Title: I Know What You Did Last Summer
Director: Jim Gillespie
Writer: Kevin Williamson, Based on a Novel by Lois Duncan
Release Date: Oct. 17, 1997
Cast: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Freddie Prinze Jr. (Putting him in the cast seems a little strong), Johnny Galecki, Bridgette Wilson, Anne Heche
I Know What You Did Last Summer Cliff’s Notes
A year after killing a fisherman in a hit-and-run, four teenagers begin to receive threatening messages; apparently, someone wants revenge. Running around and dying follows, to some effect.
Lecture
After Scream exploded and made all of the money, a slew of flicks were shot into production hoping to capitalize on the new-found popularity of the slasher genre. I Know What You Did Last Summer is, while a little uneven, one of the better efforts
I Know What You Did Last Summer boasts a groovy set-up that immediately creates conflict for its four leads and adds an air of inevitability to the proceedings. The characters here are, mostly, well drawn and the effort shown in breaking them down – Gellar’s model being reduced to working in the family store is the best example – adds a level of realism to the proceedings. Unlike other, questionable examples, I Know What You Did Last Summer has no problem punishing those who have done wrong, which gives a level of depth to the flick that is often missing in the genre. We’re watching a group (well, three of four) collapse in front of us. This means that once the Scooby-Doo style mystery kicks in, we’re more engaged with the story at hand.
The flick also boasts a number of solid horror bits – the mannequins rock and I really dug the bowels of the fishing boat chase – and, when it goes full slasher, I Know What You Did Last Summer is 
relatively effective.
So, what’s holding it back? First and Foremost, despite its setup, this puppy never goes full horror. The pacing, especially in the second act, is super hit and miss. The flick starts and stops on more than one occasion, meaning the build up can’t keep going. The film also slides around it’s deeper metaphors in the third act, reducing some of the earlier work that seemed so strong to a “get out of jail free” card. That leaves the entire ending in the shallow end of the pool. Oh, and Freddie Prinze Jr. sucks.
At the end of the day, I Know What You Did Last Summer isn’t bad. It’s uneven, but holds itself together enough to be moderately enjoyable.
Acting
Gellar and Hewitt are stellar. They’re given plenty to do and hit their respective arcs out of the park. Phillippe plays the jerk college athlete well and give his Barry enough charm to keep him bearable. Heche, Wilson, and Galecki do just fine in their supporting roles. Prinze Jr. is, by far, the weakest actor here. His dialogue is stifled and his reactions are, at best, a second late. Dud needed an acting coach. I have to wonder why Galecki and Prinze Jr. weren’t switched. That could have really helped the flick.
Directing
Gillespie’s opening shot is gorgeous and beautifully engaging. Alas, that’s the highlight. Most of this puppy is point and shoot. He does alright with some of his chases, but has a tendency to force major moments right off screen. The whole thing seems strange when looking at his treatment of his supporting cast…
Script
Williamson’s second major outing is less crisp than his first. The characters are well drawn and the effect of one massive act is perfectly clear, but the flick never rises above it’s lackluster murder-mystery plot. And the pacing that seemed so effortless in Scream is no where to be found here. Still, Williamson’s script is an improvement over its source material.
Effects
We get some solid blood and a fun hook in the neck. Alas, that’s about it. I Know What You Did Last Summer feels a bit neutered.
Highlights
Loved the Barry versus the car and aftermath bit. Talk about just messing with a guy…
Lowlights
Literally every time Freddie Prinze Jr. talks.
Final Thoughts
Sure, there’s nothing that makes it amazing, but I Know What You Did Last Summer is a fine way to kill an hour and a half if you’ve got nothing else going for you and you’ve just watched Scream and don’t want to check it out again so soon.