Yes, "I Know What You Did Last Summer" does seem like some corny teenybopper popcorn flick; but it's not. Believe me, I went into this film with pretty low expectations, but was pleasantly surprised with the level of terror provided! And it's not cheap terror, it's genuine because of the suspense director Jim Gillespie consistently builds.It's the fourth of July and four friends Julie James (Jennifer Love Hewitt), Ray Bronson (Freddie Prinze Junior), Helen Shivers (Sarah Michelle Gellar), and Barry William Cox (Ryan Phillippe) are celebrating their high school graduation and Helen's beauty pageant win. On their way home they hit a man walking down a curved corner in the road. They panic when they learn he's dead and in hopes of saving their futures, decide to dump the body into the ocean. The four friends make a pact to keep it a secret. It was an accident, but it was one they cannot forget.
Their friendships are ruined and they all leave for college and don't talk to each other; they are all depressed and upset. When Julie returns home for summer vacation there is a letter waiting for her. It reads, "I Know What You Did Last Summer". Frightend, Julie goes to find her old friends for help. Was someone else there that night? They think it's only a prank until a man in a slicker with a hook begins to stalk the four friends and torment them in the most vile and disgusting ways imaginable (dead bodies in their trunks, cutting off their hair in sleep, trying to run them over, etc.
Realizing that if they don't find out who's doing this and get rid of him fast, they'll be dead, they search for answers, all the while receiving even more terrifying threats. It sure is a thrilling ride and there are a remarkable number of points in this movie when you jump in fright and scream!
One reason this movie is terrifying is because the situation the characters are in could happen to anybody. Hitting someone with a car could happen to anybody, and what happens after the crash is also believable. The acting by Jennifer Love Hewitt and Ryan Phillippe are phenomenal coming from such young actors. These two are now big stars, but they weren't when they did "I Know What You Did Last Summer" so it's interesting to see how they were before they were famous. Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Junior aren't quite as convincing as Hewitt and Phillippe, but they are still enjoyable.
The script for "I Know What You Did Last Summer" was adapted from Lois Duncan's best-selling novel by Kevin Williamson, the writer of "Scream". Yes, the script is in good hands! Williamson's script is a very visual one filled with twists, witty dialogue, and plenty of scares.
The DVD for "I Know What You Did" last summer values quality over quantity and provides only a theatrical trailer and commentary. The trailer is terrifying, very enticing and fun to watch. The commentary by director Jim Gillespie is very informative and insightful for fans of the film. It focuses mainly of production design, but has some interesting blurbs about music, casting, and script changes. Gillespie has a wonderful Scottish accent, which makes the commentary even more delightful to listen to.
On July 4th Helen appeats in the Miss Croaker beauty contest and is crowned queen, much to the excitement of her friends and especially Barry. The four kids decide to celebrate by heading down to a secluded beach for a night of scary stories, drinking and sex, your typical teenage summer night. In what is to be their last decent decision of the movie, they agree Ray is to drive drunken Barrys BMW home that night. Barry stands up through the sunroof, spills alcohol and distracts Ray long enough to hit a crossing man head on. At first they disagree on what to do, call the police, or dump the body. Barry argues that if they come clean theyre dreams will be ruined. His as a football star, Helens as a famous actress, Rays as a writer, and Julie's as a lawyer. Much to Julie's dismay, they agree to dispose of the body in the ocean. They vow never to speak of the incident again.
One year later everythings changed. Julie comes home for the summer (after practically failing out of college in Boston) and recieves an anonymous note from someone claiming they know what happened the previous summer. Panicked, Julie turns to her former best friend Helen for help. Helen immediately wonders how now ex boyfriend Barry will react. Barry is skeptical, sure its someone messing around. After hes nearly run down with his own car by a man in an impossibly creepy fishing slicker, his attitude changes. The estranged foursome is forced to come back together to fight for their lives. From then on, the movie is a series of scares and edge of your seat suspense. Especially the famous Helen chase.
All and all great movie with respectable acting. Jennifer Love Hewitt was actually tolerarble in a sense other than being easy on the eyes. Freddie Prinze was sincere and adorable. However the always beautiful Sarah and the absolutely hunky Ryan stole the show. Both were believable and managed to make their stereotypicaLly vapid characters dimmensional. It hit me how well the acting was done when Helen watched Barry get hooked and I actually cared, felt bad for them. Rent this one for fun, but not in search of meaningful messages. Dont watch it alone ;)
Buy I Know What You Did Last Summer (+ BD Live) (1997) Now
I've watched my fair share of teen horror films, this one, was simply boring. I watched from beginning to end tried my best to get into it and my viewing taste wasn't having it. I'm sure the book was better than the movie (they usually are). The acting was so-so at best, the plot was flat due to the poor execution, and the scare factor was limited. Since I did not watch this movie in 1997 and did not go see it for the star power, my appreciation for the movie won't be there like others. While I like Sarah and Ryan, this movie just missed the cut, in my opinion.Read Best Reviews of I Know What You Did Last Summer (+ BD Live) (1997) Here
Should the truth be told or kept quiet? That's the moral dilemma 4 teenagers are faced with after accidentally hitting a pedestrian one Summer with a friend's car.Ray (Freddy Prince Jr.), beauty queen Helen (Sarah Michelle Geller) and Helen's hot-headed boyfriend (Ryan Phillipe) all rationalize just forgetting it ever happened. Julie (Jennifer Love Hewitt), however, is disgusted by that idea, but eventually caves in and becomes an accomplice to a hit and run.
The 4 teenagers get away with this crime...or so they thought. One year later, the group is suddenly being taunted by someone who claims to know what they did last Summer, which leaves the group in a panic.
Was there a witness that night? Is it a family member of the dead person? Or are the threats coming from within the group?
Not confessing was supposed to make their lives easier, but instead, they're living in constant fear that whoever's taunting them might not be bluffing.
Like a lot of slasher flicks, there are those sudden scares that make you jump, but there's also some good creepy moments like the scene at the store with the mannequins...the scene in the alley...and the scene at the beauty pageant. It also has a good musical score that lends a creepy vibe, too.
There's one scene that defies logic, though, and it's the scene where Julie runs out of the car because of what she sees in the trunk. When she comes back to show her friends, what's in the trunk is gone. But when I pictured all the steps the killer would've had to take to remove what's in the trunk, there's no way the killer could've had time to accomplish this. Especially since when Julie is running away in the beginning, you can't see anyone near the car....and when she returns, you can't see anyone near the car again.
As far as acting goes, it's better than most teen movies, though, like most teen movies, there's overacting, too. Overall, though, I thought this movie was a suspenseful thriller.
Want I Know What You Did Last Summer (+ BD Live) (1997) Discount?
Blu-Ray is brand new. Plays great. Movie was shipped from back east and it took awhile to get here. Still, I will buy from this seller again. I wish this company would have closed captions in english so that people with bad hearing can get all of the movie.Save 25% Off
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