Some secrets will haunt you forever.
Rating: 3/10
Running Time: 100 minutes
UK Certificate: 15
On DVD
This films cumbersome title doesnt bode well for its content. In pondering a name for this hurried sequel to the mediocre I Know What You Did Last Summer, rejected ideas included I Know What You Did Last Summer 2, I Know What You Did Last Summer The Story Continues, I Know What You Did Last Summer: The Sequel, I Know What You Did Two Summers Ago and I Still Know.
For some reason the studio eventually went with I Still Know What You Did last Summer which, given that the film actually takes place two years on from the summer in question, isnt even accurate. In fact, it should really be called I Still Know What You Did The Summer Before Last or, at a push, Im Not Entirely Sure What You Did Last Summer, But I DO Know What You Did The Summer Before That One, And I Didnt Like It, So Im Going To Kill Everyone In Sight.
But enough of this gay banter, and on with the review. Having survived the blood-encrusted hook of Captain Birdseyes evil cousin in the original, Jennifer Love Hewitt is back as scream-happy student Julie James. Still haunted by the previous years grisly goings-on, she now sleeps uneasily with a knife under her pillow and a bottle of gin by her side. Shes also got Brandy in her closet, though thats a reference to Brandy the pop star (playing her room-mate Karla), and not the drink (though Im guessing shes got some of that tucked away somewhere too, the boozy tart).
Things get gory when the pair of them, along with token man-hunks Tyrell and Will (Mekhi Phifer and Matthew Settle), win a trip to the Bahamas. Sounds great, but there are two problems: its the rainy season (which, of course, means requisite low-cut tops for the girlies), and the murderous lunatic from the first film is wandering about slashing everyone and anyone with his big fish-gutter thingy. Thats right this time motive goes right out the window. This ones strictly about violence, screaming, and J-Loves boobs.
Where at least the first film took a bit of effort in setting up its premise, this time were simply given 100 minutes of twenty-somethings running around in the rain yelling at each other. The final twist also stretches way beyond silly, and the general standard of the performances is so bad that Freedie Prinze Jr., in his fleeting appearances, almost starts to look like a proper thesp by comparison. Note the use of the word almost in that last sentence.
It's Got: Jack School Of Rock Black uncredited as a chubby rasta-wannabe.
It Needs: To ditch the token backdrop of generic soft American rock. And get a better plot. And a better screenplay. And some better actors.
DVD Extras JLH How Do I Deal music vid, behind the scenes featurette, and a couple of trailers. DVD Extras Rating: 4/10
Summary
Even the title doesnt work.