I must admit, I admired the original I Know What You Did Last Summer. It had that late 90s charm to it while also being effectively creepy. The sequel, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, wasn’t quite as good but still worked well enough. And we don’t talk about the third movie. Almost 30 years later and there’s a new installment in the franchise, with the same exact title as the original. It’s following the trend of “legacy sequels” that have been releasing in the horror genre over the past decade or so. So, does this movie represent a return to form for the franchise? Sadly, the answer is no.
I Know What You Did Last Summer, directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, follows a group of five young adult friends – Danica, Ava, Milo, Teddy, and Stevie – on July 4th weekend. While hanging out on the side of a road to catch a view of the fireworks, Teddy’s antics cause a pickup truck to swerve and crash. Frantically deciding whether to call the police or disappear and act like it never happened, the friends choose the latter. The film fast forwards a year later when Danica receives an ominous note at her bridal shower containing the words “I know what you did last summer”, setting the stage for the ensuing murder spree by a person dressed in fisherman gear. It’s a very similar premise to the original, with minor differences here and there.
Like many horror movies that are part of franchises these days, the film brings back legacy characters from previous installments, namely ex- husband and wife Ray Bronson and Julie James, played by Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt, respectively. Although it’s a welcome sight to see these characters back, it feels more like nostalgia bait, as they’re not given much to do other than offer small pieces of advice here and there. The inclusion of these legacy characters opens up the possibility of exploring themes such as trauma and its lasting effects, but the film only briefly touches on it.
When talking about horror movies, the main question that tends to be asked is, is the movie scary? Well, not really. Granted, the original wasn’t known to be an all-time scare fest, but at least at the time it had an original plot, and it had its moments, whether it was jump scares or tension built through suspense. In this movie, there’s just not much there, not even any of the usual cheap jump scares. It’s also not very interesting past the initial setup when Danica receives the ominous note. It’s often too chatty, especially towards the end, which is where the film ultimately falls apart. From characters making questionable choices, to a weird plot twist involving the killer reveal that feels out of place, the movie fails to stick its landing.
In the end, I walked away from this movie feeling disappointed and wondering why it was even made. It doesn’t bring anything new to the table, and I think that’s partly why it’s so uninteresting and pointless. Other horror franchises like Halloween, Scream, and Final Destination breathed new life into their respective franchises with recent entries, so why couldn’t this one follow in their steps? Maybe some things should stay buried in the past after all.
Rating: 2/5
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