Review - I Know What You Did Last Summer (Spoiler-free)

The late 1990s to early 2000s hold a special place in many horror fans hearts, with nostalgic, bloodied features such as 'Scream' (1996), 'Urban Legend (1998), 'Cherry Falls' (1999), and last but not least, 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' (1997) all encapsulating the over-the-top, teenage, gory mayhem that are contemporaneously reminiscent of a time when cinema was still accessed via video stores and theatre experiences, complete with an air an innocent fun.

Sentimentalities aside, what is important is that these films captured a playfulness and excitability through the varied displays of masked, whodunnits. Therefore, like many, news of a new entry into the franchise of I Know What You Did Last Summer prompted feelings of both buzzing excitement and a slew of apprehension, particularly considering that remakes, reboots and sequels galore can be strikingly hit or miss.

Did 2025's offering into the land of killer 'fishermen', sharpie-scrawled ominous notes and rusty weaponed hooks live up to expectations? Or was the flick a total car crash? Well… the pendulum swings in both directions. A year has passed since a group of friends made a pact to bring a treacherous secret to the grave, however, deadly pandemonium ensues when an anonymous note warns them that someone knows what they did last summer.

When news broke that a new 'Last Summer' entry was making its way onto screens, it was largely perceived that the format would be that of a remake, however, the film is instead a legacy sequel that abandons any developments and story established from the series third film 'I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer' (2006) and the contentious 2021 TV show that debuted on Amazon Prime Video with some shockingly negative reviews.

A legacy sequel innately thrives on its predecessor's success and reputation, gifting many nods to fans of the original throughout; whether that's through bringing back famed characters, making jests and inside jokes that only viewers of the original would quickly decipher, or even replicating the odd kill, but in a refreshing way. This is the crux of the point - 'refreshing'. A good legacy sequel is inspired by its cinematic forerunner, not reliant on repeating what has already been done. And yet, with the generous budget, experienced crew and an already fleshed-out origin story, I Know What You Did Last Summer feels overtly recycled, cliched and too anchored to the nostalgia factor for its good.

An unspoken rule of thumb for franchise films is whether or not they have the ability to work as a successful standalone film, without the shielding of an established fanbase and a cemented narrative structure. In the case of I Know What You Did Last Summer, without the affixment of its predecessors, then the result would be a run-of-the-mill, cliched and fleeting slasher that would soon perish from the spotlight. The film lacks the necessary oomph and gumption of a worthy storyline, where the conclusion is worth the wait. Instead, the film bargained all of its weight on the return of the marina town, Southport, the scribbled 'I Know What You Did' threats, and the homecoming of Ray Branson (Freddie Prinze Jr.) and Julie James (Jennifer Love Hewitt). Granted, a few smiles are definitely guaranteed by the premise of seeing Julie and Ray amid another season of butchery, but hopes are instantly dashed at the hands of the film's hefty drawbacks.

Additionally owing to its loss of the crowd is the film's dialogue, which has been a common comment ruminating amongst the critical and online hubbub. For a film that is so insistent on ticking a checklist of nostalgic throwbacks, the dialogue is at times incredibly grating and seemingly targeted specifically to its younger audiences familiar with the array of slang, quips and cultural notions; to borrow from the consensus, parts of the script do appear to be ripped from a TikTok compilation.

The critique of honing in too much on the past movies, relying on nostalgia, whilst simultaneously pandering to the audiences unfamiliar with the I Know What You Did Last Summer lore may be harsh and generative of 'they can't win' comments. But it is a glaring fault that the film suffers from. Too much weight is provided on each side of the 'old v new' spectrum. In line with avoiding spoilers, the happenings of the finale will remain under lock and key, however, what is noteworthy is how controversial the grand reveal is. Essentially, prepare for monotonous, illogical fodder to suit the rest of the film's passive, uninspired plot.

Nevertheless, the cast had some real moments of applause, particularly Chaise Sui Wonders and Madelyn Cline, who delivered notable performances despite the underwhelming script. Also deserving of attention are Jonah Hauer-King and Tyriq Withers, who, alongside the appearances by Love Hewitt and Prinze Jr. nail that classic unpredictable, intense aura that flourishes in slashers.

To judge a film that is marketed as a fun rendezvous, a popcorn movie at its best, with such intensity may be ironic overkill, yet the negative reaction from many audiences is that this film had the potential to rejuvenate the franchise and add a spark back into the slasher world, owing credence to the decades of cinema that were essentially b-movie, schlock-fests, but alas were riveting, thrilling, gripping and brimming with striking reveals and twists.

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