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What is the plot?
On July 4, 2024, Ava Brucks returns to her hometown of Southport, North Carolina, to attend the engagement party of her close friend Danica Richards. Alongside them are Ava's ex-boyfriend Milo Griffin and Danica's fiancé Teddy Spencer, son of the influential local real estate developer Grant Spencer. The group also reconnects with Stevie Ward, a former friend recently out of drug rehabilitation, who joins them for the festivities. After the party, the five friends drive to a scenic cliffside spot to watch the fireworks. During this outing, Teddy's reckless behavior causes a car driven by Sam Cooper to swerve off the cliff and crash. Although Ava urges calling the authorities, Teddy insists on secrecy and enlists his father Grant's political influence to cover up the accident, binding the group in a pact of silence.
One year later, Ava returns to Southport for Danica's bridal shower, reuniting with Milo and Stevie, and meeting Tyler Trevino, a true crime podcaster fascinated by the infamous 1997 Southport massacre committed by the original Fisherman killer, Ben Willis. At the bridal shower, Danica receives a chilling anonymous note stating, "I know what you did last summer." The group suspects Teddy, still bitter over their breakup, and confronts him, but he denies any involvement. That night, Danica's new fiancé Wyatt is brutally murdered in their home by a hook-wielding figure dressed in a black slicker, reminiscent of the original Fisherman. The killer shoots Wyatt with a harpoon gun through the back and abdomen, then slashes him with a hook, leaving his corpse upright with the message "You can't erase the past" written in blood on the wall.
Realizing someone knows about the accident and is targeting them, Ava, Danica, Milo, and Stevie begin investigating the connection to Ben Willis. Tyler takes Ava to the Bayside House, the site where Ben had murdered sisters Elsa and Helen Shivers in 1997. There, the new Fisherman ambushes them, stabbing Tyler and hanging her by the neck out a window, killing her. Ava manages to escape after wounding the assailant. The town's authorities, eager to avoid scaring tourists during the Fourth of July weekend, dismiss the murders as unrelated or suicides, forcing the friends to seek help from Julie James, a survivor of the original killings who is now a college professor. Julie suspects the new Fisherman has a personal link to Sam Cooper, the man who died in the recent accident.
At a tense town hall meeting, Julie's ex-husband Ray Bronson, who is also Stevie's employer and a survivor of the original massacre, accuses Grant Spencer of orchestrating a cover-up to protect the town's image. Ava, Milo, and Stevie discover that Sam's truck belonged to local pastor Judah Gillespie. Danica and Teddy visit the cemetery, noting fresh flowers on Sam's grave, indicating recent visitors. While there, they encounter the groundskeeper, who is murdered by the Fisherman when he attempts to check security footage. The Fisherman attacks Danica but Teddy intervenes, saving her and insisting they relocate to Danica's mansion for safety.
Milo and Ava attempt to rekindle their relationship, but Milo becomes uncomfortable when Ava suggests they experiment sexually. As Milo retrieves his phone charger from his car, the Fisherman strangles him with a rope and snaps his neck, then uses Milo's phone to deceive Ava into thinking Milo has left. Meanwhile, Ava and Danica report Judah's suspicious connection to Sam to the police but are arrested for harassment. The Fisherman continues his spree, stabbing Teddy multiple times and killing Grant by slashing his throat with a hook.
After discovering the corpses of Milo, Teddy, and Grant, Ray insists that Ava and Danica flee Southport on Teddy's yacht. Police officers investigating Judah's church find him dead with his eyes gouged out and a photo revealing Stevie's connection to Sam, exposing her as the new Fisherman. On the yacht, Stevie reveals herself as the killer, explaining that she was romantically involved with Sam and seeks revenge on the friends who abandoned her. She stabs Danica and throws her overboard, but Ray arrives and shoots Stevie into the water.
Back at his bar, Ray tends to a wounded Ava, who notices an injury matching the one she inflicted on the Fisherman and realizes Ray is Stevie's accomplice. Julie arrives just as Ray attacks them, revealing his descent into madness fueled by trauma from the original massacre and a desire to ensure the town never forgets the past. He had partnered with Stevie to exact revenge and planned to frame Julie for the murders. Before Ray can kill Julie, Ava fatally shoots him with a speargun.
