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In Defense of ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’

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Summer

Happy 4th of July everyone! We’re celebrating the holiday with another installment of our “In Defense Of” series! Based on previous posts, I predict that half of you will be clicking on this post to chastise me for defending a film that is awesome (I’m right there with you) and the other half will click on this post to chastise me for defending a terrible, lazy film that is unable to be defended. That is the issue with these “In Defense Of” Posts, but I’m willing to take the heat and defend what is one of my favorite slashers of all time: I Know What You Did Last Summer.

I was actually quite surprised to find out that I Know What You Did Last Summer is not that highly regarded, as it was always one of my favorite movies growing up. I knew the reviews were mediocre, but even people in the comments right here at Bloody-Disgusting seem to loathe the film (with the exception of us 90s children). Evan even has his own negative thoughts toward the film. That being said, take a look and a small sample of what major film critics had to say about the film:

Summer Review

Ignoring the “too intense for kids” review (what kind of criticism even is that?), it’s clear that there aren’t many fond feelings toward the film. With a 36% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 52 on Metacritic, it’s hardly the worst score (look at the sequel, a film I can’t even defend, for much worse reviews). I can certainly understand some of the criticisms, but I Know What You Did Last Summer really is a pretty great film.

I Know What You Did Last Summer came out on October 17, 1997 and was accused of being a Scream copycat, since it was released just under a year after the Wes Craven masterpiece (and Scream 2 was released two months after IKWYDLS). It was later joined by a slew of other Scream copycats in 1998 (Urban LegendThe Faculty, Halloween: H20 and even its own sequel). This criticism is sort of valid, since Kevin Williamson wrote both Scream and IKWYDLS, and we all know how he likes to steal from himself. Had it come out before ScreamI Know What You Did Last Summer probably would have had a much better reception.

Sometimes I wonder what the film would have been like had Williamson made an actual adaptation of Lois Duncan’s 1973 novel, as opposed to turning it a standard slasher film. With news of a possible remake happening next year (I’ll believe it when I see it), we may actually find out. That being said, Williamson did a great job with the script, and created a small cast of (mostly) likable characters that we actually get to spend time with and get to know before they die. Sure, Freddie Prinze Jr.’s character is incredibly boring and devoid of personality, but the other three are good.

What is unique about I Know What You Did Last Summer is that for being an R-rated slasher film, there is very little gore in it. In the DVD commentary, director Jim Gillespie (Venom, ha) states that he was not interested in making a gory film. He wanted to imply the gore rather than show it. This is never more apparent than in Helen’s death, where we get an extremely brief shot of blood on her hands. The most graphic death is Johnny Galecki (The Big Bang Theory, Roseanne) getting a hook up his chin. While it doesn’t satiate us gore-hounds, it does force him to amp up the tension, which he is successful at.

This tension is never more apparent than in what is arguably the greatest chase scene ever put on film:

I admit, I frequently put on I Know What You Did Last Summer but I start it at the point where Helen is in the cop car. From than moment through the end, the film is perfection (yes, I said it). The score is great, both Helen’s scene and Julie’s confrontation on the boat are incredibly suspenseful, the ending is satisfying (except that shower tag at the end, which I’ve never been keen on), and it’s a helluva lot of fun.

Everything that comes before it has been criticized for being too boring or slow, but that is a criticism that surprises me, considering most critics have issues with a lack of character development in horror films. It takes quite a long time for the actual killing to begin (since there aren’t that many people to kill off to begin with). The characters are also criticized for making stupid decisions, but they are (supposed to be) teenagers. Make of that what you will.

No discussion of I Know What You Did Last Summer can be made without mentioning the reveal of the killer. It’s no Will Benson reveal (which is just awful), but it always seemed to come out of left field. This is exactly what a killer reveal should do. The fact that we’ve never met Ben Willis before this moment could deflate the impact of his reveal, but it actually works in the films favor as a “what the fuck” moment. Some people hate it, but I think it’s actually pretty clever. Though I can imagine some people were upset to find out that it wasn’t Anne Heche.

Finally, I have to briefly mention the trailer for the film. While it in no way enhances the quality of the movie, it’s still an awesome trailer (and is the reason I frequently jam to Kula Shaker’s “Hush” in my car). I’ve talked about it before, so rather than go into details I’ll just leave you with this. Happy Fourth of July Julie!

A journalist for Bloody Disgusting since 2015, Trace writes film reviews and editorials, as well as co-hosts Bloody Disgusting's Horror Queers podcast, which looks at horror films through a queer lens. He has since become dedicated to amplifying queer voices in the horror community, while also injecting his own personal flair into film discourse. Trace lives in Austin, TX with his husband and their two dogs. Find him on Twitter @TracedThurman

Editorials

‘Leprechaun Returns’ – The Charm of the Franchise’s Legacy Sequel

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leprechaun returns

The erratic Leprechaun franchise is not known for sticking with a single concept for too long. The namesake (originally played by Warwick Davis) has gone to L.A., Las Vegas, space, and the ‘hood (not once but twice). And after an eleven-year holiday since the Davis era ended, the character received a drastic makeover in a now-unmentionable reboot. The critical failure of said film would have implied it was time to pack away the green top hat and shillelagh, and say goodbye to the nefarious imp. Instead, the Leprechaun series tried its luck again.

