The rich evocation of the sleepy small fishing town and the brooding gloom-doom atmosphere were two of this film's most substantial assets.
You've seen Guy Standeven in something because the man was in everything.

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I love the atmosphere in this movie. I wrote a novel called The Scare as an homage to this movie and Nightmare on Elm Street. Fans of this movie might enjoy my book. Here's a link for anyone who cares to take a look:
https://goo.gl/fEPIWI
and thank you in advance to anyone who reads it and writes a review.

I agree, I do think Scream is better but this one is still top notch.

You really spoke my mind about this movie. I love it so much for the reasons you giving, specially the atmosphere that surrounded the movie which is screams 90s and for me as a 90s-holic I would rather rewatch old things from that beautiful era over new stuff from these days.

I agree, this was the perfect 90's slasher.

Very well written post and I agree, especially about the transition into the late 90's. The teen slasher craze was huge and this is one movie in a heap of great ones from that late 90's early 00's era.
Utah! Get me two.

I meant The CW Television Network, although back in the 90s it would've been The WB, ofcourse.

That and people also seem to consider it as a sort of CW type of slasher because of the cast.
What does CW stand for?
My 150 (or so) favorite movies:
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls070122364/

Neither can hold a candle to Jean-Claude Van Damme!

I mean, this movie has Freddie Prinze Jr!
And?! He's a better actor than Jennifer Aniston.

They did an awesome job of creating a great atmosphere with the movie. I think its one of the movies strongest points having such a nice small town location and the cinematography is incredible with those slightly washed out tones as well as the juxtaposition of warm lush bright day scenes and the bluish tint used frequently at night. They really en captured what the theme of the movie was with the look. Even the poster art captures the spirit of the movie really well.
Also this has got to be one of the best examples of the mid 90s fading into the later 90's it was filmed on the cusp of that transition and it shows so well with the clothes and hairstyles (Barry's slight JT curls are a good example).
I completely agree. The atmosphere is rather unsettling and helps building up the suspense.
The original point though is that I think this movie gets a rough time of it because it came out after Scream so people are harsher as IKWYDLS plays it entirely serious which is what Scream was mocking.
That and people also seem to consider it as a sort of CW type of slasher because of the cast.
But for any and all faults I Know has, its got a great cast and a really captivating atmosphere. Dare I say it rivals Scream in that one department if you were to compare the two on that front.
I think the Scream cast is much stronger, though. I mean, this movie has Freddie Prinze Jr! Both movies have a great atmopshere, but they're so different, they can't be compared.

This movie's atmosphere is one of my favorite things about this movie and I believe a main reason why I didn't like the sequel as much as they didn't try to recreate it.