Urban Legend Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "Urban Legend" from Scream Factory, while utilizing the same source as Sony’s earlier Blu-ray, demonstrates commendable improvements in several key areas. The 1080p MPEG-4 AVC-encoded transfer, framed at a 2:40.1 aspect ratio, maintains the organic grain structure inherent to its 35mm origins. Color saturation has noticeably improved, providing more vibrant and natural hues compared to the previous release. Particularly, skin tones appear consistent without excessive post-production manipulation. Black levels are deep and inky, showing no signs of crushing. Foreground elements effectively pop against dark backgrounds, lending a decent amount of depth and dimensionality to the visuals.

Clarity and detail are the standout features of this release, with close-up shots revealing fine details such as strands of hair and fabric textures, especially under well-lit conditions. The film's shadow detail remains robust, allowing for discernible edges even in darker scenes. Minor instances of age-related artifacts like dust and specks are present but minimally interfere with the overall clean presentation. The encode boasts a high bitrate averaging 30,998 kbps, ensuring that the visuals are rendered as sharply as the source material permits. This meticulous encoding helps mitigate issues of inherent softness in certain scenes, which are common due to original filming techniques.

Overall, while not the sharpest transfer available, this version of "Urban Legend" offers a gratifying visual experience that remains true to its 90s aesthetic. From deeply saturated colors during daylight scenes to maintaining texture details in less illuminated moments, Scream Factory’s release honors the film's legacy with a presentation that will satisfy enthusiasts of the genre.

The Blu Ray audio presentation of "Urban Legend" impressively showcases its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which is notably aggressive and immersive. The thunder claps and crashing sound effects are powerful, delivering significant low-frequency extension that utilizes the subwoofer effectively. While some sections of the film are dialogue-heavy and quieter, the overall audio experience remains intense, with clear and crisp dialogue reproduction. The dynamic range of this mix successfully underscores both action sequences and more subdued moments, elevating the entire film's auditory impact.

Scream Factory’s DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround track is particularly effective, offering a high bitrate of 3127 kbps at 24-bit resolution, resulting in separated and well-distributed sound across all speakers. This mix truly opens up the sound field during action scenes, especially during kill sequences where sound directionality is crucial. Moreover, Christopher Young’s score, with its tense crescendos and orchestral sweeps, is given full clarity and heft, enhancing the overall soundscape and maintaining viewer engagement even during slower scenes. The audio fidelity remains high whether utilizing the 5.1 mix or the downconverted DTS-HD MA 2.0 stereo option, both of which represent the best the film has sounded on home video.

In addition to impressive channel separation and ambient effects in the surround presentation, this audio mix ensures that low-frequency events like thunder or musical stings pack a punch. Although action predominantly unfolds through the front speakers, rear channels are adeptly used to create a more immersive environment. Optional English SDH subtitles are also provided, adding to the accessibility and appeal of this audio presentation. Overall, this adeptly crafted sound mix significantly contributes to the viewing experience, effectively amplifying the film’s horror elements and atmospheric tension.

The Blu-ray release of "Urban Legend" offers a robust package of extras, catering well to fans and film enthusiasts alike. The dual audio commentaries provide both insightful and entertaining takes, including a newly recorded track moderated by Peter M. Bracke, and a legacy track featuring Jamie Blanks, Silvio Horta, and Michael Rosenbaum. A standout addition is the exhaustive eight-part documentary "Urban Legacy," supplemented by extensive behind-the-scenes footage and extended interviews, totaling an impressive runtime that delves deeply into the film's production. Despite some navigation issues, such as the lack of a "Play All" option, the quality and depth of the content make up for it. The Blu-ray also includes archival materials, deleted scenes, TV spots, and more, enhancing its appeal as a collector's item.

Extras included in this disc:

• NEW Audio Commentary with director Jamie Blanks, producer Michael McDonnell, assistant Edgar Pablos; moderated by Peter M. Bracke: Insightful discussion with behind-the-scenes details.
• Audio Commentary with director Jamie Blanks, writer Silvio Horta, actor Michael Rosenbaum: A lighter, jovial discussion recorded in 1998.
• Theatrical Trailer: The primary promotional trailer for the film.

