(L to R) Chase Sui Wonders as Ava Brucks, Madelyn Cline as Danica Richards, Sarah Pidgeon as Stevie Ward, and Freddie Prinze Jr. as Ray Bronson in 2025’s ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer.’ Photo: Sony Pictures.
‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ receives 6 out of 10 stars.
Coming exclusively to theaters on July 18th, ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer‘ is the third film in the franchise. It brings back original cast members Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt to reprise their roles as Ray Bronson and Julie James, respectively.
The film is also led by a new cast of teens who find themselves in a situation similar to the original movie. Madelyn Cline (‘Outer Banks‘) plays Danica Richards, Jonah Hauer-King (‘The Little Mermaid‘) plays Milo Griffin, Tyriq Withers (‘HIM‘) plays Teddy Spencer, Sarah Pidgeon (‘The Wilds‘) plays Stevie Ward, and Chase Sui Wonders (‘The Studio‘) plays Ava Brucks. ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ is written and directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (‘Do Revenge‘).
Related Article: Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. Returning for ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ Sequel
Initial Thoughts
Freddie Prinze Jr. as Ray Bronson in 2025’s ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’. Photo: Sony Pictures.
‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ is so beloved and iconic to the horror genre that a follow-up is immediately going to make people wonder if it was necessary. There was a sequel, titled ‘I Still Know What You Did Last Summer‘ which came out in 1998, closely after the 1997 original, but this is a modern story, taking place in 2025. Several other horror movies have thrived by continuing to release movies, like ‘Scream‘ and ‘Saw‘, and this franchise is trying to do the same.
Finding a way to bring some of the original cast back, in a way that not only makes sense but features them as prominent characters in the story rather than cameos, is one of the most exciting things about ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’. It allows the movie to feel more like a transition from the old to the new. Seeing Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. back on screen together, giving these young teens advice on how to find the killer, is enough to make any fan feel the nostalgia.
Story and Direction
Jennifer Love Hewitt as Julie James in 2025’s ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’. Photo: Sony Pictures.
To no one’s surprise, ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ features an accident in which the teens are involved in the death of a stranger early on. The tone is dark and intense but quickly shifts after time jumps to a year in the future. This feels unsettling at first, but once you realize the rest of the movie is going not going to take itself that seriously, it is easy to get back on board.
With so many characters to keep track of and hints that basically anyone around them could be involved, things could have easily gone off the rails. Thankfully, they do not.
Slashers like this are meant to keep the audience guessing, never giving them all of the details they need to actually put the pieces of the puzzle together until the right time comes. ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ obliges by this unspoken rule, making it nearly impossible to know who is wearing the fisherman slicker until the writer, Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, wants you to know.
As a director, Jennifer Kaytin Robinson knows how to create a suspenseful environment, something we saw her do in ‘Do Revenge’. The stalking and murder sequences, which everyone comes to this type of movie for, deliver. The are thrilling, suspenseful, fun, and of course, a little bit gory.
Cast and Performances
(L to R) Jonah Hauer-King as Milo Griffin, Sarah Pidgeon as Stevie Ward, Chase Sui Wonders as Ava Brucks, Madelyn Cline as Danica Richards, and Tariq Withers as Teddy Spencer in 2025’s ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’. Photo: Sony Pictures.
With such a large ensemble cast, it is easy enough for a character to get lost in the shuffle. That never happens in ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ as each one is given the time to shine whether it is during their murder or a big reveal that they are the one doing the killing.
Both the orginal cast and the newcomers have a part to play, and each actor does so perfectly. Making the returning cast such a big part of the plot is the perfect way to tie this to the 1997 film, truly making them feel connected.
While some of the death scenes get a little over the top, and certain one liners are more corny than serious, that is the tone of ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ so it works. It all feels intentional.
Final Thoughts
2025’s ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’. Photo: Sony Pictures.
‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ is a great welcome back to the franchise. Sure, there was a series in 2021 with the same name, but we can forget that ever existed. This movie captures the same feel as the original, with a little modernizing. It leans into cheesy moments and horror tropes, but in a way that makes sense for what it is trying to accomplish.
In the end, audiences are sure to shocked at the big reveal, which is all you can ask for in a slasher like this. The cast does a wonderful job ushering a new generation of fans into the franchise, while the returning cast drizzles on the nostalgia. One thing is for sure, everyone making this movie had a lot of fun, and chances are most viewers will have just as much fun watching it.
It is important to note that there is a very exciting mid-credit sequence which will lead to the future of the franchise.
“You get the ending you deserve.”
When five friends inadvertently cause a deadly car accident, they cover up their involvement and make a pact to keep it a secret rather than face the consequences…. Read the Plot
What is the plot of ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’?
When five friends inadvertently cause a deadly car accident, they cover up their involvement and make a pact to keep it a secret rather than face the consequences. A year later, their past comes back to haunt them and they’re forced to confront a horrifying truth: someone knows what they did last summer…and is hell-bent on revenge. As one by one the friends are stalked by a killer, they discover this has happened before, and they turn to two survivors of the legendary Southport Massacre of 1997 for help.
Who is in the cast of ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’?
- Freddie Prinze Jr. as Ray Bronson
- Jennifer Love Hewitt as Julie James
- Madelyn Cline as Danica Richards
- Jonah Hauer-King as Milo Griffin
- Tyriq Withers as Teddy Spencer
- Sarah Pidgeon as Stevie Ward
- Chase Sui Wonders as Ava Brucks
(L to R) Sarah Pidgeon as Stevie Ward, Madelyn Cline as Danica Richards, and Chase Sui Wonders as Ava Brucks in ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’. Photo: Sony Pictures.
List of Movies and TV Shows in the ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ Franchise:
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