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Urban Legend vs. I Know What You Did Last Summer

posted 3 years ago by cyberbob (3488)
8 replies | jump to latest

Which of these two Horror classics (jk hehe) is the superior Scream imitator?

Urban Legend has the advantage of having a very gimmicky premise so you get some unique death scenes. But that also works against it at times, as realistically the plot is ludicrous

I Still Know What You Did Last Summer has a very basic premise that allows the killer to shine a bit more than the killer from Urban Legend

Last Summer also has something of an "anti-twist" in that the killer is not even someone who had shown up in the movie before. When I watched this as a kid I hated that about the movie, but as an adult I guess it deserves some credit for doing something different and "subverting expectations"

I like most of the characters from Urban Legend more. They are mostly thinly written and obnoxious, but they were played by popular young actors at the time so it has a time capsule feel to it. It's fun watching Tara Reid, Joshua Jackson, Michael Rosenbaum getting murdered

Last Summer also has a cast of actors who were very "hot" at the time, but I find most of the characters very bland. Ryan Phillippe puts on the best performance as an ever-raging asshole and despite his scummy behavior, I always find his death scene really sad. There he is watching his beau achieving one of her dreams and then he gets butchered

Where Urban Legend falters, IMO, is the end. The killer reveal is underwhelming. Rebecca Gayheart really hams it up and its totally discordant with a rather understandable motive. The protagonist took part in the involuntary manslaughter of her fiance. That reveal could have been handled tastefully and actually elevated the film a bit, but it's clear that the movie had no desire to do that. It was just copying Scream's Billy Loomis "tragic" motive

Overall, I will score it as a draw. Urban Legend is more entertaining for me, but it's more tasteless and dumber than I Know What You Did Last Summer. Which is saying a lot because I Know What You Did Last Summer is not remotely tasteful OR smart

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

I Know What You Did Last Summer is a much better film and more entertaining.

[–] Stratego (31048) 3 years ago

Well, I definitely agree with you on that.

Ir's better acted, better-looking, more suspenseful and except for a few missteps the story makes much more sense

[–] PaladinNJ (21762) 3 years ago

Definitely I Know What You Did Last Summer

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

i liked 'i still know what you did last summer' more than either of them, i think. but they're all fun.

if they had put alicia witt in her roommate's goth outfit, urban legend would be 5/5.

[–] BensGirl (590) 3 years ago

Same. It was much better than the original and Urban Legend. I need to watch that this weekend lol!

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

i'm going to give the ...last summer films a re-watch myself some time this month too.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

I'm due a rewatch of Urban Legend it's been a long time. From recollection though when it comes to post-Scream slashers;

1. I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
2. Cherry Falls (2000)
3. Urban Legend (1998)

[–] Stratego (31048) 3 years ago

IKWYDLS by a longshot. Urban Legend is nithing but a cash-in, it has no identity and makes no effort whatsoever. Urban myths as a basis for the death scenes is an interesting concept, but it's badly executed.

"Last Summer also has a cast of actors who were very "hot" at the time, but I find most of the characters very bland. Ryan Phillippe puts on the best performance as an ever-raging asshole and despite his scummy behavior, I always find his death scene really sad. There he is watching his beau achieving one of her dreams and then he gets butchered"

Julie and Ray were absolutely bland. Barry was an interesting personality with a good performance by Philippe, but I actually think Helen was the most complicated character with the most development.