I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) review – A Plodding And Generic Scream Imposter
I Know What You Did Last Summer: Quick Verdict
The Verdict: A plodding, formulaic, and largely joyless slasher that survives almost entirely on 90s nostalgia and the star power of its young cast. While it was marketed as the sophisticated sibling to Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer lacks its predecessor’s wit, self-awareness, and tension. Instead, it offers a by-the-numbers revenge plot, a remarkably silly antagonist, and some of the most unintentionally hilarious “serious” acting of the decade. Between the sluggish pacing and the increasingly exploitative direction, the film feels more like a dated relic than a genre classic. It’s a 2-star trudge that is best remembered for the parodies it inspired rather than the horror it failed to deliver.
Details: Director: Jim Gillespie | Cast: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Freddie Prinze Jr. | Runtime: 1h 41m | Release Date: 1997
Best for: Viewers looking for a nostalgic trip back to 1997 and fans of “teen scream” era fashion and cheesiness.
Worth noting: The film’s most famous line – “What are you waiting for?!” – was famously added at the suggestion of a young fan who won a contest to visit the set, which explains its bizarre, disconnected feel.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video (Rent/Buy)🛒, Apple TV, Sky Store
Rating: 2.0/5 Stars
(Formulaic, dull pacing, unintentionally funny)
Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we are checking out a pretty big horror hit from the 90s – I Know What You Did Last Summer.
The story here is simple: a group of friends on a boozy night out hit a man with their car. Rather than report the accident, they choose to dump his body. A year later, when the group start receiving notes that read “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” they immediately set about finding out who saw them and who it is tormenting them.
Highlights
A horror that changed everything
A film came along in the late 90s that changed the face of an entire genre — that movie was Scream. This was in the period of one year between 1996 and 1997. When it comes to horror, Scream took a flagging genre and gave it new life. Wes Craven had already given the horror genre so much with A Nightmare on Elm Street, but it was time for change.
Craven teamed up with writer Kevin Williamson and brought the world a slasher that completely subverted expectation. It was cool, clever, current, and incredibly smart. With its twist ending surprising many viewers and its eschewing of typical horror tropes feeling incredibly refreshing, Scream was horror for the 90s. People loved Scream and even typically horror-averse critics spoke highly of it.
Scream‘s popularity bred a whole new generation of imposters copying its formula. Movies set around “cool” high-school kids being chased by a shrouded killer were everywhere. Each one attempting to have their own version of Sidney and their own shocking twist. Cherry Falls, Urban Legend, Valentine, and, most noteworthy of all, today’s movie: I Know What You Did Last Summer.
The most famous of the scream copycats
I Know What You Did Last Summer was based on a script that had been floating around development hell for a while… A script written by Scream writer Kevin Williamson. As soon as it became obvious that Scream was a huge hit, this script was purchased and put into production.
“While Scream featured a clever story of deception and suspense, I Know What You Did Last Summer was just a plain old slasher with limited surprises and limited thrills.”
The only problem? Well, Scream featured a clever story of deception and suspense. I Know What You Did Last Summer was just a plain old slasher with limited surprises and limited thrills.
Watching in 2024, this is massively apparent. In fact, it’s kind of impossible to understand why this movie is still brought up today. It’s really not very good at all. It’s a by-the-numbers slasher with nothing to write home about.
If it wasn’t for its well-known cast, I doubt anyone would be talking about it today. I certainly don’t think we would be seeing the advent of legacy sequels. At the time, however, people raved about this movie as a worthy alternative to Scream, something that simply isn’t true.
It’s formulaic and dull
This is a real slog of a movie to get through. Coming in at over 100 minutes, the action doesn’t really start until the midway point. When it does get going, it all feels rather empty due to the threadbare cast of characters. When your maniacal, hook-wielding killer has to resort to murdering random bystanders, you know your slasher is in a bit of trouble.
“The B-movie cheesiness is abundant… Ryan Phillippe plays ‘tough jock’ Barry and provokes repeated belly laughs with his frequent bouts of aggression.”
