I Know What You Did Last Summer (MA) – 111 minutes

It is happening again. A crazed killed is on the loose in the seaport town of Southport, North Carolina.

It is, of course, a throwback to the original 1997 slasher movie.

That title, which is also this title, referred to a note that Julie James (Jennifer Love Hewitt) received when she returned from college a year after being involved in an accident.

That was when a car driven by Ray Bonson (Freddie Prinze Jr.) hit a pedestrian and they tried to cover up the truth.

Now, here we are 28 years later, and history is repeating itself.

The core group has grown from four to five members. In the first movie, the characters were teenagers. Here they are young adults.

As the sequel opens, Ava (Chase Sui Wonders), who lives in New York City, has returned to Southport for the engagement party of her bestie, Danica (Madelyn Cline) to Teddy (Tyriq Withers).

Together with Ava’s high school sweetheart, Milo (Jonah Hauer-King), they have been a tight knit group since childhood.

As Fourth of July fireworks light up the sky, Milo suggests a drive down memory lane, in which they are joined by an estranged former classmate, Stevie (Sarah Pidgeon).

When they stop the car to watch the fireworks, Teddy – who is stoned – stands in the middle of the road, playing chicken. That triggers an accident, which sees a car plummet down a steep incline.

While Ava wants to call the police, Teddy doesn’t and all five end up agreeing to say nothing about the incident again.

That is until the whole circle of violence starts again, after Danica receives a note at her bridal shower, which reads: I Know What You Did Last Summer.

So, who is doing this and why?

Ava ends up turning to Julie James, who has moved away from Southport, to try to handle the situation, while Stevie leans on her boss, Ray Bronson. Julie and Ray used to be married, but now they are not even on speaking terms.

Still, the bloody slayings, by a killer dressed in black, wearing a black hat and carrying a meat hook, continue.

Co-written with Sam Lansky by director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, I Know What You Did Last Summer circa 2025 builds on the conceit of the ’97 film.

I quite liked the set-up, which created the right vibe for the events that unfolded subsequently.

Interweaving the past and present works well, although you don’t need to have seen the original to appreciate this adjunct, although it will certainly give you context.

Ava is the strongest character in the piece, as well as being sexually adventurous. Chase Sui Wonders plays her with heart.

Danica is ditsier. Madelyn Cline has more of a hysterical edge.

Milo is measured, the voice of reason. Jonah Hauer-King is quite composed.

Teddy is the loose cannon and Tyriq Withers brings entitlement to the role.

There is a been there, done that conceit given to Jennifer Love Lewitt as Julie James, while Freddie Prince Jr. generates authority as Ray.

Being the genre of film that it is, the murder scenes are bloody. Think harpoons at close quarters.

As is only to be expect, the filmmakers keep us guessing as to who the killer is and when we do find out, we can be excused for asking a few questions.

Does one have to suspend belief to get the most out of I Know What You Did Last Summer? Absolutely.

While hardly the best of breed, this retread is serviceable … and they have also set it up for a sequel.

Rated MA, it scores a 6½ out of 10.