Nostalgia Isn't Enough to Save This: I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025)

After such a strong comeback for Final Destination: Bloodlines and even the resurgence of the Scream franchise, the thought of going back to Southport was a welcome one. Yet writer-director, Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, delivers an unforgettable trip back down memory lane, and nostalgia isn't enough to breath new life into this classic franchise. 

Gathered for Danica's (Madelyn Cline) and Teddy's (Tyriq Withers) engagement party, a group of five friends go for a ride where things go left very quickly. The setup is quite familiar yet the characters here, while individually produce well enough performances, lack chemistry together on screen. From the start, this film lacks depth or any real purpose. It feels like we are going through the motions of a horror movie and it doesn't really pick up any steam until a year later, of course. 

The film throws in ideas of classism, privilege, true crime, and of course, why all men need therapy (insert heavy sigh). None of Robinson's and Lansky's ideas go anywhere though. The movie is not saying anything worth hearing. To reduce the film to a basic slasher would have done it more service that the attempt of introducing complex ideas for naught. 

Withers is a standout and delivers a performance that has me excited to see what he does in Tipping's upcoming feature, HIM. IKWYDLS's legacy characters were an added bonus. Freddy Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt stand toe to toe servicing fans with emotional and dynamic performances together. 

There is a post-credit scene that felt forced and wedged on for fan service. I would have much rather that scene been incorporated into the main story and with better writing. The film ends hinting at a sequel and I couldn't help but silently hope that is not the case.

Rating: 1.5