I Know What You Did Last Summer has gone through various iterations. It was first a best-selling book. Then in 1997, it became a horror movie that spawned a sequel, a direct-to-video sequel, and in 2021, a thrilling television series on Prime Video. Now, in 2025, we have a new version of I Know What You Did Last Summer that not only revitalized the series but also got some help from a few members of the original cast. 

The premise of the movie is the same as the original. A group of friends end up causing an accident, and they promise each other that they will not tell anyone about it. Ava (Chase Sui Wonders) returns to Southport for the engagement party of Danica and Teddy (Madelyn Cline and Tyriq Withers). At the party, she reunites with her former boyfriend, Milo (Jonah Hauer-King), and they all reminisce about old times. The friends decide to watch the fireworks together and invite their other friend Stevie (Sarah Pidgeon), who was working the catering at the party. 

Old friends reuniting leads to conversations of the past, and the audience gets hints as to why they do not hang out. Stevie had a rough life. Ava moved out of town, and Milo has a comfortable job outside of Southport. Danica is the former town queen who seems not to have a grasp on reality due to her lavish lifestyle. The crew drives out to the edge of town, and it is here that the accident occurs. Instead of doing the right thing, Teddy calls his father to take care of the incident, and they promise not to talk about this night to anyone. 

Where this iteration of I Know What You Did Last Summer differs from the other movies is that it is aware of the events from 1997. It honors the past with lines of dialogue or easter eggs scattered throughout the film. We are introduced to Tyler (Gabbriette Bechtel), who runs a true crime podcast and gives the crew information about the previous killings. This is a fun touch to the movie because it avoids a lot of exposition and is a great way to inform a new audience of this series. 

As you have seen in the trailers, Ray (Freddie Prinze Jr.) and Julie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) are also in the movie. The duo also guides the crew on how to survive and gives nods to the other films in the series. While we do see more of one of the OG cast members than the others, it helps balance out how the new cast attempts to survive the killer. Having the OG members in the film is great, and they do not take the focus away from the new cast.

I Know What You Did Last Summer does bring the gore to the screen. We are shown the iconic shot of the killer pulling out the hook, but this time, they also use a speargun. Some of the kills are pretty gruesome. There is one that involves the hook and a person’s throat that might make you cover your ears due to the sound. The film features a few twists and turns that keep you guessing about the killer’s identity. The payoff might be a little too much for some fans, but it is an interesting way to bring the series back. 

Final Thoughts: As far as Legacy Sequels go, I Know What You Did Last Summer has the perfect blend of nostalgia and new blood. The movie is self-aware, and that helps pull the audience along for the ride. Some of the kills are creative and gory. The cast does a great job of making you feel for their lives, but a few moments feel rushed. It’s great to see the OG cast in this, and the final act does take a big swing that might not be for everyone. Make sure to stay for the mid-credit scene. 

Violence: The film is rated R for violence and gore. Some of the kills are graphic and shown up close. There are a lot of curse words said and the use of drugs. 

Kid-Friendly: I would not recommend I Know What You Did Last Summer to children under the age of 16. I recommend having them watch the original 1997 version first to see if they can handle this one. 

A group of friends are terrorised by a stalker who knows about a gruesome incident from their past.