Based on my wife's recollection (I'd never seen this movie until very recently) this movie was huge back when it first came out. I'm struggling to understand why. As with so many other things, did we just not... have taste or know how to distinguish good from terrible in the 90's?

I feel this this comment/review has gotten ahead of itself already, but man this holds up terribly. Though I'm pretty sure it was terrible in 1997 too, so I'm not sure "holds up" is the right term.

I have no idea how Freddie Prince Jr and Ryan Phillippe ever got an acting gig, let alone multiple ones. I've seen more convincing performances in middle school musicals. On the upside, Sarah Michelle Gellar (yay Buffy!) and Jennifer Love Hewitt (of many things) do the best with the material they are given and while even they can't manage to save a script this awful, they can at least make watching it halfway bearable.

The plot machinations are so insane, and make so little sense, that I don't even think it's worth going into them. Don't @ me (or fine, why not, maybe do) if you want me to go into detail. The script for this movie must've looked like a block of swiss cheese.

Overall: I don't know if tastes have shifted, I don't know if we were all dumber in the 90s, I don't know if we are spoiled by the quality of current movies and TV (especially in the horror genre, which all of a sudden is amazing again), but the TL;DR is: there are literally thousands of movies better than this one. Watch one of those.

This movie had major potential, but some weird choices just makes you wonder...

Throughout the film, due to some solid cinematography and acting, there's a certain atmosphere that it's crafted that actually holds tension and doesn't give off a "tacky" or "cheap" vibe as some other movies (especially slasher ones) at the time did. Some self-aware humor sprinkled throughout it also makes it fun (even if some people say it "ripped off" Scream). So, even due to some weird choices, it always "feels" good in a certain way. However, these weird choices makes you wonder sometimes:


[spoiler] Why was The Fisherman toying with the bunch at times? For instance, why would he choose to cut Helen's hair instead of just killing her?; even if her hair is important to the character, there's no reason for the killer to actually give a f*** about it. [/spoiler]


[spoiler] Why and how (but most importantely WHY) would he stuff Julie's car trunk with Max's corpse and a bunch of live crabs? And, minutes later, just... disappear with it... [/spoiler]


[spoiler] How does he kill Barry and gets away with it? He slashes him with a hook and, fine, there's a show going on so no one can hear it or see it, but there's just a little blood on the scene after that gruesome death (that the cop obviously doesn't notice) and the killer just... disappears with Barry's corpse without a trace... [/spoiler]


There are some other stuff that I was picky about at first but, the more I thought about them, the more they made sense. [spoiler] For instance: how would Julie and Helen not recognize that David was not the same guy that they rannover if they saw the corpse on the road and Edgar's pictures in Melissa's house (and probably did Ray, as he had been there before)? But, looking back, they make sure to say that "his face is all messed up" lol [/spoiler]. So kudos to the movie for covering some of their bases when the viewers start overthinking it; [spoiler] even when it's revealed that the killer is a non-supernatural being (which is a nice twist on the genre), the action still makes sense [/spoiler]


Anyway, as I said, the movie and its atmosphere "feels" good (at least for me) and not "tacky" or "cheap" as some other slasher movies of the time — except for the very ending, which is just silly. And it's FUN. So, I guess that's what counts :)

The "I Know What You Did Last Summer" franchise has left a lasting impact on audiences, with the first film being particularly noteworthy for its thrilling and grounded portrayal of a vengeful antagonist. Ben Willis stands out as a compelling and underrated character, bringing a sense of realism to the story without delving into the supernatural realm. Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. deliver captivating performances, drawing viewers in with their charisma and acting prowess.

The sequel, "I Still Know What You Did Last Summer," takes the characters on a harrowing adventure to an island, adding another layer of suspense and terror to the franchise. While some may overlook this installment as a credible sequel, the addition of Brandy Norwood as Carla contributes to the film's appeal and intensity.

However, the franchise takes a misstep with "I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer," introducing supernatural elements that detract from the grounded nature of the original films. This departure from reality diminishes the impact of the storyline and characters, leading to a disappointing third installment that lacks the involvement of the main cast.

The television series based on the franchise offers a different but enjoyable take on the story, adding credibility and entertainment value to the overall franchise. While the series was cut short, fans are eager for a reboot that promises to bring fresh energy to the familiar tale. It is hoped that the original cast will return, providing a seamless continuation of the beloved saga akin to the success of the "Scream" franchise.

_**The guilt will haunt you and maybe even KILL you**_

Released in 1997, "I Know What You Did Last Summer" takes place in coastal North Carolina where a group of just-graduated teens experience a tragic event and compound it by foolishly reacting. They swear to carry the secret to their graves, but the next summer it becomes clear that someone knows their secret and murders start piling up. The teens are played by Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ryan Phillippe and Freddie Prinze Jr. Also on hand are Johnny Galecki, Anne Heche and Muse Watson.

This movie is full of slasher clichés, like the killer who's always in the same garb (this time a fisherman's slicker outfit), the slow-methodical walking of the killer (never running) and the undead dead. There are also two blatant "Yeah, right" scenes (noted below). Thankfully, it makes up for it by the stellar coastal locations (strangely shot on BOTH East and West coasts), a quality cast, some effective sequences and the potent moral on haunting guilt that slowly kills ya. The immediate aftermath of the opening accident is particularly well done.

The film runs 99 minutes and shot in Southport, North Carolina, and Jenner, California, and nearby regions of both coasts.

GRADE: B or B- (6.5/10 Stars)

***SPOILER ALERT*** (DON'T READ FURTHER IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE FILM)

Here are the two eye-rolling scenes:

1. The sequence where Max's corpse is found in the trunk with the crabs. It couldn't have been an illusion since Helen didn't yet know Max was dead, so it must've really happened. If so, how would the slicker-killer get the trunk cleaned-up so quickly with no one seeing him in a neighborhood in broad daylight? Also, how did he even get into trunk? Did he have his own personal key? The sequence is just too far-fetched.

2. After Barry is murdered by the killer at the pageant how does he know that the cop and Helen would be driving down the alley by-pass an hour or so later? (I realize the street was blocked off and he might've been the one who set it up, but how did he know this would be the precise route taken by the cop and Helen? And how would he even know Helen would be riding with the cop? It's not like she wouldn't have other friends & family in town with whom she could ride. Anyway, wouldn't people living in the downtown area or other passersby notice a man in full-slicker garb working on his truck?

Sequences like these take intelligent viewers right out of the story, which explains Roger Ebert's response: "After the screening was over and the lights went up, I observed a couple of my colleagues in deep and earnest conversation, trying to resolve twists in the plot. They were applying more thought to the movie than the makers did."

I liked this movie. I wish there was more action and killing but overall pretty good. Has a good cast in it too.