Summer just got a whole lot scarier. The first trailer for the highly anticipated I Know What You Did Last Summer sequel has finally dropped, and it’s bringing both nostalgia and fresh blood to the table. Horror fans, grab your hooks (figuratively, please)—it’s time to dissect what this trailer has in store.
official trailer highlights
Released by Sony Pictures, this sequel picks up decades after the original 1997 slasher made box-office waves. Featuring returning stars Jennifer Love Hewitt as Julie James and Freddie Prinze Jr. as Ray Bronson, the sequel bridges the gap between classic ’90s horror and today’s fresh-faced thrillers. Joining them are a cast of rising stars, including Chase Sui Wonders, Madelyn Cline, and Jonah Hauer-King.
The premise? Familiar yet chilling. A group of five friends accidentally causes a deadly car accident and swears to keep it a secret, only to be hunted down by a mysterious killer a year later. But things take a delightfully meta twist; when the murders begin again, the group discovers eerie similarities to the Southport Massacre from 1997. Naturally, they turn to Ray and Julie, survivors of the original carnage, for help.
callback to the original
If you came for the nostalgia, the trailer does not disappoint. Jennifer Love Hewitt’s line, “What did you do last summer?” directly echoes the accusatory vibe of the original, while still packing a new punch. Freddie Prinze Jr. ominously reflects, “This isn’t the first time there’s been violence like this in Southport,” layering mythology and history onto the terror.
The trailer is packed with callbacks and references to the late ’90s classic, promising to hook fans of the original. From the misty seaside towns to the menacing rhythm of a killer with a hook, it’s clear director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson approached this film with a deep appreciation for the franchise.
more blood, bigger scares
While the original film walked the fine line between suspense and gore, this sequel swings the pendulum towards more brutal kills. Director Robinson teases that the murders will have “more methodology” this time around, with intentional, blood-soaked kills that push the boundary further than the 1997 movie.
“There’s a lot more gore and violence,” Robinson revealed in a recent interview, “and definitely plenty of twists and turns. Fans won’t see what’s coming!”
The trailer confirms this, blending scenes of relentless stalking, tension-filled confrontations, and some truly gruesome moments (look away if you’re not a fan of hooks and sharp objects).
fresh talent joins the horror scene
Newcomers join the franchise to inject new life and mystery into the horror classic. Chase Sui Wonders (Bodies Bodies Bodies), Madelyn Cline (Glass Onion), and Jonah Hauer-King (The Little Mermaid) lead the pack of this season’s doomed group of survivors.
The trailer highlights their strong chemistry and terrified expressions as their pact spirals into chaos. But will they face the same fate as their ’90s predecessors? You’ll have to watch to find out.
i know what you did last summer release date
The I Know What You Did Last Summer sequel is set to release on July 18, 2025. Whether you’re returning for Hewitt and Prinze Jr.’s gripping performances or eager to meet the next generation of victims, this movie promises a bloody good time for horror fans of all stripes.
Expect a mix of nostalgia, scares, and that same eerie, small-town atmosphere that made the first movie a hallmark of the genre.
What’s your take on the new trailer? Are you excited? Terrified? Or still debating whether to relive the haunting secrets of summer? Share your thoughts with us—we’ll see you under the misty Southport moonlight.