I Know What You Did Last Summer Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

I Know What You Did Last Summer Blu-ray Movie Review

I don't know what you did last summer, but I do know this disc is worth adding to your collection.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman August 5, 2008

I Know What You Did Last Summer...Ooh! What a crock!

All things considered (unoriginal entry teen horror genre, mediocre acting, mediocre writing that relies on profanity to move the plot along, little gore, cheap thrills, a generally predictable plot, and the requisite scare on the last frame of the film) I Know What You Did Last Summer (or IKWYDLS: pronounced ick-widdles) is a surprisingly decent horror movie package. You won't walk away having witnessed a 90 minute life-changing experience, have a new appreciation for the 90s teen horror genre, revel in a sense of having witnessed some breakthrough acting performances, or proclaim the movie to be Hitchcock-ian in stature, but only the most jaded of audiences will leave without some sense of satisfaction at the tidy little package that is IKWYDLS. Whether you enjoy the decent atmosphere of the film, the nifty and aggressive soundtrack, or just want to see some of your favorite teen idols get gutted by a bailing hook, there is something here for most everyone, and if nothing else, it's a good movie to pop in the Blu-ray player, microwave some popcorn, turn on the air conditioning, and beat the summer heat with a forgettable yet enjoyable teen horror escapist motion picture.

"I know what you did last summer!" "Do not!" "Do too!" "Do not!" "Do too!"

Four friends live in a sleepy North Carolina fishing town, leading seemingly perfect lives. Juile (Jennifer Love Hewitt, TV's "Ghost Whisperer"), her steady, level-headed boyfriend Ray (Freddie Prinze, Jr., Scooby-Doo), her beauty pageant queen friend Helen (Sarah Michelle Gellar, Suburban Girl), and Helen's potty-mouthed boyfriend Barry (Ryan Phillippe, Cruel Intentions) hit something one night with Barry's BMW on a secluded mountainside road. Rather than a dog or a deer, it turns out that they've struck a man. Panicked, the four make a pact to throw his body into the Atlantic and never speak of it again. A year passes, and the friends find themselves separated and failing to live out their dreams. Julie receives a note that says, "I know what you did last summer," a note which reunites the friends and drives them to madness as they attempt to discover the identity of who they killed and avoid the deadly hook as a mysterious fisherman hunts them down one-by-one.

IKWYDLS follows the tried-and-true teenage horror movie assembly manual to a "T." The cast is filled with appropriately beautiful models; the girls can scream and run in peril with the best of them, and the guys play two stereotypes rather well, one on each end of the spectrum (the jerk and the clean-cut good guy). The way this cookie-cutter horror spectacle pans out is never a surprise, and we're generally a few steps ahead of the airhead characters that populate the North Carolina town. The laughable dialogue, shoddy acting, minimal scares, and tired plot twists never leave us on the edge of our seats, but the workman-like, assembly-line production values are all part of the experience when watching a movie such as this one. IKWYDLS telegraphs its every move with the appropriate "you're about to die" music, camera angles, and character reactions to anything they cannot see. Someone peering into the black where we know a killer waits to spring? Check. A killer sneaking up behind an unsuspecting character who is warned from afar but cannot figure out what's happening until he becomes acquainted with the pointy end of a bailing hook? Check. A steam-filled room with writing on a mirror and a killer lurking in the mist? Check. A cop who doesn't believe the victim's story, walks up to the killer, and doesn't know he's about to breathe his last? Check. The whole experience is quite enjoyable (and funny) because it's so predictable and the joy comes from trying to figure out which cliché will be employed next. The formula isn't a great one, but it works. IKWYDLS is rated R for its strong language but it keeps the gore to a PG-13 minimum, which is sufficient but not over the top.

