Reel Review: I Know What You Did Last Summer Reignites the Franchise for New and Returning Fans
After nearly 30 years, I Know What You Did Last Summer is getting the sequel treatment for new audiences. The book adaptation summer slasher was notably celebrated for its charismatic cast and brutal killings all set in a quaint oceanside town. Decades later, another killer emerges, following in the footsteps of the notorious fisherman slicker, targeting a group of young adults.
While many fans expect and exact replication of the original, this sequel subverts expectations with some fun twists and turns. The screenwriter and director plays with the audience in a fun and engaging way by how they execute the most iconic moments. From the car crash on the cliff to the reveal of the killer, there is a perfect balance of paying homage to the original while modernizing it for new audiences.
Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt reprise their roles, with an updated dynamic featuring some tension due to their divorce. The fan favorites are sure to delight in delivering performances that are reminiscent of the original, but don’t feel like they’re overstaying their welcome. They offer the perfect amount of nostalgia for original fans to tap into.
The new ensemble is perfectly cast. Madeline Cline plays the popular and dumb blonde, Chase Sui Wonders is the motivated but fun friend, Jonah Hauer-King is the certified nice guy, Tyriq Withers is the rich spoiled daddy’s boy, and Sarah Pidgeon is the outcast friend from the past. While on the surface many of these characters are full of cliches, these popular tropes lends itself well to the group dynamic and the filmmakers are aware of their perceptions. While some of the dialogue is overly gen-z, it mostly feels well done and not over the top.
While some moments feel silly, like Gabriette’s character’s true crime podcast, much of those moments are based in reality. They are critiquing the culture in which people cling to true crime for entertainment, not to offer sympathy or prevent future events from happening. Even the moments where the police are involved, there is a self-aware view that the general public has more distrust in the criminal system now more than ever.
The biggest let down of this film was the kills. The execution of many seemingly gory moments were played a bit too safe and seemed to be covered up by the editing. They needed to pick a direction, either go full force into the horror elements, or pull back on the blood. Each kill felt out of sync in terms of its execution, making the stakes fall a bit flat.
As a campy horror sequel, I Know What You Did Last Summer reignites the original fandom and brings in enough fresh elements to resonate with modern audiences. This summertime slasher fulfills all the nostalgic yearners and delights fans with even a special surprise cameo. If you don’t take it too seriously, this movie is a bloody good time.
I Know What You Did Last Summer is playing in theaters now.
