An analysis of directive speech acts used by the characters in the movie I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025)

This study aims to identify the types of directive speech acts that appear in the film I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) and to analyze hearers’ responses to directive utterances. The problems studied in this research are: (1) What types of directive acts are used in the utterances between the characters in the movie, and (2) How do the hearers respond to the directive speech acts produced by the characters in the movie? The research method used is descriptive qualitative, applying the research design by Sandelowski (2000) and data collection methods based on Creswell & Creswell's (2018) theory. Data in this study were collected through the observation and recording technique of all dialogues between characters in the movie. The research results show that there are 9 types of directive speech acts with a total of 220 data, consisting of asking (102), ordering (44), suggesting (32), requesting (19), begging (8), inviting (5), warning (4), commanding (4), and forbidding (2). Moreover, it was found that the hearer’s response to directive speech acts does not always result in the execution of the desired action. Contextual situational factors, particularly the hearer’s mental state, such as panic, fear, or psychological pressure, are the main causes of directive speech acts failing to be processed and carried out. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the successful fulfillment of directive speech acts depends not only on the clarity of the speaker’s utterance but is also significantly influenced by the hearer’s mental state and the contextual situation they are experiencing.