Remember how cool the 1990s were for horror? The slasher subgenre went meta with Wes Craven's Scream, and that success led to a series of relatively grounded horror films centering on groups of ill-fated youths. Among the wave of slashers that came out during the latter portion of the decade, few have become quite as iconic as the Jim Gillespie's I Know What You Did Last Summer. The 1997 film has earned its place within the horror hall of fame, but it sounds like Ryan Phillippe and Sarah Michelle Gellar's off-screen antics on the beaches of North Carolina were also the stuff of legend. Philippe was recently promoting Wish Upon on Live with Kelly and Ryan when he said:
We got up to some stupid stuff because we were teenagers. I remember Sarah Michelle and I beached a rental car on a sand dune in North Carolina. It was the middle of the night and I got a tow truck because I didn't want the producers to find out, and I don't think they had until today.
I dare you to read that story and ignore the irony of Ryan Phillippe and Sarah Michelle Gellar acting recklessly with a car on the set of I Know What You Did Last Summer. You cannot; it's impossible. The two actors were just kicking off huge acting careers during the production of the horror classic, and they very clearly enjoyed getting into trouble when Jim Gillespie and the producers were not looking. We're just glad that they did not kill anyone during their shenanigans. Otherwise, their victim would've returned one year later to seek revenge in the bloodiest possible way.
Looking back on Ryan Phillippe's recent Live with Kelly and Ryan story about that car incident, it's somewhat surprising to consider the fact that we haven't seen a genuine I Know What You Did Last Summer remake yet -- particularly with so many horror remakes coming out every few years. (The last sequel in the franchise, the straight-to-DVD I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer, was released in 2006.) The film utilizes the fairly timeless Telltale Heart concept to inform its killer's motivations, so it would not necessarily feel like a terribly difficult sell for horror audiences. Because the genre has experienced yet another renaissance in recent years, and because the original film turns 20 this year, now seems like a perfect time to return to that well for some bloody new stories.
Of course, in the years since I Know What You Did Last Summer debuted in theaters, Ryan Phillippe hasn't slowed down within the realm of horror movies and thrillers. In fact, the 42-year-old actor is poised to return to the genre this weekend with the upcoming release of the supernatural thriller Wish Upon. It looks like a decidedly different form of horror compared to something like I Know What You Did Last Summer, but it's clear that Phillippe still knows how to work firmly within this timeless genre.
Make sure to check out Ryan Phillippe on the silver screen this weekend when Wish Upon debuts in theaters on July 14! Beyond that, check out our comprehensive movie premiere guide for more up to date information concerning the rest of this year's major theatrical releases!