The B-movie cheesiness is abundant and the downright silliness of the story and acting will have you laughing repeatedly. The rather small and quite slight Ryan Phillippe plays “tough jock” Barry. He provokes repeated belly laughs with his frequent bouts of aggression. Jennifer Love Hewitt‘s ludicrously frequent startled screams are impossible not to chuckle at. And let’s not forget Freddie Prinze Jr. trying to be mysterious which is nothing but hilarious.
The story is insanely boring. There is a bit of a twist, but it is so redundant that it is very hard to care. It’s kind of the equivalent of saying “Oh, it was the janitor that did it” when you had never seen the janitor for more than a second and he had absolutely no part in the story at all. Who gives a shit?
Direction is pretty poor, pacing is a problem, and some of the scenes are noteworthy for how stupid they are. They actually let a kid come in and direct a scene for part of the movie. Yes, an actual kid. The scene where Jennifer Love Hewitt spins around screaming “What are you waiting for?” was directed by a literal child. The fact that it has become the movie’s most iconic scene tells you all you need to know.
Kinda awkward at times
Speaking of Jennifer Love Hewitt, it’s kind of tough not to feel a bit sorry for her here. She tries really hard, but the direction she received led to her being viciously lampooned in movies like Scary Movie. Cindy’s exaggerated mannerisms, half-cried screams, and tendency to run away while flailing her arms in the air are all taken from Hewitt’s performance here.
It was this movie that was to blame for Hewitt’s future status as a sex symbol, as well. Much of which can be attributed to the low-cut tops she was made to wear. As well as the ridiculously exploitative camera angles used throughout.
“It’s a slow, boring, poorly acted, poorly directed chore of a slasher movie. The fact that people still talk about it is insane.”
I understand that titillation is a part of horror and I don’t have a problem with it on the surface. But the thought of a much older director creepily setting up shots deliberately aiming right down the top of his 18-year-old, former child star actress is a bit weird. There’s a scene later on where she wears a towel. From one shot to the next, her boobs suddenly end up pushed right up – clearly a call from the director to increase sex appeal.
I get it, she is stunningly beautiful and rather busty, but come on. It just feels weird and a bit wrong, especially given how young she looks here. She has, in recent years, commented negatively on her status as a sex symbol and it is impossible not to feel a bit sorry for her, especially due to the typecasting that shaped her career to come.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
The Good
- Nostalgic Cast: Seeing the 90s “A-list” in their prime is a fun novelty, even if the performances leave a lot to be desired.
- Atmospheric Setting: The coastal fishing village aesthetic provides a nice, moody backdrop for a slasher, even if the script fails to use it effectively.
The Bad
- Dull Pacing: At over 100 minutes, the film is far too long for such a thin plot, resulting in a tedious first hour.
- Weak Antagonist: The “Fisherman” is a generic, unthreatening villain whose “twist” reveal is both nonsensical and utterly unearned.
- Poor Scripting: Kevin Williamson’s dialogue here lacks any of the wit or meta-commentary that made Scream a success.
The Ugly: The Exploitative Camerawork. The director’s insistence on “male gaze” shots and blatant attempts to heighten sex appeal through costume changes feels a bit creepy with the still young Love-Hewitt.
Should You Watch I Know What You Did Last Summer?
Probably not. Unless you are looking for a few laughs at the expense of its 90s earnestness, this is a solid 2-star trudge. It is a formulaic slasher that lacks scares, tension, and logic.
Our Scoring Philosophy: A Fair Fight
Horror is a genre that thrives thanks to indie film makers and low budget creators. At Knockout Horror, we firmly believe that every movie that we review deserves a fair fight. That's why we grade on a curve. Our star ratings are all about context, judging a film on what it achieves with the resources it has.
A 4-star rating for a scrappy indie horror made for $10,000 is a testament to its ingenuity and raw power. A 4-star rating for a $100 million blockbuster means it delivered on its epic promises. We don't compare them side-by-side; we celebrate success in every weight class, from the back-alley brawler to the heavyweight champion. Please keep this in mind when considering star ratings.
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