I Know What You Did Last Summer

19971h 42m Directed by Jim Gillespie
6.0
(3033 votes)
HorrorThrillerMystery

Overview

After an accident on a winding road, four teens make the fatal mistake of dumping their victim's body into the sea. Exactly one year later, the deadly secret resurfaces as they're stalked by a hook-handed figure.

I Know What You Did Last Summer

A Guilty Pleasure of 90s Horror

Maya Ellison
Maya EllisonSep 5, 2025
The 1997 film "I Know What You Did Last Summer" is a quintessential example of a 90s horror movie, with all the trappings of a genre that was still riding high on the success of Wes Craven's "Scream" just a year prior. Directed by Jim Gillespie, the movie takes a familiar premise - a group of teenagers with a dark secret being stalked by a mysterious figure - and runs with it, resulting in a film that is both entertaining and predictable. The cast, which includes Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, and Freddie Prinze Jr., is undoubtedly one of the strengths of the movie, with each actor bringing a certain charm and charisma to their respective roles.

The plot is fairly straightforward, with the four main characters involved in a hit-and-run accident on a winding road, and subsequently dumping the body of their victim into the sea. Exactly one year later, they start receiving mysterious letters and are stalked by a hook-handed figure, who seems determined to make them pay for their crime. As the body count rises, the group must work together to uncover the identity of their tormentor and put an end to the killing spree. While the movie's pacing is generally well-handled, with a good balance of suspense and gore, the script is not without its flaws, relying on convenient plot devices and character stupidity to drive the plot forward.

Despite its shortcomings, "I Know What You Did Last Summer" remains a fun and engaging watch, with a certain nostalgic value for those who grew up in the 90s. The film's atmosphere is tense and foreboding, with a creepy score and some genuinely effective jump scares. The cast is also game, with Hewitt and Gellar standing out as the most convincing and sympathetic characters. Overall, while "I Know What You Did Last Summer" may not be a particularly original or well-crafted horror movie, it is an enjoyable and entertaining ride that is sure to appeal to fans of the genre. With its blend of suspense, gore, and 90s nostalgia, it is a movie that is well worth watching, even if it doesn't particularly stand the test of time.

CAST

Jennifer Love Hewitt
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Julie James
Freddie Prinze Jr.
Freddie Prinze Jr.
Ray Bronson
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Helen Shivers
Ryan Phillippe
Ryan Phillippe
Barry Cox
Bridgette Wilson-Sampras
Bridgette Wilson-Sampras
Elsa Shivers
Johnny Galecki
Johnny Galecki
Max Neurick
Muse Watson
Muse Watson
Benjamin Willis / Fisherman
Anne Heche
Anne Heche
Melissa Egan
Stuart Greer
Stuart Greer
David Caporizo
Dan Albright
Dan Albright
Sheriff

Trailer

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