The legacy sequel to I Know What You Did Last Summer delivers exactly what you’d expect from a low-to-mid-tier slasher flick and not much more. It’s mildly entertaining and competently made, but ultimately too safe and too familiar to make any sort of lasting impact on the genre.
This film cannot escape the shadow cast by the Scream reboot franchise. From the self-aware dialogue, cat-and-mouse set pieces, and a crop of conventionally attractive young adults, I Know What You Did Last Summer desperately tries to emulate the power of the Scream franchise, but in the process, loses its identify entirely. There were a few decisions that almost gave way to a darker, more daring film, but those choices don’t follow through and we get sent right back to predictable genre tropes. And even the genre tropes one could get enjoyment from…are not that enjoyable.
The kills are rarely inventive (with one exception!) and any tension is undercut by predictable setups and flat character work. Worse for the wear, the story’s ultimate reveal lands with an absolute thud. It’s the kind of twist that you’ve seen a million times before and shrug your shoulders or roll your eyes at.
Did I think I Know What You Did Last Summer would have a post-credits scene? No. Further, did I think I Know What You Did Last Summer’s post credit scene would be the best part of the movie? Absolutely not. The premise they lay the groundwork for future installments should have been the setup for this movie. I was more entertained and compelled in those two minutes than the entire 110 minute runtime of the actual film. It’s a shame; seeing the critical and commercial response to this legacy sequel makes it seem increasingly unlikely we will see that version ever come to light.
I Know What You Did Last Summer is forgettable. It does nothing to justify its return, and fans looking for a fresh revival of the franchise may be left wanting something with a little more bite. Ultimately, this is a slasher film going through the motions, hoping nostalgia will do all the heavy lifting.
