I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)

Four young friends bound by a tragic accident are reunited when they find themselves being stalked by a hook-wielding maniac in their small seaside town.

Director:

Jim Gillespie

Writers:

Lois Duncan (novel), Kevin Williamson (screenplay)

Stars:

Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Anne Heche

3 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jennifer Love Hewitt	...	Julie James
Sarah Michelle Gellar	...	Helen Shivers
Ryan Phillippe	...	Barry Cox
Freddie Prinze Jr.	...	Ray Bronson
Muse Watson	...	Benjamin Willis / Fisherman
Bridgette Wilson-Sampras	...	Elsa Shivers (as Bridgette Wilson)
Anne Heche	...	Melissa Egan
Johnny Galecki	...	Max
Stuart Greer	...	Officer
J. Don Ferguson	...	MC
Deborah Hobart	...	Mrs. James
Mary McMillan	...	Mrs. Cox
Rasool J'Han	...	Deb
Dan Albright	...	Sheriff
Lynda Clark	...	Pageant Official

Storyline

After an accident on a winding road, four teens make the fatal mistake of dumping their victim's body into the sea. But exactly one year later, the dead man returns from his watery grave and he's looking for more than an apology.

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Plot Keywords:

stupid victim | taking a shower | teen slasher | teenage girl | slasher killer | 

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Taglines:

Someone knows their secret, someone knows they're scared, and someone knows what they did last summer.

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong horror violence and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sarah Michelle Gellar was the last of the lead performers to be cast. Like Hewitt, Gellar was also known to American audiences at the time for her roles in television, primarily as the titular Buffy Summers on Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997). Jim Gillespie commented on casting Gellar: "I wanted an actress that had a warmth to her, but could still come off as being a bitch." For the supporting role of Missy, Gillespie sought an actress with significant screen presence, as the character, despite appearing in only two scenes, is central to several major plot points. He later cast Anne Heche in the role.

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Goofs

(at around 59 mins) When the body is found in the trunk, its throat is clearly intact, contradicting its gruesome demise (at around 38 mins).

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Quotes

Julie: [to Barry] Can you say alcoholic?

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Alternate Versions

German theatrical version was slightly cut to avoid a "Not under 18" rating. The uncut version has been released on VHS/DVD/Blu-ray.

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Connections

Referenced in The Red Green Show: The Folk Art Convention (2005)

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Soundtracks

Beautiful Girl
Written by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown
Performed by Bing Crosby
Courtesy of Columbia Records
By arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

Decent

I think this slasher flick isn't SCREAM in terms of scare factor, but I found it reasonably compelling to watch. A lot of the flaws about pacing and lack of shock value have already been covered here.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 October 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

I Know What You Did Last Summer

Filming Locations:

209 Short Street, Southport, North Carolina, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$17,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$15,818,645, 19 October 1997

Gross USA:

$72,586,134

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$125,586,134

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mandalay Entertainment, Original Film, Summer Knowledge LLC

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min 99 min (cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1