The general consensus for the Leprechaun films was never positive, and the darker yet blander Leprechaun: Origins certainly did not sway opinions. Just because the 2014 installment took itself seriously did not mean viewers would. After all, creator Mark Jones conceived a gruesome horror-comedy back in the early nineties, and that format is what was expected of any future ventures. So as horror legacy sequels (“legacyquels”) became more common in the 2010s, Leprechaun Returns followed suit while also going back to what made the ‘93 film work. This eighth entry echoed Halloween (2018) by ignoring all the previous sequels as well as being a direct continuation of the original. Even ardent fans can surely understand the decision to wipe the slate clean, so to speak.

Leprechaun Returns “continued the [franchise’s] trend of not being consistent by deciding to be consistent.” The retconning of Steven Kostanski and Suzanne Keilly’s film was met with little to no pushback from the fandom, who had already become accustomed to seeing something new and different with every chapter. Only now the “new and different” was familiar. With the severe route of Origins a mere speck in the rearview mirror, director Kotanski implemented a “back to basics” approach that garnered better reception than Zach Lipovsky’s own undertaking. The one-two punch of preposterous humor and grisly horror was in full force again.

LEPRECHAUN

Pictured: Linden Porco as The Leprechaun in Leprechaun Returns.

With Warwick Davis sitting this film out — his own choice — there was the foremost challenge of finding his replacement. Returns found Davis’ successor in Linden Porco, who admirably filled those blood-stained, buckled shoes. And what would a legacy sequel be without a returning character? Jennifer Aniston obviously did not reprise her final girl role of Tory Redding. So, the film did the next best thing and fetched another of Lubdan’s past victims: Ozzie, the likable oaf played by Mark Holton. Returns also created an extension of Tory’s character by giving her a teenage daughter, Lila (Taylor Spreitler).

It has been twenty-five years since the events of the ‘93 film. The incident is unknown to all but its survivors. Interested in her late mother’s history there in Devil’s Lake, North Dakota, Lila transferred to the local university and pledged a sorority — really the only one on campus — whose few members now reside in Tory Redding’s old home. The farmhouse-turned-sorority-house is still a work in progress; Lila’s fellow Alpha Epsilon sisters were in the midst of renovating the place when a ghost of the past found its way into the present.

The Psycho Goreman and The Void director’s penchant for visceral special effects is noted early on as the Leprechaun tears not only into the modern age, but also through poor Ozzie’s abdomen. The portal from 1993 to 2018 is soaked with blood and guts as the Leprechaun forces his way into the story. Davis’ iconic depiction of the wee antagonist is missed, however, Linden Porco is not simply keeping the seat warm in case his predecessor ever resumes the part. His enthusiastic performance is accentuated by a rotten-looking mug that adds to his innate menace.

LEPRECHAUN RETURNS sequel

Pictured: Taylor Spreitler, Pepi Sonuga, and Sai Bennett as Lila, Katie and Rose in Leprechaun Returns.

The obligatory fodder is mostly young this time around. Apart from one luckless postman and Ozzie — the premature passing of the latter character removed the chance of caring about anyone in the film — the Leprechaun’s potential prey are all college aged. Lila is this story’s token trauma kid with caregiver baggage; her mother thought “monsters were always trying to get her.” Lila’s habit of mentioning Tory’s mental health problem does not make a good first impression with the resident mean girl and apparent alcoholic of the sorority, Meredith (Emily Reid). Then there are the nicer but no less cursorily written of the Alpha Epsilon gals: eco-conscious and ex-obsessive Katie (Pepi Sonuga), and uptight overachiever Rose (Sai Bennett). Rounding out the main cast are a pair of destined-to-die bros (Oliver Llewellyn Jenkins, Ben McGregor). Lila and her peers range from disposable to plain irritating, so rooting for any one of them is next to impossible. Even so, their overstated personalities make their inevitable fates more satisfying.

Where Returns excels is its death sequences. Unlike Jones’ film, this one is not afraid of killing off members of the main cast. Lila, admittedly, wears too much plot armor, yet with her mother’s spirit looming over her and the whole story — comedian Heather McDonald put her bang-on Aniston impersonation to good use as well as provided a surprisingly emotional moment in the film — her immunity can be overlooked. Still, the other characters’ brutal demises make up for Lila’s imperviousness. The Leprechaun’s killer set-pieces also happen to demonstrate the time period, seeing as he uses solar panels and a drone in several supporting characters’ executions. A premortem selfie and the antagonist’s snarky mention of global warming additionally add to this film’s particular timestamp.

Critics were quick to say Leprechaun Returns did not break new ground. Sure, there is no one jetting off to space, or the wacky notion of Lubdan becoming a record producer. This reset, however, is still quite charming and entertaining despite its lack of risk-taking. And with yet another reboot in the works, who knows where the most wicked Leprechaun ever to exist will end up next.


Horror contemplates in great detail how young people handle inordinate situations and all of life’s unexpected challenges. While the genre forces characters of every age to face their fears, it is especially interested in how youths might fare in life-or-death scenarios.

The column Young Blood is dedicated to horror stories for and about teenagers, as well as other young folks on the brink of terror.

Leprechaun Returns movie

Pictured: Linden Porco as The Leprechaun in Leprechaun Returns.

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