Final Destination: Bloodlines
review by Bobby Blakey
In 2000 the world of Final Destination hit theaters and brought a new take on terror that audiences fully embraced. It kicked off a franchise with four sequels with the last one Final Destination 5 hitting in 2011 that seemed to be the end of the franchise. IT was apparently just a pause because the series is back with another chapter, Final Destination: Bloodlines starring Brec Bassinger, Richard Harmon, Teo Briones, Kaitlyn Santa Juana, and Tony Todd returning to the franchise in his final role. Could this next chapter be worth returning to the fun franchise or will it be a death not worth running from?
Final Destination: Bloodlines follows 18-year-old STEFANI, who’s been having horrific nightmares about dying in a tower accident in the 1960s, discovers that her dream is actually a premonition that happened to her grandmother, Esther, who thwarted death fifty years ago but is now running out of time. Stefani and her family realize that their bloodline isn’t safe from Death, who will take them violently and gruesomely, in order, unless someone like Stefani figures out a way to stop it.
I love this franchise and even though the last couple of entries weren’t great they still delivered on the fun. The fifth film ended on the perfect note to bring the series full circle so I was concerned about how well this new chapter would work without it just being a new direction which could be fine. To my surprise, while it is very much its own thing it is firmly cemented into the lore of the other five films with a perfect origin story and a couple of cool twists.
The film kicks off with a big disaster as usual, but instead of being the focal point of these characters’ journey the rest of the film jumps from the 60s to the present to tell the story how it is all connected to the rest of death’s plan. This works way better than I expected and even enhances the history of the previous films that were never all that deep. They still aren’t Shakespeare or anything, but
the history to them gives you more ideas of the why and possibilities for the future.
As well as the film’s story works to bring it all together, we all know we just watch these films for two reasons. To witness the gruesome deaths and the late Tony Todd with his wisdom of death and the plan they are trying to thwart. Once again Todd shows up for a small sequence doing what he has always done, but for this final outing it is so much more bittersweet. Not only are we getting goodbye from the franchise, but he even felt like he was telling the audience a final farewell and hits deep in the feels for those that care.
On the kill front you will not be disappointed as the blood flows freely and creatively as you expect. I felt like this might have been the most violent and bloody of the series in the best way possible even if they had to use a lot of CGI. Thankfully most of it is done well and will no doubt have the gore hounds and franchise fans cheering from ear to ear getting their pound of flesh.
I had a blast with this film and think it’s a great entry to the franchise and might be my favorite since the original so hope it does well enough to get the chance to dive back into disturbing deaths silly old plan in the future.
Check out Final Destination: Bloodlines in theaters now from New Line Cinema.