Urban Legends: Final Cut

Directed by John Ottman, Urban Legends: Final Cut follows Jennifer Morrison’s Amy Mayfield as she attempts to finish her student film in spite of the various murders happening all around her. Filmmaker Ottman, making his debut here, delivers a middle-of-the-road slasher flick that’s competently made yet mostly devoid of innovative, compelling elements, with the picture’s periodically tolerable atmosphere perpetuated by its affable performances and smattering of fun movie references. (The end credits are especially rewarding in terms of the latter, to be sure.) It’s clear, though, that Ottman’s pervasively bland sensibilities go a long way towards draining one’s interest and attention, and there’s little doubt, certainly, that the movie’s various problems are exacerbated by a pointed lack of memorable kill sequences. (It’s all just so generic, ultimately.) And although the climax is admittedly far more entertaining than one might’ve anticipated, Urban Legends: Final Cut has long-since cemented its place as a predominantly underwhelming sequel that does, for the most part, fall right in line with its less-than-stellar predecessor.

** out of ****