I Know What You Did Last Summer Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

I Know What You Did Last Summer's 1080p, 2.40:1 transfer of a film over ten years old (and released in the fall of 1997, oddly enough, not summer) sparkles. Softness is an issue occasionally, but the image generally sports nice clarity, sharp edges, and fairly high detail. Black levels are impeccable. The post-pageant party early in the movie, and the film's climax both serve as excellent examples of the deep, true blacks seen in the movie. The bright party area stands out in nice contrast to the fabulous blacks seen in that party mentioned above, and both elements hold up very well one against the other. The exterior shots of the town look fabulous. It gives the impression that you're standing there on the street, looking at the cars, the pavement, and the store fronts in person, not on a high definition screen. Colors are vibrant, rich, natural in appearance, and neither overblown nor drab. Flesh tones are also natural in appearance, and detail is good enough to tell that the actors use their cleansers and anti-acne products regularly, but also that they aren't perfect. This has a very natural, film-like look to it with minimal and unobtrusive grain and no noticeable print flaws and, as a result, IKWYDLS is one of the better catalogue releases on the market yet.

I Know What You Did Last Summer Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

I Know What You Did Last Summer slashes onto Blu-ray with a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack that surprised me; up front, I'll say that this is one of the better sounding catalogue titles on the market today. The rock song that opens the movie is dynamic and of high quality. Combined with the power of the rolling ocean waves and the deep, powerful bass that rattles the floorboards, the first moments of the movie set a great tone for the audio track that we can only hope will be equalled by the rest of the film (and it is). Atmospherics are excellent. Check out the various scenes at the docks. We can hear seagulls flying all around and chirping, engines revving off to the side, and boat whistles blowing, all of which combine to create a seamless, realistic environment. Not only is this track loud, but it is clear and precise. Listen to the scene where a character is hit by a car in chapter seven. When the car crashes through the side of a building, the subwoofer, surrounds, and every speaker in the front are put to the test as the room becomes that wall and the car crashes into our senses. Sound also pans with the camera in various other scenes and the result is some solid imaging. Dialogue is always clear, audible, and center-focused. The action scenes present listeners with the most sonic oomph, but considering the wonderful atmosphere, solid dialogue reproduction, and good, deep bass, IKWYDLS is an excellent listen that is worth cranking up in a dark room. The track elevates the quality of the movie and is the arguably the best part of watching it on Blu-ray.

I Know What You Did Last Summer Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

I Know What You Did Last Summer features several supplements to satisfy fans of the film. First up is a feature-length commentary track with director Jim Gillespie (D-Tox) and editor Steve Mirkovich. The Scottish Gillespie dominates the track and actually provides some interesting insight into the picture. Mirkovich is a bit more reserved and hesitant to chime in, but Gillsepie is in his element. He's chatty, engaging, and more than willing to discuss the intricacies of his film. It's worth a listen for fans of the film. Next is Joyride (480p, 10:10), a short film directed by Gillespie that, according to the disc, brought "Gillespie to the attention of Hollywood." The short is also available with a director's commentary. 'Now I Know What You Did Last Summer' featurette (480p, 27:05) examines the origins of the film (it was based on a Lois Duncan novel) and it delves into familiar making-of territory where the cast and crew sing the praises of one another and the movie itself. Fairly standard stuff, this feature is for the diehard fans only. Next is a music video entitled Hush (480p, 2:56) by Kula Shaker. IKWYDLS is also BD-Live (profile 2.0) compliant. Viewers are taken to Sony's standard page where, at the time of writing, there is no movie-related extra content like there is for Vantage Point. Concluding the special features is this film's original theatrical trailer (480p, 2:19) and additional 1080p trailers for 21, Starship Troopers 3: Marauder, and a Sony Blu-ray promotional montage.

I Know What You Did Last Summer Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I Know What You Did Last Summer is an amalgamation of off-the-shelf horror movie parts thrown together into a serviceable film that is barely interchangeable from all the other straight-from-the-assembly-line genre pictures, and like the others of its ilk, it works well enough to be a success and allows the assembly line to keep on running. Henry Ford would be proud. Blu-ray fans, too, should be proud of the quality of this disc. It features a nice, clean, highly detailed video transfer with excellent black levels, a rocking soundtrack that fits the mood and atmosphere of every scene nicely, and a standard helping of extra materials. I Know What You Did Last Summer is perhaps the quintessential teen slasher Scream clone of the 1990s, and considering that it offers nothing new, it's still an enjoyable enough movie and worth watching every few years when you've sufficiently forgotten all but the basics of the plot. Combined with a nice Blu-ray presentation, this disc is worth adding to your collection. Recommended.