I Know What You Did Last Summer with Norm Wilner
Adam and Nate are joined by film critic Norm Wilner to revisit I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) and its parody in “Treehouse of Horror X” (S11E4), one of the most movie parody-packed episodes of The Simpsons ever. Does Norm still agree with his pull quote on every home release of this movie that says it’s “a pure fright machine [that] scares the hell out of you”? (Did he ever?)
Also in this episode:
Screenwriter Kevin Williamson’s meta impact on pop culture
Does this movie work better as a ghost movie or a whodunnit?
Norm’s theory about the deep cut reference behind werewolf Flanders
Could the recent legasequel be an improvement on the original?
Plus, check out our show notes for a complete list of Simpsons references, double feature suggestions, and further reading
Next time, we’ll be nursing our Halloween hangover with a little horror hair of the dog. Simpsons writer Dan Vebber joins us to talk about his incredibly ambitious episode “Thanksgiving of Horror” (S31E8) and its parody of Alien (1979).
For more of Norm’s work, check out his podcast Someone Else’s Movie and his physical media newsletter Shiny Things.
For more Simpsons movie parody content, follow us at @simpsonsfilmpod on Instagram, TikTok, Threads, YouTube, and Letterboxd. Discover more great podcasts on the That Shelf Podcast Network.
Every Simpsons Reference to I Know What You Did Last Summer
By our count, I Know What You Did has been directly referenced 3 times in the first 13 seasons of The Simpsons. The first reference appears in “Treehouse of Horror IX” (S10E4) from 1998, 1 year after the release of the movie.
Plot Reference
Treehouse of Horror X (S11E4): The first segment of this episode is a front-to-back parody of this movie title “I Know What You Diddily-Iddly-Did.” The segment wastes no time, beginning with an aerial view of the windy road where our protagonists crash into a pedestrian.
The Simpson family accidentally hit Ned Flanders, and believes he’s dead, much like the teens in this movie. In both cases, it turns out our heroes didn’t actually kill anyone, since the fisherman turns out to be alive and Flanders turns out to be a werewolf.
However, before they find out the truth, both the Simpsons and the teens are tormented by anonymous notes saying “I knows what you did”…
…and hunted by a hook-wielding, slicker-wearing serial killer.
Small References
Treehouse of Horror IX (S10E4): Notably, in the annual Halloween special from the year prior, Donick Cary who would go on to write the segment-long parody in “Treehouse of Horror X” included the film’s title in his creepy credit, "Donick ‘I Know What You Did' Last Summer’ Cary.”
Viva Ned Flanders (S10E10): Later that season, the sign for First Church of Springfield reads, “Today’s Topic: He Knows What You Did Last Summer.”
Extra Credit
Looking for more like this or an interesting double feature? Here are our recommendations.
From Norm: Scream (1996), Final Destination 2 (2003)
From Adam: Prom Night (1980)
From Nate: The Fog (1980), Urban Legend (1998)
