2025’s Most Criticized & Laughed At Horror Flick Lands on Netflix

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As a big horror fan, I was excited to see the latest installment, *I Know What You Did Last Summer*, hit Netflix. Unfortunately, it’s not really living up to expectations – both critics and other fans seem pretty disappointed with it.

Twenty-seven years after the events in Tower Bay from the second movie, a new killer begins targeting a group of friends. This happens one year after the friends covered up a car accident where someone died.

Jennifer Kaytin Robinson directed and co-wrote the screenplay with Sam Lansky, based on a story by Robinson and Leah McKendrick. The film features Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders, Jonah Hauer-King, Tyriq Withers, Sarah Pidgeon, Billy Campbell, Gabbriette Bechtel, and Austin Nichols. Notably, Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt reprise their roles as Ray Bronson and Julie James, connecting this new story to the earlier movies.

The film debuted at Los Angeles’ United Theater on July 14th, and then released nationally on July 18th through Sony Pictures. While it earned $64.8 million globally, critics generally didn’t respond well to it.

Critics weren’t impressed with the new ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ movie. Rotten Tomatoes reported a 36% approval rating from 208 critics, with many noting it heavily relied on nostalgia but lacked a strong original storyline. Metacritic gave the film a score of 42 out of 100, also suggesting generally mixed reviews. Viewers who participated in a CinemaScore poll gave it a C+.

Despite generally negative reception, a few reviewers highlighted some strengths. Alison Foreman of IndieWire rated the film a B+, describing it as a “tight and effective serial killer movie.” Jordan Hoffman of Entertainment Weekly gave it a B−, noting that “smart writing and a great performance by Madelyn Cline keep the film engaging for the most part.”

Many critics, however, were less impressed. Brian Tallerico from RogerEbert.com gave the film a single star out of four, noting that while the movie’s lack of depth wasn’t the biggest issue, the editing felt off-kilter. He compared it to a car in the wrong gear—heading in the right direction but with awkward pacing. He also pointed out that the tone of the killings was inconsistent, starting with a fun, gory approach but becoming more serious later on.

Social media reactions to the movie have been overwhelmingly negative. One user bluntly called it “a bad movie,” while adding a humorous note about avoiding a problematic casting choice. Others were even more direct, advising people not to waste their time. A few viewers were slightly more lenient, admitting it wasn’t good but potentially watchable if you’re bored, and recommending staying for the post-credit scene. However, many were harshly critical, describing it as “truly awful” or expressing strong dislike for the story despite appreciating some of the action.

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2025-10-17 16:22