Danica survives and reunites with Ava in the hospital. The two rekindle their friendship, but they learn Stevie is still alive, leaving the threat unresolved. Julie receives a note stating, "It isn't over," and visits Karla Wilson, another survivor of the Fisherman's killings, to enlist her help in tracking down the remaining killer.
This narrative unfolds against the backdrop of Southport's Fourth of July celebrations, intertwining the new generation's tragedy with the legacy of the original 1997 massacre. The story explores the consequences of secrets and betrayal, as the characters confront a relentless cycle of vengeance embodied by the Fisherman's return. The film closes with the ominous implication that the terror is far from finished, setting the stage for further confrontations.
What is the ending?
The ending of the 2025 film I Know What You Did Last Summer concludes with a violent confrontation on a boat where Stevie stabs Danica, causing her to fall overboard. Ray arrives, shoots Stevie to stop her, but Stevie survives. The film ends with Ava telling Danica that Stevie is still alive, leaving the possibility of her return open. Ava and Danica survive their injuries and reach the hospital, while Julie James, a survivor from the original 1997 killings, also survives. Ray dies from a spear gun wound inflicted by Ava during the final confrontation.
The ending unfolds in a tense, scene-by-scene narrative:
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Boat Confrontation: Ava, Danica, and Stevie attempt to escape the murderous spree by fleeing on Teddy's boat. However, tensions escalate when Stevie unexpectedly stabs Danica, causing her to fall overboard into the water. This act reveals Stevie's hidden motives and secrets that she had kept from the group.
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Ray's Arrival and Shootout: Ray Bronson, a survivor from the 1997 Southport massacre, arrives on a smaller boat. He confronts Stevie, who is revealed to be involved in the killings. To stop her, Ray shoots Stevie. Despite being shot, Stevie mocks Ava's belief that she is dead, implying she survives the attack.
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Danica's Fate: After falling overboard, Danica is seriously wounded but manages to survive. Ava and Danica both make it to a hospital in time, indicating their survival despite the brutal events.
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Ray's Death: During the final confrontation, Ray is distracted by his ex-wife Julie James. Taking advantage of this, Ava grabs a spear gun and shoots Ray in the back. Ray bleeds out and dies, ending his arc as a survivor turned avenger.
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Julie James' Role: Julie, reprising her role from the original film, survives the latest attack. She is the last survivor of the original main characters, symbolizing continuity between the original and the new story.
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Stevie's Survival and Open Ending: The film closes with Ava informing Danica that Stevie is still alive, though Stevie does not appear again. This leaves an open-ended threat, suggesting Stevie could return in a sequel or continue to haunt the survivors.
In summary, the ending is a violent climax where the main characters face betrayal, survival, and death. Ava and Danica survive despite serious injuries, Ray dies after trying to stop Stevie, and Stevie remains alive, maintaining the cycle of terror. Julie James survives as a link to the past, and the film closes on an uncertain note about the future threat posed by Stevie.
Who dies?
Yes, several characters die in the 2025 film I Know What You Did Last Summer. Here is a detailed list of the main character deaths, including the circumstances, timing, and methods:
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Wyatt: He is Danica's new fiancé and is killed about one year after the initial accident. Wyatt is murdered at his home during the night by a hook-wielding assailant dressed like the original Fisherman killer from 1997. He is shot through the back and abdomen with a harpoon gun and then slashed with a hook. His death is discovered by Danica, who finds his corpse positioned upright with a message written in his blood on the wall.
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Tyler Trevino: A true crime podcaster researching the original Southport murders, Tyler is ambushed and killed by the Fisherman while showing Ava the location of a past murder. Ava manages to escape after wounding the attacker.
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Teddy Spencer: Danica's ex-fiancé and son of a politician named Grant Spencer, Teddy dies offscreen but is found strung up on the dock alongside his father. His death is used as a lure by the killers.
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Grant Spencer: Teddy's father, a politician who helped cover up the initial accident, is also killed and found strung up on the dock with his son.
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Ray and Stevie: These two characters are involved in the killing spree. Ray is killed in the final confrontation by Ava, who shoots him in the back with a spear gun, causing him to bleed out. Stevie is seemingly shot by Ray but survives, mocking Ava's belief that he is dead.
