‘I intend to enjoy the time I have left, and I suggest you do the same...’
There comes a time in any long running horror franchise where the producers must reach for the subheading ‘Bloodlines’. Hellraiser, Wrong Turn, Pet Sematary and Day of the Dead have all traversed this path, with limited to terrible results, and now, Final Destination is the later horror franchise to join the gang. The difference is that this film is actually good…
I don’t want to give too much away here as Bloodlines strays a little from the usual Final Destination formula, but needless to say, someone has a premonition of a tragic event (more on that later), but then the survivors start to die anyway in mysterious circumstances. Kaitlyn Santa Juana is our protagonist, Stefani, but this is very much an ensemble piece.
Let’s begin with the positives. This is probably the most likeable cast ever assembled for a Final Destination movie (except that awful kid at the beginning… you’ll see who I mean). Humour is used sparingly and effectively. The death sequences are well thought out and original (if a little drawn out on some occasions). I loved Tony Todd’s cameo. While he’s clearly ill in what turned out to be his last role, he still delivers a classy and emotive performance. Joint directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein clearly know what makes a good Final Destination movie (they got the gig by staging a horrific accident with the producers over Zoom). So far, so good.
Not everything here works, however. While the opening sequence is spectacular, it doesn’t have the same sense of taking an everyday occurrence and making it terrifying as previous films. Every time I get on a plane or ride a rollercoaster, I’m thinking of Final Destination. Any time I ride behind a logging truck on the motorway, I’m thinking of Final Destination. The scenario presented at the start of this film (which I won’t spoil here) is so specific that it doesn’t have the same sense of relatability. The other issue is the constant callbacks to the rest of the franchise. An Easter egg should be just that – a rare treat. Something for the super fans. Something you have to work for. And while there is some of that here, much of the fan service just feels like lazy nostalgia bait.
Having said that, Final Destination: Bloodlines is undoubtedly a successful entry in what was a moribund franchise. There is clearly an appetite for more of these films (the trailer became the second most viewed horror trailer ever after IT), and Bloodlines has probably ensured that we won’t have to wait another 14 years for the next film.
