Displaying items by tag: Freddyn PrinzenJr

I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER

US, 2025, 111 minutes, Colour.

Madelyn Cline, Chase Xui Wonders, Jonah Hauer-King, Tyriq Withers, Sarah Pidgeon, Billy Campbell, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Jr, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Gabrieltte, Austin Nichols.

Directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson.

in 1997 there was a very popular thriller, a group of young people involved in an accident, covering it up, but eventually targeted, with a Grim Reaper-disguised slasher pursuing them, a threatening note with the title of the film, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and a group of young stars becoming popular at the time, Freddie Prinze, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ryan Philippe, engaging the popular young audience of the time.

Almost 30 years later, the same title. Ironically, the production company is called Original Films. Not exactly! However we discover that this is not a remake. Rather, it is a sequel – and one of the characters stating that there were similarities to the events of 1997 and that the killer in this one decided to wreak vengeance by using the events and twists of the past as a “template” for this series of revenge killings.

While twentysomethings might immediately engage with the central characters as the film opens, a gathering, an engagement party, 4th of July, Southport North Carolina, fireworks, an older audience might find them often irritating, sometimes alienating. However, after the accidental death episode and the cowardly decision to cover it up, the film does get that much more interesting.

And, then the killer appears – or is shrouded like The Grim Reaper with metal sickle. The group covering up the accident and the death raise themes of irresponsibility, co-responsibility, fear, concealment, callousness. When two people not associated with the cover-up are killed, it seems skewiff  However, after a while the culprits are attacked, a limited number of suspects, some gruesome fights and killings, some tension and sudden shocks.

Perhaps the young cast will have their moments in the future but their acting here is akin to soap opera styles. And this is particularly marked when some of the original cast turn up in their characters from 1997, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Freddie Prinze and, a device to introduce Sarah Michelle Gellar in her character from 1997 in a nightmare sequence for one of the targets.

When the main suspect, the local pastor, who has a connection with the person who was killed in the accident, is also disposed of, there is a certain curiosity or more of who is behind it all – and, some twists and a final revelation, probably not expected for most audiences.

Which means that this is a slash-thriller for younger audiences and tolerant older audiences.