Horror Rewind: I Know What You Did Last Summer Turns 24

On October 17, 1997, Columbia Pictures launched the world-famous horror film, "I Know What You Did Last Summer", in theaters. The movie went onto pool $125 million globally and became a foundation for Sony's horror franchise. The original review by The Hollywood Reporter of this Jennifer Love Hewitt and Sarah Michelle Gellar starrer has been reconsidered here.

"I Know What You Did Last Summer" boasted an impressive direction by Jim Gillespie, a filmmaker from Scotland, and showcased compelling performances by both Jennifer Love Hewitt of "Party of Five" fame and Sarah Michelle Gellar from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". The movie was a successful combination of intelligently designed suspense and fear, without the need to resort to excessive gore or rely on CGI.

The storyline wasn't unusual – as familiar elements from legendary horror movies like "Friday the 13th", "Texas Chainsaw Massacre", "A Nightmare on Elm Street", and "Halloween" can be spotted, yet it was the effective combination and packaging by Gillespie and screenwriter Kevin Williamson that were praiseworthy.

Set in a fog-draped South Carolina village near the sea, four friends experience a traumatic incident during their last Fourth of July celebration before starting their respective life paths. This traumatic incident and a year later a note that says, "I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER," plunges them into a fearful journey of being chased by a mysterious figure.

The creative stratagem of Gillespie and Williamson in pushing the necessary scare-buttons, agreeing to traditional lighting, and camera angles as opposed to advanced visual effects, is commendable. The commendable performance of the cast, including Hewitt and Gellar's proactive performances, sets this movie apart from its 80s counterparts. The review was originally penned by Michael Rechtshaffen and published on October 10, 1997.