A nostalgic and yet a tense slasher, I Know What You Did Last Summer successfully blends the atmosphere with the emotional layer. The film also takes the viewers away with the dark fogdy atmosphere of the setting, which is enhanced by the dark coastal scenery of Southport, North Carolina. Its visuals and tense music combine to make the audience feel a physical horror of dread, each shadow and whisper seems dangerous and this kept me at the edge of my seat. Although certain aspects of the plot resemble more traditional horror tropes, the movie tries to make its story stand out by using deep conspiracies and personal revenge, keeping the rhythm rather high, preserving the suspense and interest.
The characters are stereotyped at the beginning but they are slowly becoming not so two-dimensional, particularly Ava, whose weakness forms the heart of the emotional narrative. The cast is backed by both familiar horror tropes and new interpretations including a true crime podcast personality that is included to provide a modern meta-commentary. The direction is superb with the ability to make suspenseful scenes without much gore and with limited yet powerful special effects such as the scary silhouette of the Fisherman are impressive to remember. The time of dialogue may not be even, however, the editing ensures that the story is flowing naturally with both scares and character development.
The most appealing was the idea of guilt, secrecy and the weight of the past that has to be carried despite the attempts to escape it. It is a chilling lesson to remember that we conceal our own darkness, and it will turn around and light up our darkness in places we never imagined. Although the plot twists and melodramatic moments are convoluted, the film provides an emotional experience by vividly feeling the chasing feeling and the emotional weight of secrets being uncovered. All in all, it is a very strong mood-based horror, which transcends genre conventions through mood and thematic richness.
