Final Destination Bloodlines Movie Review – Great, Now We Will Have New Phobias

Death has been on vacation since Final Destination 5 – 14 years to be exact – and if we’re being honest, the grim reaper needed the break. At that point, the franchise’s formula became tiresome as some wiseguy would get a vision about an impending doom, save themselves and a few others, then try and avoid the hangman’s noose for the remaining 90 minutes.

Final Destination Bloodlines doesn’t provide a radical overhaul to this formula, still utilizing the same Rube Goldberg machine approach for innovative deaths while the folks attempt to delay the inevitable, but it dives deeper into the story and proposes an original what-if scenario. Resultantly, it’s the boost that the franchise desperately needed to reinvigorate itself and move forward.

Spare a thought for Stefani (Kaitlyn Santa Juana). As a college student, she can’t sleep – and no, it isn’t because of partying or studying hard. She struggles to shake off a recurring dream about a terrifying event featuring her grandmother Iris (Brec Bassinger), whom she’s never met but knows her name (don’t worry, it gets addressed in the movie). Curious for answers and hoping to get a good night’s rest, Stefani heads home, but neither her father nor uncle prove to be forthcoming about her family’s history. Instead, they tell her to stay away from anything to do with Iris, whom they claim caused harm to the family in the past. Of course, Stefani doesn’t leave well enough alone and uncovers generational beef with Death itself.

Guy Busick and Lori Evans Taylor’s script ventures outside the regular parameters of the Final Destination franchise. The screenwriters understand that viewers don’t just want but now demand an answer to, “Why does this keep happening?” Final Destination Bloodlines introduces a tantalizing twist to the traditional lore that brings a lot of past storylines together, but it doesn’t quite have the depth and symbolism of Rosario‘s exploration of generational curses. It’s good, yes, but there could have been a much more solid story had the screenwriters cut out a few auxiliary characters and focused more on Stefani and her immediate family.

Let’s be real, though: most people don’t watch Final Destination for the plot; it’s all about the innovative ways in which people meet their maker. Where Final Destination Bloodlines differentiates itself from its predecessors is in how it drills down the focus to even more ordinary situations that no one could imagine leading to death. This isn’t about airplane crashes, theme park rides, or sunbeds – which could be considered slightly risky in their own right – this is about general items in anyone’s backyard to the garbage can outside. Although, the film pays tribute to the franchise’s most infamous deaths, whether it be in passing or through clever hints.

Directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein don’t hold anything back either, unleashing three of the top five kills in the franchise here. If you’re a queasy knucklehead like me, prepare to watch most of the movie peeping through your fingers, as the flying body parts and buckets of blood splatter across the screen. Also, for anyone who has ever had piercings in their life… oh boy, does this movie have a “treat” for you.

In terms of performances, the majority of the actors do a commendable job of carrying the story without being sensational. There are two, though, that stand out. The first comes from Richard Harmon, who plays Stefani’s cousin Erik. The character feels like he could have been pulled straight out of Scream, as he understands the assignment and knows not to take matters in a horror film too seriously. He brings some comic relief with his cynicism.

The second is the late Tony Todd, who appears in his final performance as William Bludworth. For years, fans have questioned the importance of William’s character and who he might really be, but Final Destination Bloodlines finally reveals how he fits into the overall storyline. In addition to this, Todd receives a powerful monologue about life and death that won’t leave a dry eye in the theater, especially considering this is the final time we will see the legendary actor on screen.

Many people rank their favorite Final Destination films in different order, but I’ll say that the first one still stands at the top of my list, because of how unique and innovative it was for its era. Without question, Final Destination Bloodlines slides its way into the number two slot now, because it builds on the original concept and dares to be more than a rehash. That said, it isn’t too unfamiliar – or too risky – to ostracize fans who have certain expectations about the franchise; this is still the Final Destination movie you want and expect.

RELATED: Catch Early Screenings of Final Destination: Bloodlines at IMAX This Week (If You Dare)

Watch Final Destination Bloodlines in IMAX from 9 May.