Editorials
In Defense of ‘I Know What You Did Last 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:
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 Legend, The 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 Scream, I 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 new month means a new guide as titles are added (and dropped) from streaming services. Let’s unpack the most exciting titles that are available to watch on Tubi in July 2026.
New to Tubi July Horror Films
Deep Blue Sea (1999)
- Premise: Searching for a cure to Alzheimer’s disease, a group of scientists on an isolated research facility become the prey as a trio of intelligent sharks fight back.
- Why Watch It? Let’s be frank: Director Renny Harlin has made some absolute dogs in the last few years (the less said about The Strangers trilogy the better, though this year’s Deep Water was actually ok). Deep Blue Sea remains one of the Finnish director’s best contemporary efforts, though. Between the great cast (Samuel L. Jackson, Saffron Burrows, Stellan Skarsgård, Michael Rapaport, LL Cool J, Thomas Jane, and Jane’s sleeveless wetsuit), the ridiculous premise, and that damn/dumb song (“My hat is like a shark’s fin”), you basically can’t go wrong with Deep Blue Sea. It’s one of two great shark films gliding onto Tubi this month, so why not stay out of the water and watch this instead?
- Streaming: July 1
Exorcist II: Heretic (1977)
- Premise: Reagan (Linda Blair), a girl once possessed by a demon, finds that it still lurks within her. Meanwhile, Father Lamont (Richard Burton) investigates the death of the priest who performed her exorcism.
- Why Watch It? August sees the release of documentary Boorman and the Devil, which is about the troubled production of this sequel. The notoriety surrounding Heretic has undoubtedly kept plenty of horror fans away from the sequel, but this truly is a “seeing is believing” kind of film. Real talk: it’s undeniably a disaster, but the John Boorman film has also become a minor cult film. Don’t you want to see it to make up your own mind?
- Streaming: July 1
Hostel: Part III (2011)
- Premise: Four men attending a bachelor party in Las Vegas fall prey to the Elite Hunting Club, who are hosting a gruesome game show of torture.
- Why Watch It? What does Hostel look like without Eli Roth? Part III kinda answers the question. Technically Roth is still a writer, but he hands over the directorial reins to Scott Spiegel (best known for acting in Evil Dead films). The result is a film with a terrible pedigree; it’s also the first (and last) entry to skip theatres before the franchise was permanently shelved (until that TV show with Paul Giamatti shows up?). For some horror fans, however, there’s something exciting about a bad low-budget sequel. Just bear in mind that the Hostel: Part III‘s biggest star is Kip Pardue…so adjust your expectations accordingly before hitting play.
- Streaming: July 1
Insidious 1-3 (2010/2013/2015)
- Premise: A family looks to prevent evil spirits from trapping their comatose child in a realm called The Further.
- Why Watch It? It’s hard to believe that the sixth (!) Insidious movie is coming out in a month and a half, but James Wan and Leigh Whannell‘s other horror franchise has been steadily chugging along for sixteen years. It’s a shame that Tubi doesn’t have all five films available to watch, but in terms of quality, you can do far worse than the original trio. The first film is iconic, and the second is basically an extended coda (with some admittedly problematic stuff going on). I’ll go to bat for Whannell’s 2015 directorial debut, though: there’s a few banger sequences in that film that people slept on.
- Streaming: July 1
Man Finds Tape (2025)
- Premise: After finding mysterious video clips, siblings investigate the strange recordings and uncover a disturbing secret spreading through their Texas town.
- Why Watch It? Writer/directors Paul Gandersman and Peter S. Hall‘s well-received found footage film did an extensive tour of the festival circuit, so now is a great time to check out one of the most contemporary titles debuting on Tubi this month. Surely a title that hails from producers Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (Spring and The Endless) is worth a free look?
- Streaming: July 2
Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)
- Premise: A depressed musician Adam (Tom Hiddleston) reunites with his lover Eve (Tilda Swinton). However, their romance, which has already endured several centuries, is disrupted by the arrival of her uncontrollable younger sister Ava (Mia Wasikowska).
- Why Watch It? This beautiful, melancholy vampire film is courtesy of writer/director Jim Jarmusch, who doesn’t often dabble in genre fare. As always, some will quibble if this artsy drama qualifies as horror, but the existential ennui of an eternal life certainly qualifies (bonus: there’s also something inherently sexy about watching Hiddleston and Swinton just lay about). Plus: if Leviticus has you hankering for more Wasikowska, this is an under the radar pick.
- Streaming: July 1
The Shallows (2016)
- Premise:A mere 200 yards from shore, surfer Nancy (Blake Lively) is attacked by a great white shark, with her short journey to safety becoming the ultimate contest of wills.
- Why Watch It? What better time to watch a shark movie than July? The temperatures are soaring and the idea of escaping into the water is so tantalizing. This tight, contained thriller features a great performance by Lively (and that damn seagull!), but it’s the direction from genre fave Jaume Collet-Serra (Orphan; the House of Wax remake) that keeps the movie clicking along like clockwork. At 86 minutes, this is a perfect summer flick.
- Streaming: July 1
Vacancy (2007)
- Premise: Stranded in an isolated motel, a couple (Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale) become the unsuspecting subjects of a snuff film.
- Why Watch It? I’m not going to pretend that this Nimród Antal-directed home invasion film is high art, but it is a good time. You’ll likely wish there were deeper characterizations for Wilson and Beckinsale’s David and Amy in Mark L. Smith‘s screenplay, but this mid-aughts thriller is tense, exciting, and just the right amount of grimy. Plus: another short runtime, clocking in at an expeditious 85 minutes!
- Streaming: July 1
July Tubi Originals
The One Next Door (2026)
- Premise: When a mysterious stranger moves in next door to Robert and Tabitha, boundaries are tested, loyalty is questioned, and danger comes for all.
- Streaming: July 10
I Know Where You Live (2026)
- Premise: Sarah thinks she’s found “the one” until his flaws emerge. When she pulls away, chilling threats suggest he’s watching her from inside her own home.
- Streaming: July 24
What’s your favorite from the list above? Will you check out the new Original? Sound off in the comments below
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