Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, the director and co-writer of the new I Know What You Did Last Summer film, is aware that a major twist in the movie will likely divide fans of the iconic horror franchise.
The twist reveals Ray Bronson, played by Freddie Prinze Jr., as one of the killers. Ray, the character originally introduced in the 1997 slasher, now seeks revenge against the friends who were involved in the deadly car accident from the first movie.
A Shocking Twist
Robinson knew that revealing Ray as the villain would be a bold and controversial choice. “Do I think people might not like it? Sure,” Robinson tells PEOPLE. “But I think for me, it was always about if you’re going to do this, take a swing. Just take a swing. Listen, if not everybody likes it, that’s okay.
Because I think we need more movies that you can argue about in the car on the ride home.”
Freddie Prinze Jr., who portrays Ray, explained his character’s dark transformation, noting the emotional trauma Ray experienced. “We talked a lot about reasons why Ray snapped into a killer and what trauma can do and how the same trauma can affect people so differently,” he shared.
“It can make you or it can break you. And what happens if it breaks you? What does that do? How do you react to situations?”
Despite knowing that the twist may shock fans, Prinze says, “I have to make this movie because I believe in the choices that the character’s making.”
Ray’s Character Arc
Prinze further praised the work that Robinson and co-writer Sam Lansky put into developing Ray’s character. “You’ll get to see who Ray was, and you’ll get to see who Ray is, and you’ll get to figure out what happened in between,” Prinze added.
The film explores how Ray, initially a troubled young man, becomes consumed by trauma and anger, leading to his murderous actions.
Jennifer Love Hewitt’s Take on the Twist
Jennifer Love Hewitt, who reprises her role as Julie James, was initially surprised by the direction Ray’s character takes in the new film. However, after reflecting on the character’s backstory, she found the twist made sense.
“He was always this tortured, dark kind of kid who wasn’t really sure about how he felt about Southport and his place there,” Hewitt explained. “So even though I was shocked at first, when I went back and really looked at it and put those pieces together for myself, I think it felt like it made sense.”
Hewitt’s portrayal of Julie also addresses the shock of discovering Ray’s dark turn. She chose to play her reaction with subtlety, avoiding overt shock and instead letting the audience realize the twist themselves.
“I tried not to play the shock of it so that even in my small part in this, people would be able to hopefully go back and be like, ‘She was not shocked by this. Why was she not shocked by it?'” Hewitt added.
Trauma and Its Effects
Robinson discussed how the lasting trauma from the 1997 massacre played a central role in shaping the characters in the sequel. “The thought of this thing that happened to Julie and Ray pushing both of them in such different directions was really interesting to me,” she said.
Robinson also drew comparisons to the classic “Harvey Dent” arc — the idea that “you die the hero or you live long enough to become the villain.” She believes trauma, particularly when unaddressed, can have profound effects, especially on men who struggle to deal with their emotions.
She continued, “I want to do it, but I only want to do it if I can do this.” Robinson pitched the idea to Freddie Prinze Jr., and once he was onboard, they were ready to bring Ray’s new arc to life.
Prinze and Hewitt Reflect on Their Work
Prinze expressed pride in his performance, particularly in how he applied personal emotions to make his portrayal of Ray more authentic.
“I’ve never been stalked by a slasher, but to get to apply my own personal trauma to [the character] and make it as real as I could so that it genuinely hurt… I went home in a bad mood because I was trying to bring as much vulnerability as I could to this character,” Prinze shared.
He also praised his collaboration with Hewitt. “I think it’s the best work we’ve done in all three of the movies that we did together — and I don’t think it’s close,” Prinze said. Hewitt agreed, calling Prinze’s performance “really great” and saying it was fun to watch him in the role.
I Know What You Did Last Summer continues to spark conversation with its unexpected twist and complex character arcs. Jennifer Kaytin Robinson and the cast, including Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt, have clearly put a lot of thought into the trauma-driven transformation of Ray’s character.
While the twist may be divisive, it adds a new layer to the story, offering fans a fresh and, perhaps, controversial take on the I Know What You Did Last Summer saga.
