Movie Review: I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025)

I’ll be honest, I didn’t have the highest expectations for this reboot. We’ve seen so many horror remakes and revivals fall flat (I Still Know, I Always Know... yeah, let’s not). But this reboot of I Know What You Did Last Summer? Gagged. Shook. Impressed.

Let me give you the quick premise: After five friends are involved in a fatal car accident, they cover it up to avoid the fallout. A year later, just when they think it’s all behind them, they start receiving cryptic messages from someone who seems to know exactly what they did. But there’s a twist, the stalker appears to be imitating the legendary fisherman killer. Desperate, they reach out to the survivors of the original 1997 Southport massacre for help. Yes. We’re talking legacy characters.

And this is where the movie nails it. This is how you reboot a horror franchise with legacy characters done right. I loved Scream 5, but I’ll be real, it didn’t fully give the OGs their due. This movie? It understands the assignment. The legacy characters aren’t just mentors or sacrificial cameos, they’re deeply tied to the plot, and they matter. Their trauma, their history, it all weaves seamlessly with the new storyline.

I won’t spoil anything because you need to go in blind. But let’s just say, if you’re familiar with the first and second films (excluding that third installment we don’t speak of), you are in for a wild ride. There are callbacks, Easter eggs, and even a beautiful nod to the one and only Helen Shivers, a moment that had me grinning ear to ear (#Justice4HelenShivers).

Now, let’s talk vibe. The movie feels fresh and current, but somehow still holds onto the essence of ‘90s teen horror. The kills? Brutal and creative. I legit jumped out of my seat more than once. The new cast though, they’re clearly inspired by the original characters but still bringing their own flavor, and the chemistry works. It’s nostalgic without being a copy-paste.

That said, I do have a couple of nitpicks. The jump scares felt a bit cheap at times. Effective, sure, but not always earned. And I couldn’t help but side-eye the setup. Like… the crash in this movie didn’t exactly scream “let’s cover this up.” Unlike the original, where they actively ran someone over and dumped the body, this time the car just… swerved off the road. Because one of the kids was dancing in the middle of it. (Why??) It felt like they could’ve just called the police and said it was an accident. So the decision to hide it all felt a bit flimsy.

But let’s be real, once the plot kicks in, this movie is a blast. It’s entertaining, suspenseful, smart, and emotionally satisfying. And that after-credit scene? If you’re a longtime fan of the franchise, you’re going to want to know what they did last few summers. (Pun intended.)

Overall, I’m giving this an 8/10.

A reboot that respects its roots while paving the way for the future. Now this is how you slash with style. (Or maybe because I'm a big fan of the original.)