The scream we all heard back in 1997 — Jennifer Love Hewitt’s iconic “What are you waiting for?!” — finally has its answer. Twenty-eight years later, I Know What You Did Last Summer returns with a fresh coat of paint, the perfect amount of nostalgia, and a Fisherman who’s meaner, scarier, and far less subtle than ever before. This isn’t just a lazy legacy sequel. It’s a confident, character-driven slasher that respects the past while giving today’s audiences something sharp to bite into.
Director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson knows the formula works for a reason: a terrible accident, a pact to keep quiet, and a year later… the letter. This time, a new group of five friends — Teddy (Tyriq Withers), Danica (Madelyn Cline), Milo (Jonah Hauer-King), Ava (Chase Sui Wonders), and Stevie (Sarah Pidgeon) — cause a car to plunge off the cliff at the legendary Reaper’s Curve. Teddy’s powerful family and the local police quickly bury the evidence, but the guilt doesn’t go away. When they reunite in Southport for an engagement party, Danica unwraps an ominous gift: I know what you did last summer.
From there, Robinson wisely takes her time. Like the original, this film invests in its characters before the chaos begins. We get awkward reunions, lingering resentment, and even some laughs before the Fisherman crashes back into their lives. And crash he does — this version of the killer isn’t lurking in shadows for long. His murders are brutal, creative, and designed to make headlines. The hook is back, of course, but so are inventive set pieces that feel like modern horror classics in the making.
The real thrill for fans of the 90s films? Julie James and Ray Bronson are back. Hewitt slips into the role like she never left, giving us a Julie who’s older, wiser, and still carrying the weight of what happened decades ago. She’s now a professor, cautious but still a fighter. Freddie Prinze Jr.’s Ray runs a bar in town and wears his scars like armor. Their scenes together are electric — not just for the nostalgia, but because these characters still feel alive, shaped by everything they’ve survived.
The new cast holds their own in the shadow of horror royalty. Withers brings surprising warmth to Teddy, Cline’s Danica gets some of the best comedic beats, and Wonders gives Ava a grounded realism that balances the more heightened personalities. Pidgeon’s Stevie emerges as a standout, transforming from a quiet observer into a crucial player as the body count rises.
The film also delivers for fans who love a good I Know whodunnit. Robinson and co-writer Sam Lansky scatter suspicion across a fun lineup of side characters — from a shady pastor (Austin Nichols) to a sharp-tongued true crime podcaster (Gabbriette) — while revisiting iconic Southport locations like Shivers Department Store and the Croaker Queen float. The callbacks never feel like box-ticking; they’re woven in with care, giving longtime fans plenty to cheer for without alienating newcomers.
Visually, Elisha Christian’s cinematography captures the same coastal eeriness that made the original so atmospheric, and Chanda Dancy’s score blends tension and melancholy beautifully. The Fisherman’s reveal shots feel like love letters to late-90s horror framing, but with just enough modern flair to keep things fresh.
Most importantly, this I Know What You Did Last Summer remembers that horror hits hardest when we care about the people in danger. By taking time to show the cracks in these friendships before the first kill, the losses hurt more — and the tension lingers long after the credits. Speaking of credits, stay put for the mid-credits scene. It’s a wild swing that will have fans debating all the way to next summer.
In a genre where legacy sequels can feel like tired cash grabs, this one is the real deal. It’s scary, smartly cast, and has a hook that’s as sharp as ever.
