I Know What You Did Last Summer Review: Live, Laugh, Slaughter: Madelyn Cline, Jennifer Love Hewitt, And Freddie Prinze Jr. Reunite In A Summer Sin—Reheated With Lukewarm Thrills

Title: I Know What You Did Last Summer

Director: Jennifer Kaytin Robinson

Cast: Madelyn Cline, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Freddie Prinze Jr., Chase Sui Wonders, Jonah Hauer-King

Where: In theatres near you

Rating: 2 Stars

The only thing more persistent than teenage guilt, it seems, is Hollywood’s habit of recycling its sins. I Know What You Did Last Summer resurfaces yet again—like a ghost too bored to rest—and this time, the resurrected franchise arrives with Gen Z gloss and a muddled moral compass.

Directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, the film is a reboot of the 1997 slasher that itself rode the wave of Scream. It’s the cinematic equivalent of an ex who insists they’ve changed. And to be fair, there's a fresh coat of paint: a diverse cast, updated character arcs, and dialogue that tries (a little too hard) to mimic your edgiest group chat. But despite these tweaks, the film feels stuck, vacillating between horror and teen soap like a confused prom queen picking her playlist.

Set in the haunted fishing town of Southport, the plot remains mostly faithful to its origins: five friends commit a terrible act, vow silence, and are then haunted—or hunted—for their secret. The cover-up is swift, the consequences less so. Guilt here registers more as a speed bump than a psychological weight, easily sandwiched between brunch and betrayal.

Danica (Madelyn Cline) leads the pack, delivering equal parts panic and poise in a role that never quite decides which it prefers. She’s flanked by Milo (Jonah Hauer-King), Eva (Chase Sui Wonders), Teddy (Tyriq Withers), and Stevie (Sarah Pidgeon), a group of friends whose collective charm is often undercut by some truly baffling choices. Everyone is model-gorgeous, moody, and perpetually stalked by a figure with a hook and a grudge. Legacy stars Julie James (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and Ray (Freddie Prinze Jr.) return too, though their cameos feel more like nostalgic nods than narrative anchors.

To its credit, the film has moments that almost work. The cinematography offers moody, dramatic visuals, and the score occasionally earns its goosebumps. A few kills are stylish enough to warrant a wince. But for a thriller, there's a surprising lack of real tension. The plot unfolds like a checklist of genre clichés, dutifully ticking boxes without ever challenging them. The scares are safe, the twists predictable, and the logic—often absent.

Ultimately, this film is a slick, watchable thriller that coasts on nostalgia and aesthetics. It’s brisk, bloody, and barely believable—but it doesn’t pretend to be anything deeper. If you're after disposable thrills and pretty people making poor decisions, this might do the trick. Just don't expect it to stay with you. Like the summer it’s named for, it disappears quickly, leaving behind little more than a sunburn and a vague sense of regret.