Slasher Films in the Post-Scream Era: The Role of 'I Know What You Did Last Summer'

The mid-1990s marked a turning point for horror slasher films, especially in the slasher genre. When 'Scream' (1996) revived the dead-in-the-water format with self-aware humour, a stylish cast, and meta-commentary, studios rushed to replicate its success. Among the first and most notable was 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' (1997), a slick, suspenseful slasher that stood apart by embracing traditional horror tropes with a modern edge.

Written by Scream’s own Kevin Williamson—though penned before Scream's release—the film became part of the late-'90s horror resurgence. Instead of mocking genre clichés, 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' leaned into them. It offered a straightforward revenge-driven plot: four teenagers cover up a deadly accident and are hunted a year later by a hook-wielding killer who “knows what they did.” While Scream deconstructed horror conventions, I Know repackaged them for a new generation.

Image Courtesy: IMDb

The film’s tone was more earnest and less satirical than 'Scream', making it accessible to a wider teen audience. It drew on classic urban legends, built suspense through eerie atmosphere, and focused on guilt and consequences rather than ironic detachment. The killer, Ben Willis, became an instant horror icon with his rain slicker and rusty hook—a throwback to 80s slasher villains, but wrapped in the glossy packaging of '90s teen drama.

'I Know What You Did Last Summer' Defined Post-Scream Horror

'I Know What You Did Last Summer' also helped solidify a trend that would define post-Scream horror: casting young, attractive TV stars. Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Jr., and Ryan Phillippe brought built-in fanbases and sex appeal, making the film a box office success and establishing a new model for slasher films as teen-centric thrillers.

Also Read: https://indigomusic.com/feature/the-power-of-home-in-the-hobbit-bag-end-as-a-symbol-of-identity-9507413

Image Courtesy: IMDb

Its impact extended into the early 2000s, spawning sequels, knockoffs, and eventually a 2021 Amazon Prime reboot series. Though not as critically revered as Scream, its legacy lies in showing that horror didn’t need to be ironic to be successful. It proved that teen slashers could be sincere, emotionally resonant, and commercially viable in a post-Scream landscape.

In the broader evolution of horror, 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' remains a key player—not for reinventing the genre, but for reintroducing classic slasher storytelling to a new audience, one scared of consequences, hooked on secrets, and eager for cathartic thrills.

Also Read: https://indigomusic.com/feature/stranger-things-soundtrack-how-music-became-a-weapon-9507403