I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) Review

I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) mixes wicked kills with a great cast to make this goofy slasher legacy sequel worth the watch.

The original adaptation of Lois Duncan’s 1973 novel was transformed into a slasher by Kevin Williamson (of Scream fame), and while 1997’s I Know What You Did Last Summer wound up panned by critics, that did not impact its box office, as the film earned $125.3 million worldwide against a budget of $17 million and spawned a franchise. Before last month, I had never seen the original film or its sequel, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998). They did not blow my mind, but were fascinating enough for me to see why Sony gave this series a comeback in the wake of the last two Scream sequels being very successful. 

Much like its predecessors, I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) is a straightforward, at times very corny slasher. It knows exactly what it wants to be, with Robinson and her cowriter Sam Lansky adding in new wrinkles along the way in order for their take to stand out. The foundation is obviously the same, with a group of teens inadvertently killing someone and their past coming back to haunt them a year later when this mysterious killer wearing a fisherman’s slicker begins to kill each of our leads off one by one.

Robinson and Lansky give this story a modern overhaul, adding in slang and references relevant to now. They add to the over the top nature of this narrative and make it easier to just embrace what you are seeing. One character, Tyler Trevino (Gabbriette Bechtel) is a podcaster and Robinson and Lansky use her to comment on the thousands of murder podcasts that flood our society. Sure, this is something you have seen before but that does not mean it is not funny. Once you watch the film, you will realize just how well today’s climate lends itself to a ridiculous slasher. 

It also helps that Robinson and Lansky craft witty dialogue with relative ease, a component I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) needed in order to stand out from the overly serious state of the slasher subgenre and be what fans are expecting from this franchise. After all, one memorable part of the 90s films was their cheesy lines. Julie James (Jennifer Love Hewitt) screaming “What are you waiting for?!” as she spins around remains iconic and hilarious. In 2025, we get a reprieve of that line along with several new hysterical one liners. Not every joke lands, with a couple in particular being so bad that I swear I heard a cricket in the theater. For the most part though, this is funnier than what you may have seen in advertisements.

What is obvious throughout is that these writers have a love for this franchise and they built this new story to honor what came before while also giving viewers a younger cast of characters to connect with. Ava Brucks (Chase Sui Wonders, The Studio) makes for a terrific lead because of her complexity. The events of the previous summer have clearly taken a toll on Ava despite her attempts to move on. She turns out to be the most compassionate of all our newcomers, much like Julie James, which will help audiences root for her survival. Ava also turns out to be pretty scrappy, which is a huge plus. Wonders is sensational here, giving a performance which showcases her comedic chops, solid scream, and ability to give emotional weight to this narrative. She, along with Madelyn Cline (Glass Onion), who portrays Ava’s best friend Danica Richards, give I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) its soul. 

Ava and Danica’s friendship is this narrative’s centerpiece and Wonders and Cline make you believe in their bond. As the film moves along, this friendship evolves and ties their individual arcs together in a wonderful way. It is honestly refreshing to see a horror film centered on a friendship that feels authentic. Both characters are flawed and have hurt each other, but their love remains. 

Cline commands the screen so well and perfectly delivers her funny one liners. Danica is more of a damsel in distress than Ava, but that leads to her having some awesome chase sequences which are not only creative but oozing with tension. You never know if Danica is going to make it, no matter how much you may want her to. 

This cast as a whole should be commended for their ability to make the story worth your time despite how wacky this bloody slasher can get. Other than Wonders and Cline, I was really struck by Sarah Pidgeon (The Wilds) as Stevie Ward and Tyriq Withers as Teddy Spencer, members of the newcomer friend group. Pidgeon makes audiences understand Stevie’s mindset and her performance will absolutely rock you. Withers steals so many scenes with his frat bro energy and will never fail to make you laugh. 

Unfortunately, for as much praise as I can heap on four of the five newcomers, there is a weak link. Jonah Hauer-King (2023’s The Little Mermaid) has certainly showcased his abilities as an actor, but I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) does not seem to know what it wants to do with him. His character Milo Griffin serves as Ava’s love interest, but that is literally it. He does not get any really funny lines or a truly standout moment. Most of his scenes center around Ava and their poorly thought out relationship, which effectively makes Milo nothing more than a prize for Chase Sui Wonders’ character. 

Legacy sequels can have a tendency to give scraps to their returning characters but that is not the case here. Not only do Jennifer Kaytin Robinson and Sam Lansky litter this narrative with references to the first two films, they also give Jennifer Love Hewitt’s Julie James and Freddie Prinze Jr.‘s Ray Bronson logical reasons for being involved. They do not feel shoehorned in and actually play roles in the plot. For the most part, it is like no time has passed for these two, especially Hewitt, who gives what is her best performance as Julie to date. You can see how much she has grown as a performer since last stepping into this role. 

Prinze Jr. on the other hand is a mixed bag of good and bad. There are certain points where he really appears invested in this story and his character’s journey which is when he shines. The trouble is that there are also moments where Prinze Jr. seems checked out, delivering his lines as if he is staring right at a cue card just off screen. I get it, if I were in his shoes, I would want to fast forward to the big moments too. The trouble is that if you want those major scenes to leave a much stronger impact, you have to put in the work as your arc builds up to them. 

There are so many moments in I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) that are bound to make your jaw drop whether they be callbacks, epic one liners, brutal kills, or the twisty nature of the plot. You will never fully know what is coming, which is something I give Robinson, Lansky, and this cast tons of credit for. No matter how corny the story gets, you are always on your toes and invested. When everything wraps up, audiences will be satisfied and genuinely eager for more, especially if they were already fans of this franchise. 

A slasher’s most critical element, more than its narrative and cast, is the kills, and let me tell you, The Fisherman has never been greater. Robinson stages several glorious chases from the director’s chair and some really innovative deaths which will shake you. There is a brutality to the way that the latest version of this killer operates. Every kill has this sort of uniqueness, as if whomever has dawned the slicker truly enjoys inflicting pain. This makes our five leads race to uncover their identity all the more pressing, because this killer is ruthless, and no one appears capable of stopping them. The film does not shy away from showcasing how impactful The Fisherman’s hook is, whether that be through blood or freakish sound design. What we have here is such a fantastic comeback for one of the more unique killers in horror. 

I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) is the best film in the franchise by far. It ushers this zany cult classic slasher into a new era, honoring the past while giving us awesome new characters that we hope don’t get hooked. The kills are nuts and this cast is outstanding, especially Madelyn Cline and Chase Sui Wonders. This is just an old fashioned hilarious, blood soaked slasher that you can watch over and over.

I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) will be released In U.S. theaters, in U.K. & Irish cinemas, and globally in theaters on July 18, 2025.