I Know What You Did Last Summer turns 20 today and in honor of that milestone, I’m counting down the five best scenes of the film that continue to make it a genre staple 20 years later.
5. Max Gets Hooked: Max, played by Johnny Galecki, had a bit of a creepy crush on Julie James (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and he came upon a group shortly after they struck Ben Willis (Muse Watson) with their car. Did he see what they did? It’s toyed with for a bit that maybe he’s the one sending the group ominous notes a year later but that’s put to rest when Max becomes the first victim of the film. This on-screen death was actually a last minute addition because the studio felt there was too big a gap between someone being added to the body count and wanted a graphic kill. It’s pretty tame but today’s standards but still packs a punch
4. What Are You Waiting For?!?: This moment has become iconic in its own right because it’s still a line that stands out from the film and has also been made fun of in pop culture, most notably in the spoof, Scary Movie. Oddly enough, the moment was chosen by a local horror fan to be added to the film. According to Jennifer Love Hewitt, a fan who loved horror movies “got the chance to come to the set and choose a moment in that movie for somebody to do.” Hewitt said that it was never supposed to be her line and she wasn’t supposed to do the iconic scene originally. In her recollection, the fan said, “I think that she should stand in the middle of the street and spin around and say, ‘What are you waiting for?’” When Hewitt was told about this scene she responded, “You want me to what?! How am I going to look like a normal person doing that?” Now the moment is a “really sweet memory” for Hewitt and has a special place in her heart. “People don’t know that that was just like some kid who loved horror movies,” said Hewitt. “I’m glad I got to do that for him.”
3. Helen Gets A Haircut: Nothing could be worse for Helen (Sarah Michelle Gellar) than getting her precious care cut off and that’s exactly why The Fisherman does it just to taunt her. Now, how did she not wake up while he went at her hair with scissors? Perhaps she’s a hard sleeper but it’s a scene that stands out and features some good scream queen worthy pipes from Gellar.
2. Death On The Balcony: Barry Cox (Ryan Phillippe) was a bit of an asshole but by the time Helen had to appear at the Crooker Queen Pageant late in the film, he was starting to redeem herself. Helen fulfills her duties while Barry looks on from the balcony, there to keep watch. Needless to say someone needed to be watching him because he’s pounced on by The Fisherman at the event and is violently hooked in the process. Somehow Helen screaming in the general direction of the attack makes no one turn around to witness it before it’s over but it’s a horror film and we allow these little qualms to be ignored for the sake of entertainment.
1. Helen’s Chase/Death Scene: Every good slasher movie has a great chase and stalk scene and I Know What You Did Last Summer definitely delivers with Helen’s chase scene. It’s easily the most suspenseful sequences of the film and it’s considered by horror fans to be one of the best of its kind. Did I like watching my girl Buffy die? No, but she did put up a good fight and it ends up being a genre-defining moment. The scene is so good that it’s getting a series of clips to piece it all together. Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H-TXPgRRN0
