I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) – Review

Modernizing older horror franchises can work well sometimes, so here we are back at the summer well for a fresh drink. Will 2025’s reboot fix the problems of the past movies by bringing a sharp new script and story? Hmmm… not really unfortunately, but it’s not the end of the world either.

As Ava Brucks (Wonders) gets home for the summer, she tries on new dresses and personalities. Maybe an old joint will help ease the attire situation? Nah, it seems like the weed is too dry. Her nerves are on edge as her high school best friend Danica Richards (Cline) is engaged to beau Teddy Spencer (Withers), and at the party her ex, Milo Griffin (Hauer-King), will be there.

Toasts are given and congrats offered, while the happy couple basks in the glory of their party. All the old high school friends reconnect as it dwindles down, looking to smoke some sticky icky and drive down memory lane. They note their old friend Stevie Ward (Pidgeon) who used to be “in” with their group, but has now grown apart. Apparently, father issues caused dismay in her life, but the friends extend an invite regardless and she accepts, for the sake of fireworks.

The crew smashes down dark winding roads in Teddy’s G-Wagon, which is ugly as hell despite its extravagant price tag. They stop at aptly named Reaper’s Curve for the best viewing spot and ample darkness. As the night sky displays 4^th of July explosions, the friends marvel at the “poetry” of the fireworks, while Teddy spits off crap dialogue in the middle of the road like a dipshit. The characters are clearly only so likeable right off the bat.

Too bad for the group, a truck swerves around them and goes off the road, hanging off a steep drop-off after blowing through a barrier. While they try to save the driver, it does not work out well. The friends now share a dark moment and secret… They worry about the authorities and what may derail their futures. It was just an accident, right?? Not being legal experts, they decide to bounce out the spot.

Shockingly, this eventually leads to a dark figure looking for revenge, as the young friends elected not to tell the cops. Who will make it out alive, and will you care at all?

This rehash of the first film is not total trash, yet does almost nothing new story wise. I don’t personally know the cast very well, other than some returning figures from the late 90s originals. It is fairly by the numbers all around, both in plot beats and serial slasher killings. I understand wanting to keep to the framework of the first film, but it seemed to have been stuck in a middle ground of pure remake and a reboot continuation, while not able to dedicate enough to either bucket.

With a middling story and characters as well as not much humor or enticing plot moments, this film is just okay. Some fans have beef with some of the ending choices, but I personally didn’t mind them. Overall, the film does have a moment or two, so see it if you are a fan of the original film, or like slashers in general. Just… don’t expect to be blown away. There is also a mid-credits scene to stick around for.