Disc 2:

• NEW Urban Legacy: An eight-part documentary on the making of "Urban Legend."
• NEW Behind-the-Scenes footage: Never-before-seen footage from the film’s production.
• NEW Extended interviews from the eight-part documentary: Additional interview content not included in the main documentary.
• Archival Making of Featurette: A promotional featurette from the original release.
• Gag Reel: A collection of humorous outtakes.
• Deleted Scene: A scene cut from the final version of the film.
• TV Spots: Promotional spots aired during the film's original release.

"Urban Legend," directed by Jamie Blanks and released in 1998, is a standout slasher from the era of Kevin Williamson-inspired horror films like "Scream" and "I Know What You Did Last Summer." While it didn't revolutionize the genre, it carved out its niche by blending typical genre tropes with a unique hook—each murder in the film replicates a well-known urban legend. This conceptual twist gives the film an engaging "whodunit" mystery, keeping viewers on their toes with a plethora of red herrings and potential suspects, such as the suspicious Professor Wexler (played by genre icon Robert Englund) and other quirky characters on the university campus.

Alicia Witt stars as Natalie, our "final girl," who becomes entangled in the macabre killings that sweep her campus. The plot thickens as more students fall victim to the urban legend-themed murders, emphasizing the mystery and fear instigated by an unseen assailant in an oversized parka. Jared Leto, in one of his early roles, plays persistent campus journalist Paul Gardener, whose meticulous investigation leads to the shocking discovery of the killer's identity. Despite some familiar horror clichés and uneven acting reflective of 90s teen horror ethos, the film's clever integration of urban legends and atmospheric tension provide a refreshing narrative spin.

The movie's strengths are bolstered by Blanks' effective use of suspense over gratuitous gore, a rare approach during this period. The film boasts a solid cast of then-emerging actors, including Tara Reid, Joshua Jackson, Michael Rosenbaum, and Rebecca Gayheart, supported by genre veterans like Brad Dourif and John Neville. Despite its flaws and some predictable elements, "Urban Legend" earns its place as a memorable entry in the 90s slasher canon, appealing to both nostalgic viewers and new audiences with its inventive kills and homage to horror history.

"Urban Legend" stands out as a quintessential example of 90s slasher films, perfectly balancing horror and humor. Directed by Jamie Blanks and written by Silvio Horta, this 1998 thriller showcases a solid cast including Jared Leto, Alicia Witt, and Robert Englund. The film's clever and ingenious screenplay keeps viewers guessing, blending a mix of gallows humor, teenage mischief, and ample gore to cater to horror aficionados. Scream Factory has re-released this classic in a Collector's Edition Blu-ray that not only preserves the fine HD transfer from Sony but also enhances the auditory experience with a robust DTS-HD MA 5.1 sound mix. The aspect ratio of 2.39:1 AVC remains intact, ensuring that the visual presentation is both crisp and atmospheric.

The supplemental features on this Blu-ray edition are nothing short of impressive. A comprehensive, feature-length documentary titled "Urban Legacy" delves deep into the making of the film, with extensive interviews and behind-the-scenes insights that elevate the viewing experience considerably. Additionally, the release includes an improved group commentary track, archival B-roll footage, and other exclusive extras that are bound to thrill both new viewers and long-time fans. The reversible cover art provides a nostalgic nod to the original Blu-ray artwork, further enriching the collector's appeal of this edition.

In conclusion, "Urban Legend," while not exceptional, remains a nostalgic trip to a bygone era of self-aware slasher films. The efforts by Scream Factory to package this movie with an extensive array of special features and enhancements make it an easy recommendation for horror fans and collectors alike. The high-quality audio-visual presentation combined with the wealth of extras ensures that this Collector’s Edition deserves a spot in any classic or cult horror movie collection. Recommended.