I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) Movie: Does the Fisherman’s Return Actually Scare Anyone Anymore?
After 27 years, the fisherman with the hook is back, and honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Jennifer Kaytin Robinson takes charge of this franchise revival, putting together a young cast led by Madelyn Cline alongside familiar faces Chase Sui Wonders and Jonah Hauer-King.
What caught my attention was seeing Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt return to their original roles. There’s something special about watching actors revisit characters that made them famous, even if decades have passed since we last saw them on screen.
The Story That Drives Everything
Here’s the setup: a group of college friends accidentally kills someone in a car crash and decides to keep quiet about it. Fast forward twelve months, and surprise – someone knows their secret and wants bloody revenge for what they covered up.
I appreciate that Robinson doesn’t stray too far from what made the original work. The mystery element keeps you guessing, though I’ll admit some twists feel predictable if you’ve watched enough horror films over the years.
How the Actors Handle the Material
Madelyn Cline really impressed me throughout this movie. She brings genuine emotion to scenes that could have easily felt flat with less committed acting. Her character feels real, not just another horror movie victim waiting to happen.
The supporting cast does solid work too, especially when they’re together as a group. There’s believable chemistry between these friends, which makes you actually care when bad things start happening to them instead of just waiting for the next kill.
The Parts That Actually Work
When this movie focuses on building genuine scares, it delivers some effective moments. I found myself genuinely tense during certain sequences, particularly the ones that rely more on atmosphere than jump scares.
The practical effects look great and Robinson knows how to use lighting and sound to create dread. Plus, having the original actors back gives certain scenes emotional weight that pure nostalgia couldn’t achieve alone.
Where Things Fall Short
My biggest issue is how the movie can’t decide what tone it wants. One minute we’re dealing with serious trauma and guilt, the next there’s awkward comedy that doesn’t quite land right.
Some characters get really good development while others feel like they’re just there to increase the body count. I wish the script had given everyone more interesting things to do besides just react to the killer’s latest move.
What Critics Are Saying
Most professional reviews haven’t been kind to this one. Rotten Tomatoes shows only 37% positive reviews from critics, which feels about right based on what I saw. Many reviewers seem frustrated that the movie plays things too safe.
The harshest critiques come from sites like Roger Ebert, where they basically said the original was dumb fun but this one is just dumb. I think that’s unfair, but I understand their disappointment with how formulaic everything feels.
My Take on the Whole Thing
Look, I went into this movie knowing exactly what I was getting. This isn’t trying to revolutionize horror cinema or make profound statements about anything. It’s a straightforward slasher that brings back a familiar villain for a new generation.
Does it work? Mostly, yeah. Madelyn Cline carries the movie well, the kills are satisfying, and there’s enough genuine suspense to keep things interesting. But it also feels like a missed opportunity to do something more creative with this premise.
Rating: 3/5
