Before I Know What You Did Last Summer became a slasher staple in the late ’90s, it was actually a YA suspense novel by author Lois Duncan. Published in 1973, Duncan’s original story was a psychological thriller, but not a gory horror flick. Fans think if Duncan were alive today, she would be less than thrilled to see her work spawning yet another blood-soaked sequel. Read and watch the viral video inside.
A viral TikTok by @popculturebrain is reigniting the conversation, diving into Duncan’s true feelings about the original film adaptation and its legacy. In the TikTok video, the creator argues that Duncan would “probably HATE” the new sequel currently in development. He even provides solid evidence to back that up.
In interviews following the 1997 movie’s release, Duncan was openly critical of how her story had been transformed. Rather than a suspenseful whodunit focused on guilt and moral reckoning, the film reimagined the plot as a brutal slasher, complete with jump scares and a hook-wielding killer. Duncan, who wrote the novel for teens, was particularly upset that the film marketed itself to young audiences despite the violent content. “It was outrageous,” she told Syfy, noting that she was never consulted during development.
Duncan’s discomfort with the film may have also been deeply personal. Her own daughter was tragically murdered in 1989—a case that remained unsolved until six years after Duncan passed when the murderer turned himself in. The trauma led Duncan to pull away from writing thrillers altogether and pivot to true crime and nonfiction focused on justice and healing. So, it’s understandable that she had an issue with her novel being turned into a gory teen franchise.
Over 25 years later, Hollywood is revisiting the I Know What You Did Last Summer series again, with a new sequel out now. Though original stars Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. returned, the move is sparking mixed reactions.
The viral TikTok ends with a note of irony: a woman who wrote a book about guilt and consequence might now be watching her own creation spiral into another genre she never signed up for. And for fans of the original novel, the new sequel might feel like a continuation that Lois Duncan never wanted.
Check out the viral video below:
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