Old horrors meet a brand new set of characters in I Know What You Did Last Summer, the continuation of the hit 1997 slasher film of the same name. Rising stars portray the young group of people dealing with the horrific consequences of their actions, and for director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, the chemistry of the cast feels genuine. “The cast chemistry really leaps off the screen,” she continues. “It was like lightning in a bottle. It just was there, and it was amazing.”
The level-headed Milo Griffin is played by Jonah Hauer King, known for his roles in The Little Mermaid and Doctor Who. “Milo is the voice of reason a lot of the time,” says Jonah Hauer-King, explaining his character’s personality. “He’s practical and rational, and when bad things happen, he’s the one who tries to bring everyone down to earth. Milo has really struggled with guilt about the accident. But they all know that how they handled the situation was really bad.”
Hauer-King had a blast being part of an iconic franchise, and as a newbie to the genre, is sure that I Know What You Did Last Summer isn’t going to be his last horror film. “There’s all the fear factor, mystery, blood, and slasher stuff, which is brilliant,” he says. “We introduce some great new characters to root for, and Jenn and the other writers have brought a contemporary, fresh humor to it. There’s a wink, which is fun because the horror and comedy are intertwined and play off each other nicely,” he says.
Chase Sui Wonders plays Milo’s high school sweetheart, Ava Brucks. Perceptive and volatile, Ava initially refuses to be complacent in a deadly accident that the friend group caused, but is pushed into silence by the rest of the gang. “What happens at Reaper’s Curve tests Ava, and the group, in ways that you can’t really come back from,” explains Wonders. “It’s a new reality that everyone has to contend with.”
Danica Richards is Ava’s closest friend, played by Danica Cline. Their relationship is tested with the accident that changes their lives, but their bond is unbreakable. “Danica and Ava are two peas in a pod,” Cline points out. “They’ve been best friends forever, and it’s one of those friendships that will remain strong – no matter what they go through.”
Teddy Spencer, played by Tyriq Withers, is local royalty in the town of Southport. Heir to a real estate business, his sense of privilege might be what lands the group in trouble. “Teddy has a vulnerable side because despite his parents’ resources, there was a lack of real support, and Teddy experienced some real trauma,” says Tyriq Withers. “Still, he is always the light of the group. I’d say he’s even the glue, the comedic factor that tries to alleviate painful situations. Teddy just wants to be around good energy all the time, because he missed out on that in the family home.”
Stevie, played by Sarah Pidgeon, feels stuck in the small town, but circumstances let her roots grow into the Southport soil, and now works in the bar owned by original Southport massacre survivor Ray (Freddie Prinze Jr.). “I’ve certainly been there as Stevie,” says Sarah Pidgeon. “You find a corner to hide in, but I think Stevie is the realist of the group. She’s a foil to Danica, who has been able to skirt around a lot of consequences in her life. Stevie has not been able to do that. Every time her life has gone off the rails, she’s suffered for it.”
Grab your friends and watch these friends fall into a nightmare as I Know What You Did Last Summer arrives in Philippine cinemas on July 30. Connect with the hashtag #IKnowWhatYouDidLastSummer @columbiapicph
Photo & Video Credit: “Columbia Pictures”
