Same Old Story
Urban Legend Nothing New

We've all heard the legends growing up, or received those forwarded e-mails of stories that are supposedly true. You know, stories like "The Hook" or "The Black-Market Organ Harvest." These stories, while clearly ridiculous, appeal to our sense of the macabre.

In Urban Legend these modern myths of American society become the basis for a new horror movie. The problem is, we all know the stories. As a result, there are very few surprises. Even that could be forgiven, however, if the movie had created something memorable from predictable plot instead of creating just one more serial murder slasher flick.

Urban Legend begins with the death of a student from the local university. She is beheaded while driving by a axe-wielding maniac who has hidden in her back seat. While the tragedy causes a slight media stir, the administration at Pendleton clamps down on it in an effort to protect the university's reputation. Only one girl, Natalie (played by Alicia Witt from television's "Cybill"), seems upset by the affair. Of course, she knew the girl in high school.

Soon Natalie's fellow students are dropping like flies. She sees a connection in their deaths, each patterned after an urban legend, but no one in her circle of friends or in the administration will take her seriously. Her friend Brenda (Rebecca Gayheart) appears more concerned with a student reporter, Paul (Jared Leto). Paul, unfortunately, is more eager to break a big story and begins to take an interest in Natalie's theory.

The only bright spot in this silly and predictable tale is the appearance of Robert Englund (Freddy Kruger from A Nightmare on Elm Street) as Professor Wexler. Wexler teaches a course in cultural myths, and helps to dispel urban legends to his class. But he also may have a connection to a long-rumored series of murders at Pendleton University 25 years before.

While I can't recommend Urban Legend, I must admit that I enjoyed my evening of mindless entertainment. There's certainly nothing here that can't wait for video or cable, but with Halloween approaching I think it will make a more appealing diversion than the upcoming Child's Play sequel Bride of Chucky.

MY RATING: 1 out of 10.

RATED: R
RUN TIME: 98 min.