I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) Review – Stylish Reboot with Just Enough Substance

🎬 Introduction

My expectations weren’t all that high going into I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) — mostly due to its strangely underwhelming marketing campaign. Even with the return of iconic OG stars, the buzz around this reboot was minimal. Still, I held onto a sliver of hope — and thankfully, this reboot gives just enough to warrant a conversation.

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🧃 Plot Overview (Spoiler-Free)

The film follows a new group of teens haunted by a deadly summer secret. After a tragic incident, they find themselves stalked by a masked killer who knows exactly what they did. As tensions rise and bodies drop, secrets unravel — leading to a bold (and polarizing) final twist.

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🎭 Cast & Performances

The film kicks off at a decent pace, introducing us first to Ava — played by Chase Sui Wonders — who turns out to be the clear standout, effortlessly holding our attention throughout the movie. Madelyn Cline's Danica looks the part, but her dialogue delivery feels off — almost like it was fine-tuned for Gen Z TikTok skits, making subtitles necessary at times.

The return of Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt added weight to the film, but also highlighted its flaws. Their roles are limited but nostalgic. The film leans heavily into legacy-baiting, which works in moments — particularly during a fun, well-placed cameo — but can’t fully elevate the mid-tier script.

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🎬 Direction, Visual Style & Tone

Directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (Do Revenge), the movie nails its visual tone. It feels modern, sleek, and self-aware, echoing the style of Scream 5 while trying (sometimes too hard) to stand out on its own. While the visual storytelling is solid, the movie lacks the punch and tension needed to push it into the upper tier of slasher films.

The gore is present but toned down — nowhere near the intensity seen in Final Destination or recent Scream entries.

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✍️ Writing, Dialogue & Pacing

The script wants to be sharp and meta, but falls into familiar tropes. Some dialogue — especially from Cline’s character — comes off as awkward or mumbled, which makes emotional engagement tricky. The film never really bores you, but it also never fully hooks you in. The pacing is steady, but the stakes never feel truly terrifying.

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😮‍💨 Third Act & Killer Reveal (No Spoilers)

The third-act reveal is arguably the most interesting part of the movie. It's bold, unexpected, and will definitely divide fans. It doesn’t fully stick the landing, but it adds a much-needed jolt of energy right when things start to feel too familiar.

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🎯 Final Verdict

I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) works — not perfectly, but well enough to entertain. It’s a stylish, visually engaging slasher that gives fans a reason to care, even if it doesn't reinvent the genre. While it borrows heavily from the Scream playbook, its moments of nostalgia and modern flair make it a worthy theater watch, especially for longtime fans of the original.

The cameo teases a potential sequel — and honestly, I hope it happens. The franchise may still have more to say.

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⭐ Rating: 7/10

Stylish and engaging, but falls short of a full genre reinvention.