Plot: What’s it about?
I don’t know how many times I have to say this, but the one thing Scream did for the horror movie genre was that its ripple-effect is still somewhat active today. If there were no Scream odds are that there’d be no I Know What You Did Last Summer and therefore no resulting sequel (and therefore no shots of Jennifer Love Hewitt in a tank top). As with most every moderately successful film franchise, a sequel was inevitable. However half of the four person original cast had been killed off (Ryan Philippe and Sarah Michelle Gellar) in the previous installment, so the challenge was which teenybopper duo to fill their shoes? Oh and don’t let a little thing like a plot get in the way of a good sequel either, OK?
I Still Know What You Did Last Summer picks up a year after the last film and we again meet Julie (Jennifer Lowe Hewitt) as she’s having panic attacks in college. Luckily she’s got bouncy roommate Karla (Brandy Norwood aka “Brandy”) and it just so happens that a local radio station calls their unlisted number and they win a trip to the Bahamas. Never mind the fact that they answer the trivia question incorrectly (the capitol of Brazil is Brasilia not Rio), but it doesn’t deter them from heading out for a little fun in the sun. Now the problem is that Ray (Freddie Prinze Jr.) is distancing himself from Julie and refuses the invite. Yet he still buys an engagement ring, go figure. Ray has a change of heart and is attacked by the “fisherman” killer (Muse Watson), so Julie is stuck with Will (Matthew Settle) instead. From there it’s a rehash of every slasher flick as the bodies pile up with our fearless foursome trying to make it out alive. Will they?
I remember seeing this movie when it came out, but I don’t think I firmly grasped at how bad it really was until seeing it again (and again, nearly a quarter of a century later). One thing I had totally forgotten was the cameo by Jack Black (he’s uncredited) as the weed-puffing Rastafarian wannabe. Mekhi Phifer and Brandy fill in for Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan Philippe and I’m still trying to figure out where Matthew Settle’s character fits in. Actually anyone who’s seen the film knows, but I don’t want to ruin one of the main plot points. Oddly enough, this movie wasn’t the last in the I Know… series; in 2006 there was a third installment entitled I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer. Thankfully Jennifer Love Hewitt was smart enough to stay away from that one. I suppose this isn’t as bad as I made out, but I’d stick with the original or any of the Scream movies over this.
Two “teen” horror films came out in late 1998. Here’s a breakdown of what they are and what happened (and I have no idea why I’m doing this).
| I Still Know What You Did Last Summer | Halloween H20 |
 |  |
| Release Date: November 13, 1998 | Release Date: August 5, 1998 |
| Stars: Jennifer Love-Hewitt, Brandy, Freddie Prinze Jr. | Stars: Jamie Lee-Curtis, Josh Hartnett, Alan Arkin |
| Box Office: $60 million | Box Office: $55 million |
| IMDb Rating: 4.7/10 | IMDb Rating: 5.8/10 |
| Director: Danny Cannon | Director: Steve Miner |
Video: How does it look?
Sony’s 4K discs are beyond reproach. They’re lovely to look at and I know that whatever the title, if it comes from Sony I can expect good things. And that’s nice since Jennifer Love-Hewitt spends the majority of the film in a variety of tank tops that appear two sizes to small to keep her, uh, “endowments” in place. Hey, this isn’t a complaint. Kidding aside, though, this does look pretty good. The film is now 25 years old and with the increased color and resolution of the 4K disc, it looks pretty darn good. I noticed no artifacting or grain, the HDR gives the final act a bit more “pop” in those darker scenes. The movie might leave a lot to be desired, but this is far and away the best it’s ever looked.
Audio: How does it sound?
The previous Dolby TrueHD mix has been replaced by a Dolby Atmos soundtrack (the Blu-ray still has the TrueHD). I was surprised by a few of the scenes and how many of the slasher movies have a little sound associated when a knife is grabbed. Dialogue is fairly strong and the obligatory karaoke scene simply resonates throughout the room (there was a brief period of time when Jennifer Love Hewitt wanted to be a singer). Depth is good and the LFE do chime in for some added ambiance. It’s not the epitome of what I’d consider great sound, but it’s a step up from previous versions.
Supplements: What are the extras?
- Making of Featurette – Yes, even the name of one of the extras is uninspired. In the 5 minute run time we get the principal cast and crew members chat as they recount the film’s plot, the sequel and so forth.
- Music Video – “How Do I Deal?” by Jennifer Love-Hewitt.
- Theatrical Trailer
The Bottom Line
The film made $40 million on a reported budget of $65 million. I’m no expert, but that didn’t seem to be a good ROI. The presence of Kevin Williamson was certainly felt and it’d be nearly a decade before we’d see another installment in the franchise (and that one made this one look like Citizen Kane). Regardless, if you’re a fan ISKWYDLS looks and sounds better than it ever has.
