I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)

I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)

A classic embodiment of a 90s teen horror film.

Laura’s Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Plot: Just as their senior year of high school comes to a close, four friends accidentally run over a fisherman and dump his body in the water. One year later, they reunite when one of them receives a threatening message: I know what you did last summer. 

Opinion: This movie is a quintessential slasher. The main characters even joke about urban legends where promiscuous teens are killed by an escaped mental patient with a hook for a hand. Did someone say foreshadowing? 

There is a basic theme of innocence lost after high school and a lesson that choices have consequences. The movie is simple, but effective in its plot and messaging. You can feel the discomfort and dread felt by the main characters, who are forced to interact after having grown apart during the year after graduation. Technically, Jennifer Love Hewitt is the main character, but let me tell you, Sarah Michelle Geller is the STAR. She outshines the rest of the group and is perfect for a movie like this. 

I Know What You Did Last Summer is at the filmmaking caliber you’d expect for a teen thriller, but it’s definitely a solid entry within that category. This is perfect for a movie night at home with some popcorn.