Published via Ecency

(source: tmdb.org

Sequels better than original films are rare, but they are much more common if ithe original film isn’t anything to write home about. An example can be found in Urban Legends, 1998 horror film which two years later got sequel in the form of Urban Legends: Final Cut, film directed by John Ottman. Protagonist is Amy Mayfield (played by Jennifer Morrison), young film student at Alpine University, who, like most of her colleagues competes for prestigious Hitchcock Award that would guarantee Hollywood career after graduation. Although she prefers documentaries, she decided to take live action film for her project. It belongs to horror genre and the plot, inspired by conversation with Reese Wilson (played by Loretta Devine), security guard that survived campus massacre few years earlier, deals with maniac who kills his victims in the ways described in various urban legends. Soon after shooting stars, members of Amy’s cast and crew begin to mysteriously disappear. Amy soon realises that they are all victim of demented killer who is, like his fictional counterpart, inspired by urban legend. Her life is in danger, but assistance comes in form of Trevor Stark (played by Matt Davis), young man whose brother and Amy’s colleague died in mysterious circumstances.

Final Cut represented directorial debut of John Ottman, renowned composer of film music who also had respectable career as film editor. Ottman’s direction in this film isn’t particularly remarkable, but there are couple of interesting scenes. Young Jennifer Morrison handles her thankless role very well, just like her young colleagues who play stereotypical and mostly forgettable characters whose ultimate fate is easy to predict. Biggest problem for Final Cut is script by Paul Harris Boardman and Scott Derrickson that takes itself too seriously, depriving the film of the humour that would have made it more entertaining. Impression is somewhat improved at the ending, but not enough to make Final Cut into anything more than watchable. The film had unenthusiastic reviews, while the box office was solid. In 2005 a direct-to-video sequel was made under title Urban Legends: Blood Mary.

RATING: 4/10 (+)