I Know What You Did Last Summer

Main Plot

I Know What You Did Last Summer follows a group of four friends who are involved in a hit-and-run accident one summer night. After accidentally hitting a man with their car, they decide to cover up the incident and dispose of the body, believing that keeping the secret will protect them. However, a year later, they begin receiving mysterious messages and are stalked by a figure who seems to know their dark secret. As the friends are picked off one by one, they must confront their past actions and the consequences of their choices. The tension escalates as they struggle to uncover the identity of their tormentor while grappling with guilt and fear, leading to a suspenseful confrontation that tests their loyalty and resolve. The film blends elements of horror and thriller as it explores themes of friendship, guilt, and the haunting nature of secrets.

Characters

• Jennifer Love Hewitt plays Julie James, a high school student who, along with her friends, is terrorized by a mysterious figure after a fatal accident.
• Sarah Michelle Gellar plays Helen Shivers, a beauty queen targeted by a vengeful killer after she and her friends cover up an accidental death.
• Anne Heche plays Missy Egan, the sister of a deceased man. She provides crucial information about her brother's death, which helps the main characters unravel the mystery.

Ending Explained

In the ending of I Know What You Did Last Summer, the tension culminates as the surviving characters confront the consequences of their past actions. After a series of harrowing encounters with the mysterious killer, who is revealed to be the vengeful figure connected to their hit-and-run accident, the protagonist, Julie, discovers the truth about the identity of the killer. In a climactic showdown, Julie and her friends attempt to confront their guilt and the horror they have been running from. The final confrontation occurs at a secluded location, where the group is forced to face the reality of their choices. Julie's determination to seek justice leads to a dramatic struggle against the killer. Ultimately, she manages to outsmart the assailant, bringing a temporary sense of resolution. However, the film concludes with an unsettling twist, as Julie receives a chilling message that suggests the threat is not over, leaving the audience with a sense of lingering dread. This ending reinforces the film's themes of guilt, accountability, and the inescapability of the past, highlighting how unresolved actions can haunt individuals long after the initial incident. The unresolved nature of the final scene serves to emphasize the cyclical nature of fear and consequence.