Tag: final destination

You never know when… “Final Destination Bloodlines” (2025)

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directed by Zach Lipovsky & Adam Stein
© 2025 Warner Bros. Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Here we are. After a long trauma journey we finally reach the end. I mean, almost the end, because we already know that they’re planning another part… oh boy, I’m wondering how many more characters have to die so we could get the idea – Death always wins. Anyway, what’s going on in this part? We follow Iris (Brec Bassinger) and her husband attending the opening of the Sky View in 1969. It’s a fancy restaurant in a high tower, so you can see a nice view while eating your overpriced meal. During the event, Iris has a premonition that the tower is going to burn and kill everyone in it. However, this time the protagonist actually manages to save everyone, which makes a whole bunch of of people join the “dying team”. What next? We move 55 years later, where we meet Stefani (Kaitlyn Santa Juana), a granddaughter of Iris. So the woman not only survived that accident, but also had children who had children. You know what that means? No? Well, the only reason those guys are safe is because Iris is still alive. Stefani decides to meet with her grandma Iris (Gabrielle Rose) and learn about her story. The old woman tells the truth, but her granddaughter doesn’t believe her until Iris lets the Death kill her in front of Stefani. From that moment, the girl has to protect her family and make sure they stay safe. When it comes to the general idea, I actually appreciate it. Although it’s quite amazing to see Iris win with Death for 55 years while other characters die within days. But hey, it’s fiction, right? However, I think the film could have been more horrorish than comedic. I don’t know, but to me this newest part looks a bit like a parody of the whole series. Still, I appreciate the effort and bringing the story back in 2025. It was actually adorable to see William Bludworth (Tony Todd), the coroner known from every part of the film. He returns in this newest film and we learn about his past, which was a clever idea – I give a thumb up for that. So generally, I praise the idea, but not really the form. Yet, I’m glad we had a chance to remind ourselves about the series and traumatise new generations. Enjoy, kiddos! Thanks to this part, we might avoid any towers, weather vanes, vending machines, MRI machines, garbage trucks, lawnmowers and, which is actually a great joke made by the filmmakers, logs. Final Destination crews must hate tress, I swear… Anyway, that’s it folks! We’ve survived 6 films full of drastic scenes, creepy accidents and mysterious consequences. I really hope that you won’t forget about the series and may Death keep playing with us. Also, let’s cross our fingers for the 7th film not to ruin everything.

My rating: 6/10
S.

Death doesn’t like to be cheated. “Final Destination 5” (2011)

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directed by Steven Quale
© 2011 Warner Bros. Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

There’s a rule that the first film of a series is almost always the best, and sequels can be either okay or pointless. What if I tell you that the 5th part of Final Destination series is my favourite? Surprise surprise. How is that possible? Well, there are several reasons. The plot doesn’t seem to be anything new – again, we have a protagonist who has a premonition. This time it’s Sam (Nicholas D’Agosto) going on some company retreat with other colleagues. They’re about to cross a bridge and, as you might be guessing, the bridge is going to collapse. Sam survives and like every other protagonist tries to guess the order and save as many people as it’s possible, including himself. Doesn’t sound anyhow spectacular, does it? So why do I like the 5th film the most? First, it’s made in a similar way to the first film. If you watch all the parts one after the other, you may notice how the first film is much darker and mysterious, while next ones look like typical action productions. And in the 5th part they get back to the horrorish aesthetics, which I personally appreciate a lot. Second, this is the only film of the series during which I have to skip one death sequence. And that sequence is the eye surgery. I’m horribly sensitive when it comes to eyes and after watching this film I’ve gained a new trauma. Now I’m always anxious when I have to have my eyes checked… From the personal point of view, that’s a nightmare. From the horror filmmaker’s point of view, I’d say “great job”. And third… if you haven’t seen this part, please, I’m begging you not to read the rest of the post. Begging you! Because I’m about to discuss the ending and it’s an absolute cherry on top, so I don’t want you to miss the experience. So, SPOILERS are coming and please, read it only if you’ve seen the film. My third reason to love this part the most is the ending, which beautifully connects to the first film. I wasn’t expecting that at all, so it was a huge surprise and I simply love such. To me, the 5th film could have been the perfect ending of the series and I wouldn’t complain at all. It was the newest part, but also a prequel, so it made a perfect point about this whole game: Death will continuously win with us and it cannot be tricked. But… as you can see, 14 years later we get another part. One the one hand I was shocked and happy because I like this series very much, but on the other… could they make anything better than the 5th film? Well, my answer to that will be in the next post. In the meantime, let’s thank the 5th part for traumatising us about crossing bridges, visiting eye doctors, going to spas, using meat spits and, finally, reminding us about not flying. Anywhere, ever.

My rating: 9/10
S.

Oh shit, not again! “Final Destination 3” (2006)

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directed by James Wong
© 2006 New Line Cinema. All Rights Reserved.

