Critics Divided on Legacy Horror Film

The original I Know What You Did Last Summer also didn’t impress critics. While it was a commercial success that topped the US box office for three consecutive weeks, it holds just a 45% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Over time, however, it has become a cult classic.

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The new film, the fourth installment in the franchise, is directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, who co-scribed alongside Sam Lansky and follows a “group of friends who are terrorized by a stalker who knows about a gruesome incident from their past.” Although nowhere near high marks, 46% does point to some redeeming qualities: some critics found the slasher to be a fun time, and Hewitt (as Julie James) and Prinze Jr. (as Ray Bronson) were standout mentions. The AP’s review shares that the film is “pretty vapid stuff until the OGs arrive,” emphasizing the welcome familiarity the original stars bring to the legacy sequel.

The New York Post offered one of the more favorable reviews, giving it 3 out of 4 stars, cautiously stating that “it’s a lot better than the 1997 version, if equally as stupid.” They commend the “much more gruesome” kills and a “freaky” Fisherman. While they ask viewers to “make no mistake, this is a dumb movie,” they value it as a refreshing change from “self-important horror movies out there with Oscar aspirations.”

Predictability and Pacing: Where the ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ Legacy Sequel Stumbles

Sony Pictures

However, despite the pluses, there are numerous negatives. A recurring criticism is that the reboot is too reliant on the original film, often making direct references to it. Critics also find fault with the film’s pacing and predictability. The Hollywood Reporter is one of several publications that call out the film’s fourth-quarter twists:

“For much of its running time, ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ tediously lurches from one violent slashing to another, which would be fine if any of the kills showcased visual originality or genuine thrills, which they don’t. It’s not until the final act that the film goes seriously bonkers, throwing out so many red herrings and plot twists revolving around the true identity of the murderer that Agatha Christie would throw up her hands in disgust.”

MovieWeb’s Julian Roman dubs it an “utterly nonsensical recycled reboot” suffering from a “lack of scares, manufactured suspense and a sluggish runtime that will test discerning viewers’ patience.” Ultimately, it appears I Know What You Did Last Summer is a film best suited for loyal fans of the original yearning for a bit of nostalgia.

I Know What You Did Last Summer stars Cline, Wonders, Hauer-King, Tyriq Withers, Sarah Pidgeon, Billy Campbell, Gabbriette Bechtel, Austin Nichols, Joshua Orpin, Prinze Jr., and Hewitt. It lands in theaters on July 18.

Sources: AP, The New York Post, Rotten Tomatoes, The Hollywood Reporter

I Know What You Did Last Summer

Release Date

July 18, 2025

Runtime

100 minutes

Director

Jennifer Kaytin Robinson

Writers

Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, Sam Lansky

Producers

Neal H. Moritz

• Madelyn Cline

  Danica Richards

• Chase Sui Wonders

  Ava Brucks

• Jonah Hauer-King

  Milo Griffin

• Tyriq Withers

  Teddy Spencer

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