden	...	Blake
Nancy McAlear	...	Jenny
Shawn Mathieson	...	Hippie Guy
Clé Bennett	...	Dorky Guy
Danielle Brett	...	Trendy Girl
Roberta Angelica	...	Swimming Woman
Matt Birman	...	Killer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brad Dourif	...	Michael McDonnell, gas station attendant (uncredited)
Silvio Horta	...	College Student (uncredited)
Shalen Hutchings	...	Extra (uncredited)

Directed by
Jamie Blanks

Writing credits (WGA)
Silvio Horta		(written by)

Produced by
Brad Luff	....	executive producer
Gina Matthews	....	producer
Michael McDonnell	....	producer
Neal H. Moritz	....	producer
Brian Leslie Parker	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Christopher Young

Cinematography by
James Chressanthis

Film Editing by
Jay Cassidy

Casting by
John Papsidera

Production Design by
Charles William Breen		(as Charles Breen)

Art Direction by
Benno Tutter

Set Decoration by
Carolyn 'Cal' Loucks

Costume Design by
Mary Claire Hannan

Makeup Department
Nicole Demers	....	assistant makeup artist
Leslie Ann Sebert	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
William H. Brown	....	post-production supervisor (as Bill Brown)
Brian Leslie Parker	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sarah Campbell	....	third assistant director
David McAree	....	first assistant director
Michael McDonnell	....	second unit director
Lorin Raine	....	trainee assistant director
Jonathan Wright	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Carlos Caneca	....	lead set dresser
Rossana DeCampo	....	key scenic artist
David DeMarinis	....	set dresser
Ron Dickie	....	property master
Joanna Tracey Heaton	....	art department coordinator
John MacNeil	....	assistant art director
Jeffrey A. Melvin	....	assistant property master
Corinna Schmitt-Porsia	....	assistant production coordinator
Jason Shultz	....	storyboard artist

Sound Department
David W. Alstadter	....	foley mixer
Christopher Assells	....	sound editor
Karen Baker Landers	....	supervising sound editor (as Karen M. Baker)
Bryan Bowen	....	sound editor
Mark D. Fleming	....	sound re-recording mixer: effects pre-dubs
Per Hallberg	....	sound mixer
Per Hallberg	....	supervising sound editor
Colin Jones	....	boom operator
Mark L. Mangino	....	sound editor
Tom Mather	....	production sound mixer
Christian P. Minkler	....	sound re-recording mixer
Philip D. Morrill	....	assistant sound editor
Tony Negrete	....	first assistant sound editor
Geoffrey G. Rubay	....	sound effects editor
Melissa Sherwood Hofmann	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mary Ruth Smith	....	sound editor
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
Lauren Stephens	....	dialogue editor
Lauren Stephens	....	sound editor
Jeffrey Wilhoit	....	supervising sound editor
Greg Zimmerman	....	assistant sound editor
Drew Webster	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Daniel Gibson	....	special effects key (as Dan Gibson)
Gary Kleinsteuber	....	special effects first assistant
Brad Larkin	....	special effects technician
Martin Malivoire	....	special effects supervisor
Mark Rice	....	special effects assistant
Peter Sissakis	....	special effects technician
Dean Stewart	....	special effects office administrator

Visual Effects by
Rob Blue	....	digital artist
Brennan Prevatt	....	digital compositor
Mark Savela	....	visual effects producer

Stunts
Marco Bianco	....	stunts
Matt Birman	....	stunt coordinator
Shelley Cook	....	stunts
C.J. Fidler	....	stunts
Rick Forsayeth	....	stunts
Brian Jagersky	....	stunts
Erin Jarvis	....	stunts
Jamie Jones	....	stunts
Danny Lima	....	stunts
Dwayne McLean	....	stunts
Regan Moore	....	stunt rigger
Sue Parker	....	stunts
Ken Quinn	....	stunts
Alison Reid	....	stunts
Paul Rutledge	....	stunts
Tye Tyukodi	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Richard Allen	....	gaffer
Paul Begin	....	assistant camera
Laurence Bortnick	....	second assistant camera
Rocky Brown	....	crane grip
Roger Finlay	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Carl Flood	....	electrician
Michael Flood	....	electrician
Mark W. Hindle	....	video playback operator
Mark Hryma	....	camera operator: Wescam camera
Ernie Kestler	....	additional camera operator
Steve Kolodziej	....	24 frame video operator
Bruce Macaulay	....	still photographer
John Medland	....	still photographer
Christopher Nethercoat	....	key rigging grip
Ted Overton	....	first assistant camera: second camera
Peter Rosenfeld	....	Steadicam operator
Peter Rosenfeld	....	camera operator: "a" camera
John Trapman	....	camera operator: Wescam camera
Greg Whiteside	....	24 frame video operator
Mark D. Acheson	....	grip (uncredited)
A. David Burleigh	....	video playback assistant (uncredited)

Casting Department
Zameret Kleiman	....	extras casting
Joanna Polley	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gloria Iglesias	....	wardrobe production assistant
Sara Schilt	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Lara Johnston	....	assistant film editor: Canada
Andrew Loschin	....	first assistant film editor
Derrick Mitchell	....	first assistant editor
Eric Rigney	....	avid technician
Jim Schulte	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Pete Anthony	....	conductor
Pete Anthony	....	orchestrator
Frank Bennett	....	orchestrator
Benedikt Brydern	....	score coordinator
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor
Robert Fernandez	....	scoring mixer
M.B. Gordy	....	musician: Percussion
Tod Holcomb	....	music editor
Jon Kull	....	orchestrator
Elliot Lurie	....	music supervisor
Larry Mah	....	score mixer
William V. Malpede	....	scoring coordinator
Jonathan Price	....	score coordinator
Patrick Russ	....	orchestrator
Steven L. Smith	....	music preparation
Richard Whitfield	....	music editor
Gernot Wolfgang	....	scoring assistant
Christopher Young	....	orchestrator

