I STILL KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER
(1998)I STILL KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER
(1998)
RATING: 6 / 10 --> Barely recommendable
Kevin Williamson-less sequel to the US$107 million original I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER (7.5/10). This follow-up features the tightest shirt in the West, Jennifer Love Hewitt, a dash of Brandy (the singer, that is), and British director Danny Cannon at the helm, the man behind the abominable JUDGE DREDD (5.5/10).
PLOT:
One year after the original summer murders in her hometown, Julie
(Hewitt) has yet to overcome her fears, but has managed to move
onto College, a new love interest and a new spicy roommate. After
winning a trip to the Bahamas, Julie and her newfound friends
find themselves in a similar predicament as the psycho fisherman
with hook as hand, slices and guts his way to their extinction.
Screams and murders ensue.
CRITIQUE:
The paper-thin plot, the cheap thrills, and all of the clinging
wet shirts that you could shake a stick at, make this follow-up
to the slick original, a standard 90's horror fare without much
to get excited about. Jennifer Love Hewitt returns as the girl
who can never seem to button her blouse all the way to the top in
this transparent sequel, which never seems to take off from its
predecessor's solid base.
Many of the killings in this film are pretty obvious, while the
plot seemed ridden with holes. For example, we are never told why
the killer is killing everyone in his path in this one. Or for
that matter, how everyone on the island suddenly disappears
within a 24-hour period. Then again, horror films weren't exactly
known for their Oscar worthy scripts, but this one just doesn't
seem to bring anything original to the table. The dialogue was
standard and dull, the acting was there but not fascinating, and
the mystery of the killer wasn't as cool as it could have been.
Having said that, I did enjoy some of the murders in this film,
Jeffrey Combs' standout performance as the pissed-off hotel
owner, and the continued creepiness of the killer's fisherman's
outfit. Also, Mekhi Phifer was funny as the horny guy who just
can't seem to get laid, and Freddie Prinze actually acts a little
in this one. Also, I will admit that I did not turn away at the
umpteen shots of Jennifer Love Hewitt in her cut-off tight shirts
and bikinis. For further analyses of her extremely ample assets,
please visit this hilarious gentleman's homepage at http://jenlovehewitt.simplenet.com/ who minutely breaks her success down into a
couple of specific prize possessions. This film also delivered
the most rain in any film since the stunning SEVEN (8.5/10). All
in all, it's okay as a generic piece of 90's horror game, with
the cheap thrills and fun kills for showcase. On the other hand,
it doesn't really attain any of the mystery of the original, but
then again, most sequels don't. See it if you're bored and want
to turn your brain off for a while and charge up your woodie,
otherwise skip this limp sequel and munch on some snacks with the
original classics SCREAM (8/10) and I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST
SUMMER (7.5/10).
Little Known Facts about this film and its stars:
Jennifer Love Hewitt once dated
actor Joey Lawrence. She has released two CDs, "Let's Go
Bang" in 1995 and "Love Songs" in 1992 under Love
Hewitt. She also plays Sarah Reeves in TV "Party of
Five" series, alongside the SCREAM (8/10) queen herself Neve
Campbell. Jennifer's
bust size is reported to be 36C. Jennifer also has her own
romantic comedy screenplay "Marry Me Jane" in
development at New Line Cinema. It's about a wedding planner who
falls
for one of her betrothed clients. Brandy also stars in her own TV
sitcom called "Moesha". She went with the NBA's Kobe
Bryant to his high school prom. Kobe is best known for jumping
from high school straight to the NBA. Both Hewitt and Brandy have
reportedly signed on for a third installment of Last Summer.
Freddie Prinze Jr. considers his big break to be his four-line
part in TV's "Family Matters" in which he played a punk
kid who brought a gun to school.
Review Date: November 14, 1998
Director: Danny Cannon
Writers: Trey Callaway and Stephen Gaghan
Producers: William S. Beasley, Stokely Chaffin, Erik Feig and
Neal H.
Moritz
Actors: Jennifer Love Hewitt as Julie James
Brandy Norwood as Karla Wilson
Freddie Prinze Jr. as Ray Bronson
Mekhi Phifer as Tyrell Martin
Matthew Settle as Will Benson
Genre: Horror
Movie Reviews by Berge Garabedian