One of the finest movies in the flurry of post-"Scream" self-aware slashers, "Urban Legend" nicely balances spookiness and comedy in its parade of urban legend-inspired death scenes and last act twist that turns camp queen Rebecca Gayheart into a low-key slasher icon. Beginning with an iconic scene in which a backseat-occupying axe murderer lops off Michelle Mancini's (Natasha Gregson Wagner) head after stuttering Brad Dourif's bungled rescue attempt and climaxing with Natalie Simon (Alicia Witt) and Paul Gardener's (Jared Leto) deadly battle with the same revenge-driven killer, this is a blast throughout, even if it never quite reaches the grand level of the Wes Craven flick that surely inspired it. Look out for Tara Reid in a supporting role as teen radio host Sasha Thomas (what a fun final girl she could have been) and "Halloween" alumni Danielle Harris as a horny goth girl who does it and dies with the lights off. A must-see for slasher devotees.
.png)
