I Know What You Did Last Summer
July 16th, 2025
MOVIE: I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER
STARRING: MADELYN CLINE, CHASE SUI WONDERS, JONAH HAUER-KING, FREDDIE PRINZE JR., JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT
DIRECTED BY: JENNIFER KAYTIN ROBINSON
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 3 STARS (Out of 4)
In the past five years, we’ve seen revivals of Bill & Ted, Ghostbusters, Top Gun, Halloween, Scream, and now, inevitably, I Know What You Did Last Summer returns to theaters. The ’90s have become a treasure trove for studios, and now we’re digging even deeper into nostalgia. While the original 1997 film might not qualify as a “classic,” it was very much a product of its moment, with young, attractive stars, an alternative rock soundtrack, and a slasher storyline that aimed to ride the wave Wes Craven reignited with Scream in 1996.
This new version of I Know What You Did Last Summer hits the right nostalgic notes. It delivers the kind of summer B-movie thrills that remind us why watching a group of twenty-somethings get picked off one by one can still be wicked fun.
The premise remains largely unchanged. Ava (Chase Sui Wonders) returns to Southport, North Carolina, for the wedding shower of her best friend Danica (Madelyn Cline) and Danica’s fiancé Teddy (Tyriq Withers). Her return stirs up old feelings, especially with ex-boyfriend Milo (Jonah Hauer-King) around, and former high school friend Stevie (Sarah Pidgeon) rekindling memories of wilder times. After the party, the group heads to Devil’s Curve to watch fireworks, but a mix of alcohol and youthful recklessness leads to a tragic car accident. The group makes the fateful choice to cover it up. But in Southport, secrets like that don’t stay buried—especially when a killer fisherman with a giant hook is on the loose.
Much like Final Destination: Bloodlines, this IKWYDLS reboot works thanks to inventive direction from Jennifer Kaytin Robinson and a lively, committed cast. The screenplay—by Robinson and Sam Lansky—isn’t always believable, but it knows how to have fun. It’s best appreciated as a sequence of inventive slasher kills wrapped in a playful whodunit. The film plays with the legacy sequel formula, introducing new characters while bringing back old ones—yes, Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt return in substantial roles—and keeping everyone a potential suspect.
Don’t go in expecting greatness. What you’ll get is a revival of the gleefully dumb horror movies that thrived in the late ‘90s. Some moments strain credibility, with characters making outrageously bad decisions—but that’s part of the charm. Standout performances include Madelyn Cline as the hilariously self-absorbed survivor, and Tyriq Withers, who brings surprising comic relief to the role of misunderstood meathead.
Ultimately, this is a solid popcorn thriller. The kills are gnarly—despite the trailer suggesting a bloodless PG-13 vibe—and the film delivers on all the promises it makes. I Know What You Did Last Summer is exactly the kind of summer horror throwback audiences are craving. It may be soaked in slasher nostalgia, but what can I say? I was hooked.
3 STARS
I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER IS PLAYING IN THEATERS FRIDAY, JULY 18TH, 2025.
Written by: Leo Brady
