I Know What You Did Last Summer is better known for its late 90s slasher movie adaptation, but have

I Know What You Did Last Summer is better known for its late 90s slasher movie adaptation, but have to say I think the book is a whole lot better. Originally published in 1973, Los Duncan’s book is a slow-burn thriller with a really compelling premise. There is no man with a hook. Instead, the four teenagers from a pact after they accidentally kill an 8-year-old boy on his bike. The book makes good use of its dynamic cast of characters and delivers a great twist at the end. There are no slasher tropes because it pre-dates the modern slasher by a good five years. What we get instead is something far superior and more memorable than the movie. I was thrilled when I found this awesome retro copy of the book with some excellent hairstyles on the cover. I had read a library copy back when I was a kid and loved it. I was too young to see R-Rated movies at the time, so you can imagine my anticipation leading up to when I finally did several years later. It was a major letdown. I went back and rewatched it before writing this post, and I think it just strengthened my conviction. There’s a bullet review with my thoughts on the film included after the jump. I would love to see a faithful adaptation of this someday. For now, I am more than satisfied with just the book. It’s very much a product of its time, but I think it aged pretty well all things considered. It’s also a great summer read.

Score: 4

For my full review, complete with memes, snark and spoilers, head on over to my Fits of Nostalgia blog:

https://www.danstalter.com/i-know-what-you-did-last-summer/