Common Sense Media Review
By Charles Cassady Jr.
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Bloody 1990s horror movie has graphic violence, profanity.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
I Know What You Did Last Summer
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 23 parent reviews
Parents say that the film features moderate violence and some strong language, making it less suitable for younger children, while older teens may enjoy its classic slasher elements, plot twists, and jump scares. However, the overall pacing and editing were criticized, with some finding it boring despite its nostalgic appeal and attempts at suspense.
- strong language
- moderate violence
- suitable for teens
- classic slasher
- editing issues
- nostalgia factor
Summarized with AI
Based on 45 kid reviews
Kids say the film is a mixed bag of reviews, with many horror fans finding it silly and not scary, while some appreciate the blend of mystery and slasher elements. While it has been described as suitable for older teens due to mild gore, strong language, and not living up to the book, it also offers an engaging storyline and memorable moments for many viewers.
- mixed reviews
- not scary
- mild gore
- engaging storyline
- suitable for teens
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER, four high school seniors—couples Julie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and Ray (Freddie Prinze Jr.) and Helen (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Barry (Ryan Phillippe)—are looking forward to graduation and promising young-adult lives. But, driving recklessly after a night of drinking and cuddling on the beach, they run over a stranger. Hotheaded Barry, perceiving their bright tomorrows in jeopardy, has the group dump the body in the sea and swears them all to secrecy. Horrifically, the mangled victim, going under, appears to be still alive. A year later, college student Julie gets a ransom note reading, "I know what you did last summer," which compels her to reunite with her estranged friends, who claim ignorance about who could have sent the note and why. Barry suspects it came from a disliked schoolmate, Max (Johnny Galecki), who had encountered them that grim night, and he tries to intimidate him. But then Max turns up murdered himself, and that's hardly the end of the carnage.
Is It Any Good?
This unimaginative slasher is too bloody and brutal for kids. I Know What You Did Last Summer taps into spooky-story appeal, with a stellar cast who had been reigning on popular TV shows of the time. But there's not much under the surface (or even on the surface, for that matter) besides a familiar setup. Still, I Know What You Did Last Summer does have a sort of morality: Teens who lied about committing manslaughter experience repercussions, and not just the obvious, gory ones. Under the cloud of what they did last summer, the once-close quartet drifts apart. Their suspicions, eventually directed against one another, make them easier targets for the real villain. Alfred Hitchcock this isn't, though scriptwriter Kevin Williamson came closer to that lofty ambition with the similarly bloody but dark-humored Scream and its sequels. Ultimately, it's a straightforward teen horror movie with a lasting place in late-1990s pop culture.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the enduring appeal of slasher movies like I Know What You Did Last Summer. Why do people, especially teens, love being scared?
How is background music used to heighten moments of suspense here? How is background music used to heighten scenes in other genres, such as Westerns, comedies, and war movies?
How is the element of surprise a crucial feature of horror movies? How does surprise try to create scares in this particular movie?
Does the film suggest that protecting your future justifies covering up a crime? Or does it ultimately argue that true accountability, no matter how painful, is the only path to redemption? Do you think the main characters deserve the deadly consequences? And what are the actual right ways to hold people accountable for wrongdoing?
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 4, 1997
- On DVD or streaming : June 16, 1998
- Cast : Jennifer Love Hewitt , Ryan Phillippe , Sarah Michelle Gellar
- Director : Jim Gillespie
- Studio : Columbia Tristar
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : School ( College & Graduate School ) , Family Stories , Friendship , Holidays ( Halloween , Independence Day )
- Run time : 101 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong horror violence and language
- Last updated : January 16, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate