What We Did That Night (1999)

What We Did That Night Poster

An ex-con Henry (Rick Schroder) returns to town after being released from prison and contacts his old college frat members about a murder that they committed years earlier. They have to return to move the body to a new location before it is uncovered by recent digging in the area. Now a lot older and bitter about going to prison Henry has planned revenge on his old friends.

Intro
"What We Did That Night" is a riveting suspense thriller that was direct-to-TV in 1999, directed by Louis Mandylor, and set within the background of a reunion of good friends that unearths a past secret. The movie includes a widely known cast that consists of Rick Schroder, Jack Noseworthy, and Jeannetta Arnette, among others.

Plot Synopsis
The movie opens five years after a horrific occurrence including a group of college pals called Henry, Patrick, and Vinnie. The trio was embroiled in a mishap resulting in the death of a fellow student during a hazing ritual led by their fraternity. Out of fear of the consequences, the buddies staged the deadly fall as an accident and testified each other never ever to expose their dark trick.

5 years later, the trio is revived together by Vinnie, who is experiencing PTSD caused by the tragedy and seems to be on the brink of a psychological breakdown. Vinnie thinks he has actually seen the trainee they thought to have killed. To discover peace, he chooses to face their past and collects his old good friends.

The Reunion
Friction and stress arise amongst them as they all struggle with the traumatic memories of the incident. The remaining two pals, Henry (now a lawyer) and Patrick (a vagabond design artist), are convinced Vinnie's guilt has made him delusional. They try to keep the cover on their shared trick, afraid that any trace of evidence will undoubtedly lead to their own downfall.

The Suspense Builds
The climax of the film magnifies when they start receiving hazards from a mystical specific hinting at knowing the reality about what occurred that night. This mystery person seems to be playing a dangerous game with them, suggesting they might be the dead student they believed they eliminated years back. This sends them spiraling into paranoia and suspicion, questioning whether their trick is not as buried as they believed.

Conclusion
"What We Did That Night", likewise referred to as "Pledge of Innocence" in other regions, is a pulsating drama about conscience and regret. The story checks out how an awful trick from the past can haunt individuals years after the incident, leaving them in a consistent state of tension and worry. The finale includes a shock as the fact is lastly revealed; the trainee they believed they had eliminated faked his death. To retaliate, he threatens them, suggesting he could reveal their secret to the world anytime.

What makes the movie interesting is the thriller held throughout the story, with a lot of scenes resulting in a series of unexpected twists. The complexity of the characters adds weight to the plot, making the audiences question whether they must have compassion with them or consider them exclusively as offenders deserving penalty.

In general, "What We Did That Night" showcases the effects of poor decisions made in haste and brings attention to the pitfalls of fraternity hazing, which can lead to fatal occurrences.

Top Cast

  • Ricky Schroder (small)
    Ricky Schroder
    Henry
  • Jack Noseworthy (small)
    Jack Noseworthy
    Oliver Larson
  • Michael Easton (small)
    Michael Easton
    Charlie
  • Jayce Bartok (small)
    Jayce Bartok
    Michael 'Doc' Petrovsky
  • Tara Reid (small)
    Tara Reid
    The Girl
  • Jennifer Jostyn (small)
    Jennifer Jostyn
    Cloe Larson
  • Jillian Berard
    Sara Larson
  • Kai Soremekun (small)
    Kai Soremekun
    Tera
  • Mary Ann Hagan
    Waitress
  • Andi Matheny (small)
    Andi Matheny
    Patient
  • Monica Weitzel (small)
    Monica Weitzel
    Girl in the pool