Transportation Department
Lori Ann Bellefontaine	....	driver

Other crew
Peter Boboras	....	location manager
Stephanie Keating	....	unit publicist
Andrew Magarian	....	acting coach
Chris Martin	....	assistant location manager
Ray McMillan	....	front projectionist
Edgar Pablos	....	assistant: Mr. Blanks
Susan Phillips	....	production coordinator
Vicki Dee Rock	....	production executive
Simone Stock	....	assistant: Mr. McDonnell
Dave Tommasini	....	helicopter pilot
Steve Woodley	....	head animal trainer
Elaine Yarish	....	script supervisor
Mark Zimoski	....	synthesizer programmer
Robert Gardiner	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Canal+ Droits Audiovisuels
• Original Film
• Phoenix Pictures

Distributors

• TriStar Pictures (1998) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film (1999) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1999) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1999) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (1998) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de España (1999) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Toho-Towa (2000) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (1999) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2000) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar (1999) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (1999) (Brazil) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (1999) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• V8 (2001) (Netherlands) (TV)

Special Effects

• Digiscope (digital visual effects)
• Gajdecki Visual Effects (GVFX)

Other Companies

• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Jo Anne Kane Music Services  music preparation (as Jo Ann Kane Music Services)
• Milan Records  soundtrack
• Pacific Title/Mirage  titles and opticals

Also Known As:

"Rule" - Japan (English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for horror violence/gore, language and sexual content

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Belgium:KNT | Brazil:14 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R | Singapore:M18 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Iceland:16 | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | New Zealand:R16 | Mexico:B | Italy:VM14 | Peru:14

Filming Locations:

Etobicoke Olympium, Etobicoke, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Canal+ Droits Audiovisuels

Trivia:

The newspaper article that Brenda shows Natalie near the end of the film (about her boyfriend's death) is said to have been written by (Benno Tutter). Tutter worked on the Art Production of this film.

Goofs:

Continuity: Throughout the movie characters hair will go from dry to wet, to dry again.

Quotes:

Brenda:Don't you want to be an urban legend, Nat? All your friends are now.

Movie Connections:

References Foxy Brown (1974)

Soundtrack:

I Know God

Stylish addition to the teen-horror cycle

URBAN LEGEND

Aspect ratio: 2.39:1

Sound formats: Dolby Digital / SDDS

A serial killer descends on a New Hampshire college where he/she kills a number of students in the manner of various urban legends.

History has a habit of repeating itself. In the early 1980's, a series of low budget 'slasher' movies emerged in the wake of HALLOWEEN (1978) and "Friday the 13th" (1980), most of which were condemned as substandard imitators by critics and horror fans alike. The same thing happened in 1996, following the success of Wes Craven's SCREAM, a smug reworking of genre clichés which allowed 'sophisticated' multiplex audiences to indulge an attitude of superiority over those 'crappy' old horror flicks and the 'unsophisticated' viewers who once supported them. The subsequent wave of teenage horror pics were flashy, sexy and ramped to the max, and - true to form - virtually all of them were (ho hum) trashed by critics and horror fans alike. And yet, most of them made a profit, perhaps BECAUSE they were flashier and sexier than those earlier pictures, and because they were designed for a wider demographic than 'mere' horror fans.

Jamie Blanks' URBAN LEGEND is a case in point: Most reviews ran the gamut from harsh dismissal to faint praise, yet the movie is a visual treat, as creepy and atmospheric as any of the films which inspired it. Furthermore, Silvio Horta's unassuming screenplay confounds expectations with its solid narrative arc, recognizable characters and dynamic set-pieces, not to mention a climactic 'reveal' which offers a robust motive for the killer's devastating onslaught. There are a few embarrassing lapses along the way (such as the murder which takes place in full view of heroine Alicia Witt, which she ignores because she thinks it's a couple having sex!), and Horta can't resist a handful of cop-out contrivances (eg. the killer slashes the wrists of a girl known for her depressive tendencies, causing authorities to dismiss her death as suicide, though a routine forensic examination would have revealed the cuts were administered post mortem, AFTER she was strangled to death!), but these occasional blunders are redeemed by the movie's fast-paced editing, neo-Gothic visual scheme and clever plot developments. Blanks orchestrates proceedings with consummate skill, but he refuses to indulge the kind of transgressive gore that once distinguished this downmarket subgenre (where's Tom Savini when you really need him?!).

As expected, the talented young cast - including Jared Leto, Rebecca Gayheart and Tara Reid - is pleasingly photogenic, and there are lengthy appearances by TV favorites Michael Rosenbaum ("Smallville") and Joshua Jackson (watch out for the terrific "Dawson's Creek" gag!). Major co-stars include Robert Englund (Freddy Krueger himself!), John Neville and an uncredited Brad Dourif, who features heavily in a powerful opening sequence where Blanks and Horta pull a major switcheroo on the audience (I'll say no more). Loretta Devine is amusing as the campus security guard who views herself as a modern-day Coffy/Pam Grier (her fantasy is rudely curtailed by a climactic encounter with the rampaging maniac), and there's a brief appearance by Danielle Harris, the former child star of HALLOWEEN 4: THE RETURN OF MICHAEL MYERS (1988) and HALLOWEEN 5 (1989), playing an adult character FAR removed from the angelic poppet of those earlier pictures! Beautiful, fairy-tale score by Christopher Young. Followed by the largely unrelated URBAN LEGENDS: FINAL CUT (2000).