I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) Movie ft. Chase, Jonah, and Madelyn

The horror genre has seen countless reboots and sequels in recent years, but few carry the nostalgic weight of I Know What You Did Last Summer. After five friends kill a pedestrian in a car accident, they cover up their involvement to avoid consequences. A year later, their past comes back to haunt them with deadly results.

Director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson takes the helm of this 2025 revival, bringing together franchise veterans and fresh talent to revisit the coastal town of Southport where secrets have deadly consequences.

Starring Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders, Jonah Hauer-King, and Tyriq Withers, the film follows a group of friends who are terrorized by a stalker who knows about their gruesome past. The movie also features the return of beloved franchise veterans Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr., reprising their roles as Julie James and Ray Bronson.

The cast includes Sarah Pidgeon, Billy Campbell, Gabbriette Bechtel, Austin Nichols, and Joshua Orpin, creating a blend of old and new faces that aims to bridge generational gaps.

Plot and Storyline

The core premise remains largely unchanged from the original 1997 film. Five new friends cover up a deadly hit-and-run, only to receive ominous letters a year later from someone who wants payback.

Desperate, the group turns to the original Southport survivors for help. The screenplay attempts to modernize the classic slasher formula while maintaining the DNA that made the original film a cultural phenomenon.

The plot unfolds with expected beats of a horror thriller – the initial accident, the cover-up, the mysterious messages, and the systematic targeting. However, the film struggles to find its own identity, often feeling trapped between paying homage and creating something fresh.

The pacing follows a predictable pattern, with tension building through the first two acts before culminating in a third act that aims for both nostalgia and shock value.

Cast Performance

Madelyn Cline steals the show in her leading role, bringing both vulnerability and strength to her character. Known for her work in Outer Banks, Cline demonstrates her range as she navigates the emotional complexity of guilt, fear, and survival.

Her performance anchors the film and provides the emotional core that keeps viewers invested in the story. I found her portrayal genuinely compelling, even when the script didn’t always serve her well.

Chase Sui Wonders and Jonah Hauer-King deliver solid supporting performances, though their characters often feel underwritten. The chemistry between the young cast members is believable, creating the sense of a genuine friend group.

However, some of the dialogue feels forced and contemporary in a way that doesn’t always serve the story. The characters lack the depth needed to make their fates truly impactful.

The return of Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. adds significant nostalgic value, though their roles feel somewhat limited by the script’s focus on the new generation.

Visual Style and Direction

Director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson’s key inspiration for this movie was Jaws, and this influence is evident in the film’s approach to building suspense and revealing the killer.

The cinematography captures the coastal setting effectively, using the familiar locations to create both beauty and menace. The film’s visual style is competent but rarely inspired, relying on established horror tropes.

The gore effects are well-executed, delivering the visceral thrills that fans expect. The kill sequences are creative and brutal, though they sometimes feel gratuitous rather than serving the story.

The film maintains an R-rating that allows for the level of violence expected from the franchise while balancing it with character development and plot progression.

What Works

The film succeeds in creating a sense of continuity with the original while updating the story for modern audiences. The connection to the 1997 film is handled with care, respecting the legacy while creating space for new stories.

The performances of the veteran cast members add emotional weight to the proceedings, and their interactions with the new characters feel natural and earned.

The film delivers on its promise of nostalgia and features self-aware humor that acknowledges the franchise’s place in horror history. The coastal setting remains atmospheric and effective, creating isolation and vulnerability.

Areas for Improvement

On Rotten Tomatoes, 48% of 61 critics’ reviews are positive. The website’s consensus reads that the film faithfully harkens back to the original for better or worse, serving up plenty of nostalgia without finding a compelling hook.

This critique highlights the film’s primary weakness – its over-reliance on familiar elements without adding sufficient innovation. I found myself predicting most plot developments well in advance.

The film has been criticized as yet another empty attempt at rebooting a cult horror franchise, focusing on cheap nostalgia over thrills. The script often feels predictable, following expected beats without surprising the audience.

Character development suffers as the film prioritizes plot mechanics over emotional depth. The supporting characters feel more like horror movie archetypes than fully realized people.

Critical Reception

The film currently holds a 5.7 rating on IMDb, indicating mixed reception from general audiences. Bollywood Hungama gave the film a critics rating of 2.0/5, reflecting the generally lukewarm response from professional reviewers.

Deadline’s review described it as a vapid sequel that reintroduces a franchise that died in the water before the turn of the century, highlighting the challenges of reviving this particular franchise.

Roger Ebert’s review notes that while history may have given the first film a reputation as dumb fun, this one’s just dumb, suggesting the film lacks the charm that made the original work despite its flaws.

The critical consensus suggests that while the film delivers on technical aspects and nostalgia, it fails to justify its existence with fresh ideas or compelling storytelling.

Final Verdict

I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) is a competent but uninspired return to a beloved franchise. While it succeeds in recreating the atmosphere and feel of the original film, it struggles to find its own voice.

The performances, particularly from Madelyn Cline, are strong enough to carry the film, but the predictable plot and lack of innovation prevent it from reaching its full potential. I wanted to love this return to Southport, but found myself disappointed by the missed opportunities.

The film will likely satisfy fans of the franchise who are looking for a nostalgic trip back to the original’s world, but it’s unlikely to create new fans or revitalize interest for a broader audience.

It’s a watchable but forgettable entry in the horror genre that serves its purpose without exceeding expectations. For slasher fans, it’s a decent way to spend an evening, but don’t expect it to redefine the genre.

Rating: 2.5/5