‘I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025)’ Review
Stars: Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders, Jonah Hauer-King, Tyriq Withers, Sarah Pidgeon, Billy Campbell, Freddie Prinze Jr., Jennifer Love Hewitt | Written by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, Sam Lansky | Directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson
In the era of legacy sequels, it was only a matter of time before 1997’s I Know What You Did Last Summer was also revived for the modern-day. From the title to the threatening image of a hook, it is an iconic slice of ’90s horror which helped revitalise the slasher subgenre and is remembered fondly as part of many viewers’ nostalgia. But, to borrow a line from returning final-girl Julie James, “Nostalgia is overrated,” as we are now left with 2025’s I Know What You Did Last Summer.
Returning to her hometown of Southport, Ava Brucks (Chase Sui Wonders) reunites with her past friends at the engagement party for her bestie, Danica Richards (Madelyn Cline). As the group drive to see the town’s 4th of July fireworks, an accident results in another car swerving off a cliff and taking that driver’s life. As the group cover up their involvement in the accident, a year later sees them reunited as threatening notes arrive to confirm someone knows the truth. Targeting the group is a hook-wielding killer, taking inspiration from fisherman Ben Willis’ killing spree decades before, leaving the group to ask for help from previous survivors Julie James (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and Ray Bronson (Freddie Prinze Jr.)
You know the drill when it comes to requels. A new cast of characters find themselves in danger from a returning horror icon, leaving them to seek help from one of the few surviving legacy characters before they are offed, while audiences get nostalgic references to previous entries, and the title may be exactly the same as the original. I Know What You Did Last Summer sticks to that tradition rather closely, welcoming newbies to the series alongside fans ready to reintegrate themselves into this franchise.
Taking the reins is co-writer/director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, following on from Do Revenge and co-writing the screenplay for Thor: Love and Thunder. As this new generation takes centre stage, there is an openness about mental health and inner struggles, which helps establish the relationships. These elements feel at war with the clunky dialogue, as effective cast members like Madelyn Cline and Chase Sui Wonders are saddled with dialogue that feels drawn from snappy social media posts. This includes a late summation of the plot that feels included to predate such an obvious joke review on Letterboxd. If you ordered a Diablo Cody script from Temu, this would be the result.
Many of the I Know What You Did Last Summer’s struggles can be traced back to the screenplay, especially when it feels like key elements were overlooked. One of the first victims is a love interest with a drinking problem, yet this feels like a non-issue, considering how quickly the character is forgotten about. Many of the characters’ journeys post-cover-up seem to be brushed under the rug, with key relationships splintering and Ava’s self-loathing view of herself going unaddressed. What viewers get instead are frustrating decisions from characters at risk, particularly including one’s decision to put himself in danger by stepping outside to have a “pep talk.” It often feels like a lazy lead-up to a character being offed.
This return to Southport sees the town gentrified in an attempt to cover up its blood-soaked past. Such a whitewashing of history is paid lip service by Robinson and co-writer Sam Lansky, but it is barely a touchstone to get back the remaining survivors. It is interesting to see how the trauma has affected Julie and Ray, whose characters are given more dramatic approaches. Bless Freddie Prinze Jr., as he appears to struggle conveying how the years have changed his character.
As with a horror sequel, there are some gnarly kills which make this an entertaining way to spend an evening. It is also worth respecting some bold swings this film takes, particularly involving an entertaining dream sequence, and the way elements are involved from the less beloved I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. The final few moments hint at a more interesting follow-up that will have fans throwing their arms up and screaming at the studio, “what are you waiting for?” If it arrives, here’s hoping it’s a stronger work than I Know What You Did Last Summer.
** 2/5
I Know What You Did Last Summer is in cinemas now.
