The reviews are in for the new “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” a legacy sequel combining fresh faces with returnees Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr.
So far, it seems they’re decidedly mixed/poor reviews which keeps in line with the original. With 54 reviews counted, the film sits at just 48% on Rotten Tomatoes, not far off the 45% the original 1997 film has scored over the years.
On Metacritic, the new one sits at 42/100 – decidedly more negative than the 52/100 of the original but a lot better than the woeful 21/100 that “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer” pulled in.
Here’s a compilation of review quotes:
“The higher body count and a new cast of genuinely likable characters help introduce this legacy sequel to new audiences, but it’s one that’s best suited and tailor-made for the die-hard IKWYDLS fan.” – Meagan Navarro, Bloody Disgusting
“It’s possible that this will live on mostly as a pop culture curio. But at a time of nostalgia overload, Robinson finds a way to make her attempt not exactly necessary but unpretentiously pleasurable enough for that not to really matter.” – Benjamin Lee, The Guardian
“Logic, be damned! And begone! Everything about the new ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ strains credulity until credulity breaks open and spills fake blood and candy everywhere. And that’s for the best.” – William Bibbiani, TheWrap
“The movie does not earn the right for such an insincere have-your-I-Heart-the-’90s-cake-and-eat-it-too gesture. It barely earns the right to a theatrical release. This is the kind of I.P. cash-in that earns franchise resuscitations a bad name.” – David Fear, Rolling Stone
“Near the finale, a character declares nostalgia to be overrated. Sadly, that’s about the only sharp observation made in this dull slasher film.” – Tim Grierson, Screen
“Director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson and her co-screenwriter Sam Lansky display clear affection for the franchise… But they haven’t succeeded in breathing new life into a tired franchise that, creatively speaking, should have remained dead.” – Frank Scheck, THR
“Not scary enough to thrill, funny enough to charm, or clever enough to convince, I Know What You Did Last Summer isn’t just forgettable. It’s actively irritating.” – Bilge Ebiri, Vulture
“How do you make a legacy sequel when you’re unsure what your legacy even is?” – Rocco T. Thompson, Slant
“If nothing else, “I Know What You Did Last Summer” delivers on the nostalgic promise of its title, but that’s a qualified compliment. The film should have been called “I Know What You Saw at the Megaplex Last Century, and You’re Still Seeing It.”” – Owen Gleiberman, Variety
The R-rated feature clocks in at 111 minutes and is set to open everywhere on Friday.