Part 3 is a real rollercoaster of emotions. Literally. Be careful, SPOILERS coming. So since everyone dies in this series, we need a new protagonist. Her name is Wendy (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), high school student who goes with her boyfriend and their friends to an amusement park. Now you’re guessing what I meant by that rollercoaster at the beginning, aren’t you? And yes, Wendy has a premonition that the rollercoaster derails and everyone dies. As usually, it happens, but since Wendy panicked and refused to ride it, she stays alive. Due to the drama scene she made, some other passengers avoided being killed as well, so that’s how we get a new dying team. What’s new in this part? Oh, something quite creative. Before the attempt to take the rollercoaster, Wendy was taking photos with her camera at the amusement park. After the first death, she realises that Death has improved its game. Apparently, the photos are clues to guess how each survivor will die. The clues are not super obvious, so they may trick Wendy, but if she analyses well, there’s a chance to save others and herself. But hey, is there really? I mean, Death will catch them anyway. Or…? Yeah, that’s the moment I stop and let you see the film yourselves. From what I’ve learnt, the director’s idea for the main theme of this part was the fear of losing control. And that’s quite visible, because Wendy is the most vigilant protagonist so far, who observes a lot and wants to be the leader of change. And I guess losing control is one of the biggest fears of most people, so it’s a smart move to highlight it in a horror. Thanks to this part you may avoid getting tanned, stay away from nail guns and flags, choose a different form of transport than train and definitely think twice before taking a rollercoaster. Some critics said that this part was pretty pointless – well, I believe some critics are pretty pointless, too. Even though the general idea for the film is well-known, each part is different and here, thanks to the trick with photographs, we may enjoy it in a new way. Choo choo!

My rating: 7/10
S.

Today is the day you may die. “Final Destination 2” (2003)

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directed by David R. Ellis
© 2003 New Line Cinema. All Rights Reserved.

Seems like you like being traumatised? Good, let’s continue the game. Especially, since the second part is well-known for its log scene, which is considered the most traumatising moment that has influenced the whole generation. What scene are we talking about? Well, even if you haven’t seen the whole film, I’m sure you must have heard of the log scene. It’s the moment where there’s a lorry with logs driving a highway. At some point the chains break and one of the logs goes through the car behind the lorry, killing the driver. As a representative of the traumatised generation, I admit that driving behind such lorries is no longer acceptable. If you do that, please search help. And if you’re a lorry driver transporting logs – what would you like your seat in hell to look like? Anyway, if you’re wondering what happens in this part except the most traumatising scene, let me share it with you. Here comes a SPOILER… so, as you know, Death is a damn good player and our cutiepies from the first part didn’t manage to win with it. That is why we need new characters and we begin with Kimberly (A. J. Cook), a student going for spring break with her friends. On the way, she has a premonition in which she sees a huge accident on the highway they’re about to take soon. The girl panics and blocks several cars from driving into the highway. When the police appears and tries to understand the girl’s behaviour, the accident actually happens, just without Kimberly, her friends and several other cars behind them. Yes, dear readers, that’s our new to-die team. This time, those aren’t only people who know each other, so contacting them and following their deaths becomes a challenge. The only person that may understand Kimberly and actually try to help her is Clear (Ali Larter), known from the first part and the only survivor. She’s in a psychiatric ward, avoiding death at all costs. So is it actually possible to win this game? Well, you’ll have to see. The girls come up with an idea to trick their enemy, which is quite creative, I liked it, but obviously the filmmakers had to complicate it even more. In the end, that wouldn’t be another “Final Destination” film, right? This part is definitely more twisted than the first one, which is a plus, because we don’t stay bored. At least I always have fun with the whole series, so you’ll have to see yourself. This part may encourage you to stop using ladders, look up more often, reconsider taking a lift and definitely never drive behind a lorry with logs. I mean, never. See you for part 3!

My rating: 7/10
S.

So who’s next? “Final Destination” (2000)

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directed by James Wong
© 2000 New Line Cinema. All Rights Reserved.

Are you ready for a ride?! As a fan of “Final Destination” series, I’ve decided to officially dedicate some space on my page and recommend you all those great action films. If you’ve seen them, then I invite you to join me on this nostalgic trip remembering the most spectacular deaths and plot twists. But if you haven’t even tried the series, then I’m more than happy to introduce you to its world. This year we’re given the newest part, about 14 years after the last one, so perhaps young cinephiles might not have heard of the whole series. And I believe that if you see the newest part without knowing previous ones, then it doesn’t give you the same chills anymore. So let’s start from 2000 and the first “Final Destination”. We get to know Alex (Devon Sawa), who’s about to go on a school trip to Paris. Before the departure, he has a premonition in which their plane crashes. The teenager panics so much that he doesn’t want to take the flight. A teacher and some other students stay with him at the airport, while the plane departures and actually… crashes right after. Huge luck? Not really. Because Alex and those several people were supposed to die in that accident, so they tricked death. And death doesn’t like to play games, so things get complicated when they start dying in strange circumstances. Will Alex manage to survive and save his friends? That’s for you to see. And if you’re so sure that Alex stays alive because there are more parts of the series, then you might be quite surprised. What I love about this film (and the whole series) is that you cannot expect anything. We’re taught that the protagonist always succeeds, that good wins evil, that the last plot twist should be close to the end, but still not at the very end etc. Meanwhile in “Final Destination” all those rules are broken way too many times. And perhaps younger readers might not appreciate it that much because current cinema is full of surprises, but in the early 00s it was a big shock. So if you want to find out how we got traumatised at the beginning of this century, join me on the “Final Destination” journey. After the first part you might develop the fear of flying, pay more attention to kitchen cutlery, always check the road while crossing it, take shorter showers and some others… Not enough trauma? See you soon for part two.

My rating: 8/10
S.