I know what you did last summer (1997)

Here is a fairly well known teen slasher/horror of the nineties, along with Scream (1996) it is probably one of the most recognized of it genre for that decade. Although it has it's cliche's and isn't scary it should be noted that unlike some other slashers that came before it (and after), it has a good mystery that holds the audiences attention- much more so than the murders depicted in it.

This is a twist on the old escaped mental patient with a hook for a hand thing. Only the escaped mental patient is replaced by a fisherman that four high school friends accidentally 'kill' during their final summer together (they have just graduated high school). and his weapon of choice is, (surprise, surprise) a hook.

The friends i referred to above are played by: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Freddie Prinze Jr, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan Phillippe. their acting isn't that great, JLH is the same in most movies, Prinze is a mediocre actor of nineties 'young star of the moment' variety, Gellar is tolerable and probably the least annoying character. of course, that doesn't stop her from being a run of the mill one. Phillippe is dangerously psycho as Barry and i really wanted him to get killed ASAP. Howver the actors capably inject humour into their otherwise plain characters, seen best when they aren't having attempts made on their lives.

The movie's plot isn't very good, there have been movie before and since with similar plots, but the way it seems to reference is familiarity sets it apart from other slashers (except Scream of course). if they didn't just reference the familiar mold of the story but instead attempted to break away from the cliche's then it would have been a much bolder and perhaps better movie.

for a night in with friends this is a good movie to watch because it's not gross or scary- so you wont go to bed with nightmares- but it manages to maintain our interests until the final face off (until the sequel).

"We should have a plan, Angela LansBury always had a plan"Helen (Satah Michelle Gellar), I know what you did last summer