I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998) – A Slasher Sequel Drenched in Secrets and Scream
I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, released in 1998 and directed by Danny Cannon, is the follow-up to the 1997 teen horror hit I Know What You Did Last Summer. Picking up one year after the events of the original film, the sequel attempts to up the ante with more elaborate kills, a new setting, and even deeper layers of paranoia. While it doesn’t quite match the tension or freshness of its predecessor, it delivers enough bloody fun and slasher thrills to satisfy genre fans.
The story once again follows Julie James (Jennifer Love Hewitt), the original film’s traumatized heroine, who is still haunted by the events of the previous summer—when she and her friends were stalked and attacked by a mysterious killer after covering up a hit-and-run accident. Suffering from nightmares and anxiety, Julie tries to move on with her life, now in college and distanced from her hometown.
When her roommate Karla (played by R&B singer Brandy) wins a radio contest for an all-expenses-paid vacation to a tropical island, Julie sees it as the perfect escape. Along with Karla, Karla’s boyfriend Tyrell (Mekhi Phifer), and Julie’s new love interest Will (Matthew Settle), they head off to the seemingly idyllic resort in the Bahamas. But once there, a hurricane isolates them—and the killer, the hook-wielding Ben Willis, returns with a vengeance.
Jennifer Love Hewitt once again carries the film with a performance that balances vulnerability and strength. Her now-iconic scream returns, as does her growing paranoia that no matter how far she runs, the past keeps chasing her. Brandy adds a spark of energy and likability as Karla, providing some comic relief and spirited determination.
The film’s new setting—the storm-drenched, off-season island—adds a fresh layer of claustrophobia and atmospheric dread. The isolation of the resort during a tropical storm is used effectively, cutting off the characters from help and heightening the sense of danger. The supporting cast, including Jeffrey Combs as a creepy hotel manager and Jack Black in a brief but bizarre cameo as a dreadlocked stoner, adds color to the tropical nightmare.
Where the film stumbles is in its predictability and over-reliance on genre clichés. While the kills are more creative and the body count higher, the mystery lacks the punch of the original. The twist ending feels somewhat forced, and the killer's return—while explained—stretches believability. However, the film knows its audience, and leans into the over-the-top slasher formula with confidence.
The film’s most famous line—Julie’s anguished scream of “What are you waiting for?!”—makes a return, reminding viewers that this is very much a product of late-‘90s teen horror, riding on the coattails of Scream and other post-modern thrillers of the era.
In conclusion, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer is a solid, if formulaic, slasher sequel that delivers stylish kills, moody settings, and a continuation of Julie James’ descent into terror. It doesn’t reinvent the genre, but for fans of ‘90s horror and final girl showdowns, it offers a nostalgic, blood-soaked vacation worth taking—if you dare.
