‘I Still Know What You Did Last Summer’ 4K UHD Blu-Ray Review – Hook Man Is Out For Revenge Again

Jennifer Love Hewitt, Freddie Prinze, Jr., Brandy, and Mekhi Phifer star in the screamer sequel to the blood-chilling box office hit, I Know What You Did Last Summer. Remember Ben Willis? He’s the fisherman who killed the boy who was driving the car when it went off the road in the fatal accident that killed his daughter Sara… he’s the man in the slicker with a hook in his hand ready to exact bloody justice… well, he’s back. It’s hard to forget a man who refuses to die.

For thoughts on I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

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Video Quality

The new 25th Anniversary 4K UHD Blu-Ray of I Still Know What You Did Last Summer offers a phenomenal uptick in quality over the accompanying ancient Blu-Ray from approaching 15 years ago that has never been incredibly kind to the film. The soft and processed look of the Blu-Ray needed to be eliminated, and fans have been blessed in this regard with a brand new 4K scan of the Original Camera Negative in its original 2.39:1 aspect ratio in 2160p HDR/Dolby Vision approved by director Danny Cannon. Anyone who has seen the magic that Sony worked with the original installment last year will know what to expect with the follow-up, as the company delivers the high level of quality for which they are known.

One of the standout aspects of this transfer is the implementation of Dolby Vision/HDR. While the weather soon turns to dreary rain, the opening sunny sequences in the Bahamas are a visual treat alongside the vibrant exteriors on the college campus and back in Southport. The colors are more stunning and accurate to what was intended by the creative team. This format allows for a more formidable command over the contrast between light and dark, which is especially helpful in a horror movie. The highlights are more defined with the daytime sequences more pure and balanced with no instances of blooming to be found. Black levels are robust in this presentation, maintaining a deep and inky look with notable detail. Skin tones appear way more complex and natural than the Blu-Ray with substantial doses of fine detail apparent on faces such as facial hair and pores. 

The new transfer sports a picture that has exceptional film grain that resolves favorably without being clumpy or unnatural. As expected, Sony has stayed away from any digital tinkering on this transfer, so this disc is free of DNR, compression artifacts, and other encode issues. The texture present in the costumes and within the production design is a sight to behold with so much discrete detail uncovered. Each location, makeup effect, and landscape are presented with unreal clarity and texture. Explore the resort interiors to see an array of details that are visible thanks to the 4K resolution. Even the darkest environments and the toughest gradients do not betray the picture with loose grain or banding. Sony has brought their A-game to this transfer. 

Audio Quality

This 4K UHD Blu-Ray upgrades the audio with a Dolby Atmos track that gives the film an immersive soundscape that ups the ante for viewers. For the audio purists, Sony has also provided the 4K UHD Blu-Ray with the original soundtrack in lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio. The previous Blu-Ray release was Dolby TrueHD 5.1, but there does not appear to be a tremendous difference between the two. Both of these tracks on the 4K UHD really put the pedal to the metal, and we are glad that Sony is one of the companies who realize original audio should be a choice for fans who want it while still delivering something special for audiophiles. The original DTS-HD 5.1 track is obviously not quite as all-encompassing as the Atmos track, but it handles the material exactly as you would want with stability and power. 

With the Atmos track, this is another case of the film announcing itself as a powerhouse from the beginning. Dialogue is crisp and clear without ever getting overshadowed by the music or sound effects. The film delivers when it comes to the music, as the soundtrack complements the narrative without faltering when it comes to fidelity. Atmospheric sound effects are rendered precisely within the mix so that directionality is not an issue. Activity extends to the surrounds, rears, and overhead speakers to make the world feel more three-dimensional and saturated with sound. The sounds up above come in the form of environmental effects such as rain, which does ground you quite easily. The low-end effects from the subwoofer snap into place and give many moments dynamic weight to enrich the experience. Sony has delivered on every front. 

Special Features

4K UHD

• Audio Commentary: Director Danny Cannon provides a fun new commentary track in which he discusses the approach to tackling a sequel, the production of the film, shooting on location, the themes of the material, working with the performers, the rush to make the release date, and much more that makes for a good listen.

• He Still Knows What You Did – An Interview with Actor Muse Watson: A new 12-minute interview in which the actor discusses his thoughts on being a horror icon, his thoughts about returning for the sequel, the difficulties of the shoot, filming the grave scene and more that makes for a good listen.  

Blu-Ray

• Making-Of Featurette: A six-minute promotional featurette in which the cast and crew discuss where their characters are in the sequel, the stakes of the narrative, what they wanted to accomplish with this follow-up and more.  

• Music Video – “How Do I Deal” by Jennifer Love Hewitt: The three-and-a-half-minute video for the song is provided here in standard definition in Dolby Digital 2.0. 

• Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here. 

Final Thoughts

I Still Know What You Did Last Summer pretty much stays on par with the efforts of its sequel, improving in some regards and falling behind in others. Perhaps even more so than the original, you are required to suspend your disbelief as characters fail to question certain red flags long before they find themselves in mortal danger. Regardless, you mostly like the main characters, even if none of them rise to the level of any of the legacy characters in Scream. For a popcorn slasher film, it delivers the appropriate amount of suspense and gore. You will not be shocked by any developments, but it remains fun. Sony Pictures has released a truly sumptuous new 4K UHD Blu-Ray in celebration of the film’s 25th anniversary featuring a 5-star A/V presentation and a fine selection of special features both new and old. This is a must-buy for fans of the film. Recommended 

I Still Know What You Did Last Summer is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray and Digital. 

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.