Movie Reviews

I Still Know What You Did Last Summer

27 Nov 1998

First thing's first: The sequel to last year's splatterfest I Know What You Did Last Summer has some effective moments of suspense, aided by a strong lead performance from Jennifer Love Hewitt, one of the few survivors of the original.

There. I was always told that it was polite to start a critique in a positive manner. Having done that, I can now explain what makes I Still Know What You Did Last Summer such an appalling film.

Writers Trey Callaway and Stephen Gaghan tell the same old story. Like most of the alarming number of horror sequels, the serial killer from the previous film has miraculously survived. In this case, the psychotic fisherman with a dangerous hook attached to his arm has returned to torment Julie (Hewitt) and Ray (Freddie Prinze, Jr.), murdering everyone else in the area for no actual reason. He is aided, as expected, by the person you would least expect.

We seriously find ourselves worrying for Julie's safety. This is partly a credit to Hewitt's very human, believable performance, but mainly because Julie is such a bozo. Whenever she sees the killer, or a bloodied corpse, she wants to go to her room and be alone. Good thinking.

Fortunately, the killer is equally dopey. While he slices up everyone else with his scythe, he prefers to find creative ways to kill Julie. Result: she always finds the time to be saved.

Even if you enjoy this sort of thing, you might be slightly disappointed. Despite the high body count, it probably isn't gory enough for you. For the most part, it is also too predictable to work as a thriller, as Danny Cannon directs using the handbook of standard horror film techniques.

Still, it has its moments. True, it's awful, but not absolutely dreadful. If you really insist on seeing a bloodfest, and you want it to be sillier and more pointless than Saving Private Ryan, see this film.

On second thoughts, see a doctor. Splatter films should be avoided like any other plague.