Regarding survivors, Ava, Danica, and Julie James (a survivor from the original 1997 killings) survive despite serious wounds. Ava and Danica make it to the hospital, and Julie survives her latest encounter with the killers.
In summary, the deaths are mostly caused by a new hook-wielding killer or killers connected to the original Fisherman murders, targeting the group involved in the cover-up of a fatal car accident. The killings occur roughly one year after the accident, with the victims dying in violent, hook-related ways consistent with the franchise's slasher theme.
Is there a post-credit scene?
Yes, the 2025 film I Know What You Did Last Summer has a post-credit scene. In this scene, Karla Wilson (played by Brandy Norwood) is watching a news report about Ray's actions from the film. Suddenly, it appears that someone, possibly a killer, is spying on Karla from outside her home. When Karla answers the door in a panic, she finds Julie James (Jennifer Love Hewitt) standing there, whom she hasn't seen in years. Julie shows Karla a letter that essentially says "I know what you did" and "I still know what you did," hinting at ongoing threats and connecting to the legacy of the franchise. This scene sets up a potential sequel that would bring together different generations of characters and continue the story.
The post-credit scene is significant because it confirms the return of Brandy's character Karla from I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998) and teases future franchise plans involving both new and legacy characters. It also suggests that the story will continue to explore the consequences of past events and the ongoing danger posed by the killers introduced in the film.
Who is the killer in the 2025 film I Know What You Did Last Summer and what motivates them?
The killer in the 2025 film is a mysterious figure dressed as a fisherman holding a hook who targets the group involved in a tragic accident. The motivation is tied to the group's secret about the accident where a truck driver was wounded and they covered it up instead of helping. The killings begin after Danica receives a note saying, 'I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER,' indicating the killer knows their secret.
What is the tragic accident that the main characters are involved in?
The main characters--Ava, Danica, Milo, Teddy, and Stevie--are involved in a tragic accident on a Fourth of July night where Teddy's careless actions cause a truck driver to swerve off a cliff and get wounded. Instead of helping, the group hides what happened with the help of Grant Spencer, Teddy's powerful father.
What role do Julie James and Ray Bronson play in the 2025 film?
Julie James and Ray Bronson, played by Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. respectively, are characters who lived through the first killing spree and are asked by the new group for help when the new killings start.
What is Stevie Ward's secret revealed in the film?
Stevie Ward admits that she killed the man who was upset about the death of her boyfriend, revealing a dark secret connected to the events surrounding the tragic accident and the subsequent killings.
How are the characters Danica Richards and Teddy Spencer connected to the story's central events?
Danica Richards is a smart and resourceful young woman struggling with guilt over the bad choice made a year ago related to the accident. Teddy Spencer's careless actions caused the truck driver to swerve off a cliff, triggering the tragic accident that sets the story in motion. Teddy is also the son of Grant Spencer, who helps the group cover up the incident.
Is this family friendly?
The 2025 movie I Know What You Did Last Summer is not family friendly; it is rated R due to bloody horror violence, strong language, some sexual content, and brief drug use.
Potentially objectionable or upsetting aspects for children or sensitive viewers include:
- Multiple graphic scenes of people being killed with spears, stabbing, and slashing, with visible bloody wounds.
- A fatal car accident involving a vehicle going over a cliff.
- Several intense discussions about lying, trauma, and taking responsibility, which may be emotionally heavy.
- Sexual content including a couple of sex scenes with partial nudity and kissing scenes.
- Frequent strong language, including at least 40 uses of the F-word.
Overall, the film contains typical slasher horror elements with violence and mature themes that make it unsuitable for children or those sensitive to graphic content.
Does the dog die?
In the 2025 film I Know What You Did Last Summer, there is no indication or mention that a dog dies. The available plot summaries and details focus on the human characters and the killings related to the hook-wielding Fisherman killer, with no reference to any dog or its fate. Additionally, a separate source about dogs dying in movies confirms no dog death related to this film, as it specifically addresses a different movie and clarifies that no dog dies in that context, implying that if a dog were involved in I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025), its death would have been noted. Therefore, it can be concluded that no dog dies in the 2025 I Know What You Did Last Summer movie.