Just what the world needs, another riff on that post-Psycho horror cliché: the slasher movie. In this version, which considerably dumbs down the Lois Duncan book, the bad guy chases naughty teenagers with a hook, all the while dressed as a dark version of the Gorton's fisherman. They seem to have killed someone in a car accident while out partying, and a price must be paid. Nothing new is added to the genre by I Know What You Did Last Summer, though it would be unfair not to note that this does have some scary moments. That is about all it has, because as much as this... wanted to be another Scream, it hasn't the heart or the script. It does, however, have the requisite cast of small-screen stars (including Party of Five's Jennifer Love Hewitt and Buffy herself, Sarah Michelle Gellar) to have snagged box-office success, spawning a sequel. --Rochelle O'Gorman [show more]
Jennifer Love Hewitt, screenwriter Kevin Williamson, 'Kula Shaker' on the soundtrack and post-modern witticisms? It must be the 90's.
Cast your mind back to a time when those names meant something and slasher movies made an unexpected comeback. Thanks in no small part to scribe Kevin Williamson and 'Elm Street' maestro Wes Craven (The 'Scream' trilogy). Following on from the critical and commercial success of 'Scream', Williamson went onto create TV teen drama 'Dawson's Creek'. But let's not hold that against him, for he quickly made amends by adapting this fast, fun and atmospheric little horror movie, which made stars of its young cast and even spawned a surprisingly competent sequel.
Directed by Jim Gillespie, 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' is based on a novella by Louis Duncan; and sees a group of high spirited, but drunk, teenagers accidently kill a man in a nighttime hit and run. Foolishly, they decide to cover it up; but the past won't stay buried. And the hapless quartet; comprising of JLH, Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Geller and Ryan Philippe, are stalked by a hook handed killer in a Mac who, as the title suggests; knows what they did last Summer.
'IKWYDLS' was never as big a hit as 'Scream' and nor did it go all out with knowing winks to the audience or convoluted self-reflexivity: This was a good move, as it keeps you involved whilst subtly acknowledging its ludicrous plotline, hysterical B-movie conventions and off the wall set pieces (e.g. beauty contest, fishing boat finale etc). Unadulterated 90's zeitgeist, worth revisiting for horror fans.
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