I was mostly indifferent to these Post-Scream teen slashers that were popular at the time--I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, Urban Legend. Valentine, Cherry Falls, Sorority Row, even The Faculty--despite seeing most if not all of them in the theater. I just didn't feel this sub-genre was very strong compared to the films I loved at the time, the Masters of Horror from the 70s and 80s.

But over the years, I've come to enjoy the Post-Scream slasher genre more and more. There's a certain nostalgia for the time and place these films conjure, the vibe, the actors, that give them an introspective sheen.

Just look at the intro for I Know What You Did Last Summer: we're flying over the ocean, Lost Boys-style, with Type O Negative's Summer Breeze playing. That's fucking great. It sets the tone for the cheap-o Goth horror vibe it's all about.

I also enjoy the cast here--mostly hot teen actors from popular shows, all of whom were primed for big careers. Prinze Jr. is perfectly cast as the future-less jock, and so is Phillippe as the hot-headed richboy. Throw in Jennifer Love Hewitt and Sarah Michelle Gellar, and you practically have a 90s time-machine.

Still, some of it looks Made-for-TV Movie-ish at times, and I can't help but think that a more professional director would've steered this into classic territory. Even Jamie Blanks, who later directed Valentine and Urban Legend, would've done a better job, as he was initially in the running to direct, having created a trailer for the film that established the whole look and atmosphere of what eventually came to be.

It's pretty good for what it is, though, especially if you grew up in the 90s. Dark, coastal atmosphere, shadowy killer, some over-the-top gore...it’s all good fun. Watched via Sony Pictures Blu-ray, personal collection.