Aaron Ploof
Judgment comes for sinners in a brand new installment of I Know What You Did Last Summer. Can this film set a better precedent for a series that has been average at best?
Set after the laughably horrendous I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, the new I Know What You Did Last Summer wisely skips the equally horrid I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer, and is instead a direct sequel to the second film in the franchise. This was a wise decision, as the third film entered supernatural/demonic territory. While the first entry was okay, it wasn’t a movie I would recommend for deep thematic analysis. What’s surprising about this new installment of the series is that it actually has something intelligent to say. Unfortunately, despite featuring some strong and interesting characters and actors, the film struggles to find its rhythm, and the kill scenes become a tedious slog to sit through.
The Secret Dies With Us
The film begins as they always do, this time with five friends causing a car accident and covering it up. Included in this group of accidental killers are the soon-to-be bride, Danica (Outer Banks’ Madelyn Cline), her best friend, Ava (The Studio’s Chase Sui Wonders), Ava’s crush, Milo (Jonah Hauer-King), Danica’s fiancé, Teddy (Tyriq Withers), and past friend Stevie (Sarah Pidgeon).
Right from the outset, there’s some good character building. Danica is framed as an obsessive new-ager, and Stevie is drawn as a recovering drug addict. When the accident occurs, Ava is the most reluctant of the group, but she swallows her conscience and agrees to keep the secret.
One year later, Danica has split up with Teddy and is soon to be married once again. The whole group gathers for the bridal shower and watches as Danica opens her presents. One such present is a card with the titular words, “I Know What You Did Last Summer.” From there, the film goes on its usual course. The young, attractive twenty-somethings attempt to identify the author of the note as well as the killer. Because yes, bodies do start piling up.
Old Friends Return
There is further interesting character and scene work here, done with Danica and Ava, after their reaction to a friend’s death. The way the actresses mourn and comfort each other really sells their characters’ bonds. Those details won’t be divulged here, as I’m sure you’d like to enter spoiler-free. The other actors are solid as well, with Pidgeon putting in a believable and multifaceted turn as Stevie, and Gabbriette Bechtel playing a murder-obsessed podcaster. In fact, the character drama in this film is the strongest the series has seen thus far. Not just because of the new characters, but also the two main returning cast members.
Yes, Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt reprise their roles as Ray and Julie, respectively. Both of them have spent the last 27 years dealing with their trauma. Their marriage has also dissolved due to unresolved issues. Julie now teaches at a university as a professor in psychology. She’s funneled her experience of trauma into a full-time job, teaching about that very subject. Meanwhile, Ray owns a bar and has taken on Stevie as his assistant. When the deaths become too much for the original group to bear, they seek out the help of our two older heroes, and together they attempt to unmask and defeat the killer.
Face Your Demons
Trauma and its potential to transform us into something darker, if left unchecked, lies at the core of this narrative. The writers make use of the new and old characters to tell an intriguing and intelligent tale that not only encouraged me to contemplate its themes, but also managed to trick me a few times. I did guess the killer (sort of), but it was the impact of the message that truly had its hook in me.
Unfortunately, the film falls short in other areas. Much of the killer-chase sequences drag, and aren’t as scary or frightening as they could be. The harpoon gun kill is fun, but the majority aren’t thrilling. The dramatic scenes I love so much are peppered throughout, with other scenes bridging the gap that fail to add dramatic tension. I found the movie, especially at the halfway point, seemed to drag on too slowly. The third act, however, reveals the killer and ups the tension significantly (as it should). Character arcs are resolved believably, though I would have to give a rewatch to the film to see if scenes make sense given the new context.
To end on a positive note, this movie has a ton of Easter eggs for fans of the first and second films. There’s a return to old locations, references are made to past events, and there’s one significant surprise that even had me smiling. If you’re going to see this, don’t spoil yourself on this, please. Reject the urge to go surfing online or look at the Wikipedia page.
And, finally, there’s a hint that the films may be continuing. Stay afterwards for a return of an old character and a future threat to face.
I’ll See You Next Summer
I Know What You Did Last Summer does more right than any other film in the franchise. The majority of its actors are solid, and it also carries thematic weight. However, the film can’t hold up in terms of enjoyment, and this significantly reduces its score. I Know What You Did Last Summer earns an average:
Score: 6/10
I Know What You Did Last Summer is now playing in theatres nationwide.
