This is a late 90s Dead Teenager Movie, starring some recognisable teen movie actors and a few well known horror stars as well.
After Michelle, a college student, is killed with an axe while driving alone one night in the rain, a group of friends start being killed off one by one via various urban legends 25 years after a massacre took place at the college. It’s up to the survivors to solve the mysterious identity of the unknown figure in a fur-lined parka.
This is actually a great slasher flick. Serial killings based on urban legends brings it more into reality, adding a layer of dread. It does have some of the standard slasher tropes we all know and love, but there are some moments (and kills) that keep the movie interesting and unique enough to hold its own against other movies of its kind.
As I said in the intro there are many appearances from both teen and horror veterans (and a couple who have done teen horror).
In the teen corner we have; Rebecca Gayheart (Jawbreaker, Scream 2), Tara Reid (American Pie, Sharknado), Jared Leto (My So Called Life, American Psycho), Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville, Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane), and Joshua Jackson (Dawson’s Creek, Gossip).
In the horror corner we have; Brad Dourif (Child’s Play, The Exorcist III), Danielle Harris (Halloween 4, 5 & remake), Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street, Wishmaster and many others), and Julian Richings (Stephen King’s Kingdom Hospital, Cube).
The characters: Some are ok, some not so much. I find both Natalie and Sasha to be rather pathetic, but before a certain scene Sasha is alright. Natalie is just annoying to me. It could just be the actress though. In everything I have seen her in, I haven’t liked her. Apparently, both Reese Witherspoon and Melissa Joan Hart turned down the role. Maybe Reese would have been more likable…?
I love the cameo by Brad Dourif. I also love that he shouted after Michelle in his Chucky voice, whether intentional or not. Michael Rosenbaum is as funny as usual. I thought he was a great Lex Luthor in Smallville, as well as doing a great job of voicing the Flash in the Justice League animated series. Because of Smallville, I now think he looks weird with hair. Jared Leto’s Paul is okay… I think he’s mostly there to look good. The character is kind of bland and seems underdeveloped. The whole nosey reporter part of his personality is strong, making him somewhat unlikable at times. Brenda’s quite likable as the friend, making a lot of the scenes with Natalie more tolerable.
Although he isn’t in it for long, Damon is a great character. He brings the comic relief at the beginning with his pranks. When Parker tells the group about some of his previous pranks, he says that he convinced a girl that he was the middle Hanson brother. There was a funny moment where he turns on the radio in his car and the theme song for Dawson’s Creek is playing, which Damon immediately turns off. Very meta.
It’s always great to see Robert Englund in a horror outside of his Freddy role. He plays the Professor type well. I got to meet him at a convention a couple of years ago, and had him autograph my VHS copy of A Nightmare on Elm Street. He was rather surprised to see it, being a video tape and all. He’s a really nice guy. I might have already mentioned this last year in my A Nightmare on Elm Street movie review, but I thought I’d mention it again since it was an amazing moment for me.
If you’re interested in reading up on the urban legends used/mentioned in the movie, like I was, they are:
- Killer in the Backseat
- The Hook (Mentioned also in I Know What You Did Last Summer)
- Headlight Flashing
- Aren’t You Glad You Didn’t Turn on the Light?
- Pop Rocks & Soda (Similar to Mentos and Cola)
- Dog in the Microwave
- Bloody Mary
- The Bloody Mary Ritual (Also featured in Paranormal Activity 3)
- Replacing Birth Control Pills with Aspirin
- The Babysitter
- Backseat Killers & Ankle-Slashing Gangs
- Slasher Under the Car
- Love Rollercoaster
- The Kidney Heist
- Urban Legends Wiki (Various legends)
Also check out these urban legend videos on YouTube. I recommend watching them in the dark for a creepier atmosphere. Only if you’re brave enough of course. I won’t judge if you leave the lights on.
I also recommend checking out other linked videos if you’re as fascinated by this subject matter. They’re very interesting, if not a little disturbing.
Update: I have just learned that the movie is going to receive a modern remake, which was announced in Feb 2020. Not much is known about it except that it apparently stars two of the original cast members Rebecca Gayheart and Loretta Devine, and will be directed by Colin Minihan, one half of The Vicious Brothers who did both Grave Encounters movies.
Linsey Loves Horror 