I for one can't understand all the people who bash this movie. Perhaps they had expected something different? On the surface it seems that most of the people who hate this movie are (cynical) horror fans, and maybe I Know doesn't live up to certain horror standards. Personally, I don't watch too many horror flicks so I have no preconceived notions going in. In any event, I think this movie seems to fit very neatly into the suspense genre, and as such it does a fine job.
I thought the acting was at the very least adequate all around. Hewitt's character (James) was the best. She was the smartest of the bunch and really the only one who exhibited any remorse, and as such had a depth the others lacked. Phillippe (Cox) also did a fine job portraying the other extreme. Both actors seemed to exhibit the emotions you'd expect from someone faced with such a difficult situation. Gellar (Shivers) and Prinze Jr. (Bronson) were a little bland considering the circumstances.
**POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD!!**
The story was solid in most places. It did fall apart a few times though. First, the situation called for the four main characters to stick together, yet many times it seemed that they wanted to have nothing to do with each other. When four people share a secret that they can't possibly tell anyone else, and when that secret is on the verge of ruining their lives, you'd expect they would lean on each other A LOT. Furthermore, being alone is not something I'd even consider if I had some psycho after me, and yet many times each of them would venture off by themselves. Once the very first attack occurred (I think it was the car scene with Phillippe) the four should have really begun to lean on each other. To some extent they did, but not enough. Second is the famous crabs and dead guy in the trunk scene. How could the killer remove the evidence so fast and not be seen? Third, when Prinze told the others that he had also received a letter, why did they not ask to see it? Certainly at that point I wanted to know what was in that letter, and you'd think they would too. And lastly, the ending was just flat out terrible as we all wanted the story resolved but it only raised a bunch of new questions. That's just aggravating.
To address a couple of points others have raised. First, about the villain not being scary enough - maybe you want something over the top, but on the whole the story was realistic and the villain fit that mold. Doesn't bother me as I'd rather have realism. And second, the comment that it wasn't scary when Gellar's hair was cut. I think you have to imagine how scared you'd be if you woke up and realized the guy who is stalking you was just in your bedroom as you slept. At that point the killer was not out to kill, he was out to scare them and mess with their minds. As such I think this was a very effective scene.
To enjoy I Know, you have to appreciate the dilemma these four faced and the inherent fear and suspense within it. If you do you will be pulling for them, and your adventurous side will want to be one of them just for the thrill of what they are going through and the bonds you'd have with the other three, and when two of them end up dying it really sucks. Why did the writers have to do THAT!? If you don't appreciate the dilemma, well then, I think you missed out on what the film has to offer.
**END OF SPOILER ALERT!!**
Anyways, the aforementioned dilemma is why I feel this is better classified a suspense flick. The gore factor is pretty low, but the level of mystery, intrigue, and suspense is high. The feeling of unease is not in the few gory action sequences, but in the fact that the four are stuck in this situation until the killer makes a move, and in the mystery of who is behind things and the uncertainty in what he will do next.
8/10
I thought the acting was at the very least adequate all around. Hewitt's character (James) was the best. She was the smartest of the bunch and really the only one who exhibited any remorse, and as such had a depth the others lacked. Phillippe (Cox) also did a fine job portraying the other extreme. Both actors seemed to exhibit the emotions you'd expect from someone faced with such a difficult situation. Gellar (Shivers) and Prinze Jr. (Bronson) were a little bland considering the circumstances.
**POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD!!**
The story was solid in most places. It did fall apart a few times though. First, the situation called for the four main characters to stick together, yet many times it seemed that they wanted to have nothing to do with each other. When four people share a secret that they can't possibly tell anyone else, and when that secret is on the verge of ruining their lives, you'd expect they would lean on each other A LOT. Furthermore, being alone is not something I'd even consider if I had some psycho after me, and yet many times each of them would venture off by themselves. Once the very first attack occurred (I think it was the car scene with Phillippe) the four should have really begun to lean on each other. To some extent they did, but not enough. Second is the famous crabs and dead guy in the trunk scene. How could the killer remove the evidence so fast and not be seen? Third, when Prinze told the others that he had also received a letter, why did they not ask to see it? Certainly at that point I wanted to know what was in that letter, and you'd think they would too. And lastly, the ending was just flat out terrible as we all wanted the story resolved but it only raised a bunch of new questions. That's just aggravating.
To address a couple of points others have raised. First, about the villain not being scary enough - maybe you want something over the top, but on the whole the story was realistic and the villain fit that mold. Doesn't bother me as I'd rather have realism. And second, the comment that it wasn't scary when Gellar's hair was cut. I think you have to imagine how scared you'd be if you woke up and realized the guy who is stalking you was just in your bedroom as you slept. At that point the killer was not out to kill, he was out to scare them and mess with their minds. As such I think this was a very effective scene.
To enjoy I Know, you have to appreciate the dilemma these four faced and the inherent fear and suspense within it. If you do you will be pulling for them, and your adventurous side will want to be one of them just for the thrill of what they are going through and the bonds you'd have with the other three, and when two of them end up dying it really sucks. Why did the writers have to do THAT!? If you don't appreciate the dilemma, well then, I think you missed out on what the film has to offer.
**END OF SPOILER ALERT!!**
Anyways, the aforementioned dilemma is why I feel this is better classified a suspense flick. The gore factor is pretty low, but the level of mystery, intrigue, and suspense is high. The feeling of unease is not in the few gory action sequences, but in the fact that the four are stuck in this situation until the killer makes a move, and in the mystery of who is behind things and the uncertainty in what he will do next.
8/10