Classic Review: I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)

The 90’s was a renovating period for the slasher movie. With the stars of the previous decade fading or worse, becoming ridiculous and pale versions of their original selves, the horror genre hit a low point in the early years of the decade. Everything changed when Scream hit theaters in 1996, bringing a refreshing, smart and cool new take on the clichés. The best and most crucial change brought to the table was leaving out supernatural villains like Jason or Freddy Krueger and putting their money into serial killers, normal people who turn to violence but who are very real. That decision changed everything, bringing a level or normalcy and realness (not that much, really, but you know what I mean) much needed to these films. The killers were not out of this world entities, but your neighbors, friends, boyfriends. People you might know and bump into while grocery shopping. That choice made everything more dangerous, more unstable.

After the amazing smash Scream did on the box office, it was a matter of time until Hollywood diluted the formula into a bunch of generic copies that would become weaker and weaker after each release. 90’s slashers were just like 90’s boy bands and pop divas: after Backstreet Boys came out, N’Sync followed and tons of others showed up, every new one more unnecessary that the ones that came before. I Know What You Did Last Summer was the first heir of Scream, but unlike N’Sync, it did not manage to surpass its parent. On the other hand, it still has its charms.

I Know What You Did Last Summer tells the story of four teenagers are celebrating the end of high school when they accidentally run over a man. They decide to throw his body into the ocean and never speak of it again. A year after, they are separated and trying to hold on to their guilt. Julie (Hewitt) comes home from college and right away she realizes they all have unfinished business with the dead. She reconnects with her friends. Her former best friend Helen (Gellar) who was prom queen the year before, is stuck working in her sister’s shop; Helen’s former boyfriend Barry (Ryan Phillippe) went on to university and became a total douchebag. Julie’s ex, Ray (Prinze Jr.) stayed in town working at the shipping boats. After a year, they are all uncomfortable around each other, but the need to recollect to face off the man who’s after them looking for revenge.

I Know What You Did Last Summer has a good premise, and that is one of its best assets. It’s an easy story about revenge and accountability, and it also has a very charismatic lead cast, making it easy for us to connect to the story and the characters. It’s not like we are watching English actors playing Shakespeare, but it works to a certain degree. Gellar’s wig is awful, and she really, really doesn’t know how to run (we’re talking about Buffy here), Prinze Jr. doesn’t have a lot of range at all and Hewitt has a tackiness to her screen persona that makes all of her performances a bit laughable while at the same time totally watchable.

Although Hewitt and Prinze Jr. are obviously the leads, it’s Gellar and Phillippe who make the last impression. Helen and Barry are way more interesting and colorful, while Julie and Ray are just bland. There’s nothing really there, no backstory, not strong personality trait. Phillippe is perfect as the arrogant rich boy and Gellar gives some gravitas to her character, who has the more developed back story. Gellar also has the best chase sequence of the film, a very tense and well-constructed attack at the shop.

But even with some highlights, it’s noticeable that I Know What You Did Last Summer doesn’t have a lot of personality in it. Scream had more verve, a strong narrative, better backstory and more things happening emotionally with the characters. It was (and still is) a very cool film. This film doesn’t have any of that. It’s clearly better than what came after, but it does miss a bit of sparkle. Its cheekiness makes things a bit better though.

still courtesy of Columbia Pictures

If you like this review, look me up on Instagram for more suggestions.

If you liked this, please read our other reviews here and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter or Instagram or like us on Facebook.

leandromatos1981