“I Still Know What You Did Last Summer” is awful. The 1998 slasher film serves as a follow up. I saw the original in the mall theater on a first date with a girl. I think we both liked it. We definitely had fun. Wink wink. While I can honestly say I don’t recall anything about the first film, I can say that this sequel is a total mess.
Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr return.
I like them both as icons of my generation. They’re joined by pop star Brandy, cutie Jennifer Esposito, and the always comical Jack Black. Hewitt’s character is having nightmares. Recollections of the first film. So they travel to the Bahamas for a vacation. Bad things ensue. Yawn.
The 90s saw the resurgence of horror with the iconic “Scream” in 1996. The original “Summer” served as a lesser but still enjoyable addition. This incarnation runs 101 minutes and feels much longer. It’s so boring and slow. You’’ find yourself rooting for the killer to get them all so it will be over.
This movie fails in every attempt at horror.
There’s no buildup of suspense. The atmosphere; a Bahamas resort – is the furthest thing from scary. The characters, outside of Hewitt, are goofy at best. Most interactions render them completely unlikeable. There’s literally an entire scene of Hewitt singing karaoke at a bar.
“I Still Know What You Did Last Summer” relies on loud noises and an abundance of jump scares, none of which work. It’s more about having fun than crafting a compelling story. That can work if done right. The aforementioned “Scream” pays homage to classic horror films, has memorable characters, and has fun with itself. This one only serves to reflect on the original.
Don’t bother watching. This movie has a straight to video feel to it.
“I Still Know What You Did Last Summer” is currently available to stream on Netflix.
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