'I Know What You Did Last Summer' Reboot: Slasher Nostalgia or Lazy Scare Tactics? Critics Are Divided
It hits theatres July 18 with gore, vibes, and doubts.
It’s back — and no, your memory isn’t playing tricks on you. I Know What You Did Last Summer has returned, twenty-eight years after its original release, this time with fresh-faced screamers, a summery soundtrack, and… mixed reviews. But is this reboot/sequel the bloody treat horror fans were craving, or just another body in the cinematic graveyard?
Hitting cinemas on 18 July, the film leans heavily on '90s nostalgia. According to RT critic Leo Brady of A Movie Guy,
"It delivers the kind of summer B-movie thrills that remind us why watching a group of twenty-somethings get picked off one by one can still be wicked fun.” That’s one way to sell murder.
Others were less enthused. Carla Hay from Culture Mix sliced right into the film’s weaker spots, calling it full of recycled ideas and unanswered questions, and pointing out the plot holes large enough to drive a fishing boat through. Ouch.
Still, not all critics reached for the machete. Kate Sanchez from But Why Tho? found it charmingly retro, highlighting its '90s vibe—even if that includes some truly questionable fashion choices. And while Zofia Wijaszka of Nerdspin appreciated the gore and Easter eggs, she admitted"
"The script could have been better in fleshing out the new generation of characters."
Then there’s Avi Offer from NYC Movie Guru, who didn’t hold back: "inane, clunky, and witless." Subtle, no. Honest? Absolutely.
With a Rotten Tomatoes freshness rating hovering at a crisp 47%, the film teeters on the edge of cult revival and cautionary tale.
