‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ Review: Nostalgia Is Overrated
This revival of a 1990s horror franchise fumbles its shot.Following a string of mid-to-meh horror reboots that seem only to reaffirm the original’s greatness (like “Black Christmas” in 2019, “Candyman” in 2021 and “Scream” in 2022), the latest resurrection, “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” has something big going for it: Its predecessor from 1997 is a bit of a dud.That’s not to say there aren’t plenty of us who think fondly of the coastal teen slasher, a major hit in its time starring (and perhaps buoyed by) its flashy ensemble cast, which included the It Girls Jennifer Love Hewitt (“Party of Five”) and Sarah Michelle Gellar (“Buffy”).Scored with grungy alt-rock tracks and set in the foggy fishing town of Southport, N.C., the film follows four high school grads stalked by a hook-wielding killer who somehow knows they’re the culprits behind a hit-and-run that took place the previous Fourth of July. Like a mash-up of “The Tell-Tale Heart” and a P.S.A. for drunk-driving, all inflected with the era’s pessimism for the future, the film remains a notable artifact of ’90s youth culture. But, frankly, I still find it generic — and weirdly low energy — for a masked-maniac movie.In other words, there’s room for improvement — but Jennifer Kaytin Robinson’s new version fumbles its shot.Back in Southport, 27 years after the events of the original, a new group of reckless friends triggers the wrath of another madman in slickers after a roadside incident. Ava (Chase Sui Wonders) is back from college to attend an engagement party for Danica (Madelyn Cline); she’s also eager to rekindle the flame with Milo (Jonah Hauer-King). At the same time, their once-estranged working-class pal, Stevie (Sarah Pidgeon), has re-entered the friend group, replacing the trust-fund brat, Teddy (Tyriq Withers), Danica’s ex, whose politically influential father (Billy Campbell) covered up the deadly accident. Then, the night after Danica opens a card at her bridal shower with the film title’s menacing words, her fiancé Wyatt (Joshua Orpin) gets gutted by a harpoon gun, kicking off the murder spree and opening up a mystery about who knows the group’s secret.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More
