I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) Parents Guide

There’s something oddly comforting about a slasher that knows exactly what it is. I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025), directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, doesn’t try to reinvent the hook-wielding wheel and honestly, that’s part of its charm. It leans into legacy, nostalgia, and generational guilt like a killer hiding in the fog just outside your periphery. And while it doesn’t land every stab, it slices just enough to earn its place in the franchise’s bloody lineage.

Coming decades after the original 1997 cult hit and after several misfires (let’s not talk about the 2021 TV reboot) this sequel treats the past not as a gimmick, but as a wound that never really healed. And that’s what makes it work. It’s not perfect. Not all the new characters pop, and it sometimes races through its own mystery. But when it’s good, it’s sharp and occasionally, even poignant.

The Story & What It Tries to Say

The movie follows a new group of teens in the seaside town of Southport — a place still quietly haunted by the events of decades past. Danica (played by Madelyn Cline), along with her friends Ava, Milo, Teddy, and Stevie, are riding high after their senior year when a drunken night turns into tragedy. They hit someone. Panic ensues. They bury the truth and the body. Summer ends, but the guilt doesn’t.

Cut to a year later. Just as they start to pretend it never happened, the notes begin arriving. You know the one: “I know what you did last summer.” Cue the paranoia, the unraveling friendships, and the reappearance of a very familiar killer with a very shiny hook.

But here’s where the film swerves into surprisingly emotional territory. Julie James (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and Ray Bronson (Freddie Prinze Jr.) the original survivors are pulled back into the fray. Julie is now a teacher-turned-survivor advocate, trying desperately to help kids avoid the trauma that scarred her own youth. Ray’s a recluse, living off the grid with his demons and a haunted stare that says he’s never really left that cursed summer behind. Their return isn’t just for fan service; it actually ties the emotional threads together. The horror here isn’t just the hook in the dark it’s the weight of secrets, the silence that festers, and the terrible truth that guilt doesn’t fade with time.

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The film tries to say that you can’t bury the past. That trauma doesn’t just go away because you want it to. And while these aren’t new ideas in horror, they’re handled here with more sincerity than you’d expect. Robinson brings a certain empathy to her storytelling one that respects the genre’s rules but gently nudges its emotional depth.

Performances & Characters
Madelyn Cline really holds it down as Danica. She’s not just the Final Girl™ archetype there’s complexity there. She’s guarded, raw, and her guilt feels lived-in. You see it in her eyes before the danger even starts. Her dynamic with Ava (Chase Sui Wonders) adds some needed emotional layering, hinting at a closeness that feels real, though never fully explored. Still, it gives the story a heartbeat beyond the body count.

Jonah Hauer-King and Tyriq Withers, as Milo and Teddy, unfortunately get the short end of the script. They’re solid actors, but their characters feel like they were written more for function than depth the kind of roles that exist just long enough to be punished for their sins. Sarah Pidgeon as Stevie, though? A quiet standout. She doesn’t have the flashy scenes, but there’s something about her slow-burn anxiety that sticks. She feels like someone genuinely cracking under the weight of what they’ve done.

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But let’s be real this movie belongs to Hewitt and Prinze Jr. The minute they show up, everything shifts. Julie still carries that soft-spoken fragility we remember, but now it’s lined with steel. You feel the years in her performance not just the trauma, but the resolve. And Ray? Freddie Prinze Jr. plays him like a man who’s been running from his own reflection. He’s tired, skeptical, but still protective. Their chemistry isn’t the flirty teenage tension from the ’90s it’s something deeper now. Regret. Love. Shared ghosts. Honestly, I didn’t expect their scenes to hit as hard as they did. But they do.

Direction, Visuals & Pacing
Jennifer Kaytin Robinson doesn’t try to outdo the original she treats it with reverence. The tone here is a blend of slick Gen Z aesthetic and classic slow-burn slasher atmosphere. Think Scream meets It Follows, with long, moody beach shots and abrupt, bloody violence that jolts you back to attention.

Elisha Christian’s cinematography is rich with tension. Southport is bathed in golden-hour sun that turns ominous by night. It’s beautiful, yes, but it’s also hiding something much like the characters. The use of reflections, shadows, and shallow focus gives the film a dreamy quality, which makes the kills hit even harder when they come.

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The pacing? It starts strong. The first two acts unfold with that perfect slasher rhythm suspicion, dread, a little gaslighting, and then chaos. But the third act stumbles a bit. The big reveal feels both too rushed and a little predictable. Some emotional threads are left dangling, and not in the cool, ambiguous way more like they ran out of time. Still, it never drags. You’re always either curious or on edge.

I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) Parents Guide

General Overview & Ratings

This one’s an R‑rated slasher that leans fully into the horror playbook—think brutal kills, jump scares, and a heavy dose of guilt‑driven drama. In the U.S., you’ll likely see the “R for strong violence, sexual content, language, and alcohol use” warning—spot on, given everything in there.

Violence & Gore: This isn’t your PG‑13 ghost story Graphic, visceral, hook‑festooned mayhem is the name of the game. Expect bloody attacks, body trauma, and good old slasher suspense. Southport’s laid‑back beachside vibe hides some grim visuals people get stabbed, chased, and hit hard. Frequent jump scares will have you clutching your armrest. Scenes like stab wounds and gore are intense, so not for the faint of heart.

Sexual Content: It’s not explicit soft‑core, but there’s a fair share of teen romance and kissing—some innuendo, implied hookups, and brief intimacy. These moments set the tone more than they shock, but parents should be aware these underlie the drama.

Language & Substance Use: Expect colorful language enough swearing to be noticeable but not overwhelming. The characters are often partying, with alcohol at house gatherings, and the occasional drinking moment marks character choices. No heavy drugs, but booze is definitely in the mix.

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Final Thoughts & Recommendation

I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) isn’t trying to be elevated horror — and that’s okay. It knows its audience. It plays with legacy in a way that feels earned, not pandering. It brings back characters we loved without reducing them to cameos. And it delivers enough blood, tension, and genuine heart to make it worth the trip back to Southport.

Is it flawless? Not at all. Some of the newer cast could’ve used more development. The plot occasionally slips into familiarity. And the final twist isn’t quite as sharp as it wants to be. But despite all that, it left me satisfied. Spooked. Even a little emotional.

If you’re a fan of the original, or just love a good summer slasher with some teeth, this is worth a watch. And if you’re here for Julie and Ray? You won’t be disappointed.