I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER (S1E6) “Least You Had A Spare”: Horror Odes Abound As The End Draws Near

I Know What You Did Last Summer ended its fifth episode with a cliffhanger, distant labored breathing and a bloody machete closing out the final moments of “Shak ‘n Stuff”. As viewers waited with anticipation for the next episode, speculation was all that remained as to who was the mysterious killer’s latest victim. Thankfully, “Least You Had A Spare” does not let viewers wait long, delivering another edge-of-your-seat episode that will have you holding your breath – the gore, drama, and entertainment just enough to cover the bloated story it derives from.

Moments Later…

Cleverly, “Least You Had A Spare” reminds viewers of the precarious situation the gang found themselves in at the end of “Shak ‘n Stuff”, Riley (Ashley Moore) shown finding a path out by the river, Lennon/Alison (Madison Iseman) injuring herself as she struggles to climb the barbed wire fence, Dylan (Ezekiel Goodman) ducking behind a door as a gunshot narrowly misses him and Margot (Brianne Tju) stepping in something disgusting. There is a variety to the intensity they each experience while escaping the compound, Margot seemingly the least affected physically, but emotionally at the breaking point.

As the episode begins to focus on its central figure, Riley emerges on the road outside the compound, relief for herself and her friends clear on her face. As headlights emerge, her relief is quickly vanquished as it rears in her direction. As the car chases her, in an almost unbelievable setup, there is an immersion into the action as nostalgia reminds viewers of the original film, Riley’s chase reminiscent of Barry’s (Ryan Philippe) initial run-in with the Benjamin Willis (Muse Watson). In a one-two punch, the first few minutes of “Least You Had A Spare” gives a nod to another classic slasher, the machete in blood finally finding its victim, its blade penetrating through Riley’s chest in classic Jason fashion. It is intense, and even shocking, in its delivery, the episode lending a bit of unpredictability to who would catch the blade.

Bloody Ripple Effect

Yet, Riley’s story is far from over, the episode giving her perspective a moment to shine from last summer’s graduation party, her feelings and failed attempt to seduce Dylan almost wrapping up the events of that evening. Her disappearance ripples out in the present as well. As the police conclude there is a serial killer loose on the island, Riley’s mom Courtney (Cassie Beck) demands that the police begin looking for her daughter as she did not come home the night before. As the police disregard it as a “kids will be kids” moment, I Know What You Did Last Summer gives a nod to the cliched behavior of adults in horror films – the kids are always fine. And honestly, you would think there would be more of an urgency or a concern seeing as how they just concluded there is a serial killer tormenting the island. Refusing to wait, Courtney sets out on her own, the search for the truth going beyond just her motherly instincts.

As Lennon/Alison reels from the discovery of her father’s involvement in the island’s former cult and presumed killer Clara, the series proves its characters and island cliffs hold more secrets than anyone realized. As the episode descends into a bloated unraveling of secrets, I found myself wishing the episode would slow down, take a bit more time to explain its recent revelations – to maybe revisit the past beyond just graduation night (or maybe these are loose ends lying in wait for a second season).

I wanted more, feeling the storyline driving the series was a bit bloated – much like its victims. There was something deeper that could have taken hold had the series taken a moment to breathe and lean into it. In these moments, viewers will find themselves looking at the entire series thus far, wishing that the moments of filler had been tightened to allow for more breathing room here.

Conclusion

But this desire for more does little to deter the curiosity as more unexpected pieces are revealed, and the narrative direction continues to fall into place. There is a sense of acceleration as the episode runs into its second half, heightened further by the fact there are only two more episodes left. And as the episode delivers its most brutal and graphic kill to date, coupled with a further dive into horror classics with a House of Wax feel, I find myself already hoping for a second season – and wondering how it will all end.

I Know What You Did Last Summer premieres every Friday with new episodes on Amazon Prime!

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