After a dead spell for horror films, the great Wes Craven resuscitated the genre with his smash hit, SCREAM. The massive box office returns from the new slasher sent studio executives flying into hyperdrive to cash in on this new style of horror film, aptly named, Bubble Gum Horror. The new trend was geared to bring in younger audiences with minimal bloodshed through cut-away takes, no nudity, and a cast pulled from hit television stars. Star writer Kevin Williamson (Scream) was in demand and Mandalay Entertainment quickly signed the super scribe to come up with another box office sensation. Based on the novel from Lois Duncan, I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER was unleashed in 1997 and pulled in over 123 million in sales. While fans and critics were split upon reception, the film threw out a fun plot, witty dialogue, and several great kills. After one laughable sequel, another decent sequel that went straight to DVD, and a short-lived Television series, the hook is back this summer. Will this Re-quel be able to catch fire like the more recent SCREAM entries, or has this ship set sail for the last time in Southport?
Five friends are reunited as they have begun their adult lives. An accident occurs while taking a drive to see the spectacular fireworks display that the now ultra-posh town of Southport is known for. Not wanting to destroy their blossoming careers, the friends drive away from the scene. One year later, Karma shows up wielding a hook. Once the bodies start to pile up, a race to unravel the murderous mystery begins, with a starting line positioned thirty years ago when the sleepy sea village first became a tidal wave of terror.
This installment of the franchise represents everything that is wrong with modern studio horror films. There is no reason for the 111-minute run time, which leads to a product that is more choppy than the sea setting of the film. Known for bubble gum style horror, this entry, with the exception of one scene, has kills that are so bland, one would find more flavor eating a pack of rice cakes. The performers do a decent job with the bland script they were handed, while Freddie Prinze Jr. embarrassingly overacts each of his takes. Director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson does a fair job with her shot selection while shooting a clean piece but must share the blame for this abysmal film with co-writer Sam Lansky. The entire plot is forced, with zero suspense or tension, and filled with unlikable characters that are so wooden the audience will want to walk a plank instead of suffering through the several unnecessary endings that pathetically attempt to springboard a new series of sequels. A PG-13 may have saved what is sure to be a box office bomb by bringing in a younger crowd during summer break, but this fake R rated boring saga will end up sinking faster than a Southport boat filled with more holes than its plot.
Scream Score: 5/10