FINAL DESTINATION RETROSPECTIVE

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August 9, 2023|Final Destination Series, Horror Reviews , Slasher, Killers, and Psychos, Supernatural and Paranormal

The Final Destination franchise has been one of the most successful movie franchises of all time, grossing over $665 million worldwide across five movies. What's more incredible is that the franchise has barely changed its formula, and each film has seen diminishing results. This review takes a look at the first movie, which started the franchise. 

The movie follows Alex Browning, played by Devon Sawa, a high school student on board Volée Airlines Flight 180 for a class school trip to Paris. Alex has a horrific premonition of the plane's engine failure before it explodes shortly after take-off. The simplicity of this sequence is excellent, which makes it one of the best premonition sequences of the franchise. It has enough realism to scare the audience. 

After Alex's premonition, he panics and makes a scene on the plane, leading to his removal and that of other students caught up in the scuffle. They are forced to watch as the plane takes off, but it blows up in mid-air. Due to the explosion, Alex comes under suspicion of having some sort of involvement and is eventually released due to a lack of evidence. 

The mortician, William Bludworth (Tony Todd), later reveals that they messed up Death's plan, and now it wants the lives of those who were meant to die on the plane. The survivors slowly begin to die in 'accidents' or 'suicides', and Alex realises that they can cheat death by watching out for signs. Cheat death, and it skips you, moving on to the next person. 

The movie has a well-crafted plot that plays out like a slasher flick, but instead of being hunted by a Michael Myers or Jason, the cast is being hunted by an unseen force. One that likes to set up convoluted situations that may lead to death but also give the cast an opportunity to dodge it. While this plot is puzzling, it adds tension to the movie, and the sudden, unexpected deaths make it enjoyable. 

The death scenes in the movie are great, with just a touch of realism, which makes them terrifying. They are situations we could all find ourselves in, and it makes us think about how many daily tasks we do without realising they could lead to our demise. 

One of the issues with the movie is the casting. While it's not that the actors did a bad job, the casting was aimed at a teen-friendly audience, who could easily recognise actors like Sawa, Larter, Smith, and Scott from their roles in other teen movies/shows. It was difficult to see them in any other way, making them an unfortunate distraction. 

Overall, the movie feels every bit like the late 90s/early 00s horror flick that it is. With good visual effects, some nasty-looking deaths, and an ending that will bring a smile to your face, it is definitely a solid watch. It may not have been the best movie of the franchise, but it gets the franchise off to a strong start and sets the tone for the rest of the movies.

4 out of 5 stabs 🔪🔪🔪🔪
FINAL THOUGHTS: The first Final Destination movie impressed with its simple yet effective plot, realistic death scenes, and good visual effects that set the tone for the successful franchise. It is definitely worth watching and deserves a recommendation.

August 11, 2023|Final Destination Series, Horror Reviews , Slasher, Killers, and Psychos, Supernatural and Paranormal

Death is coming for us all, whether we like it or not. But what if it was coming for us even though we were meant to die in a freak accident? Would it chase us down, or would it just move on to the next one? In Final Destination 2, Death is not just coming to collect those who cheated it before, but it's coming to play with them first. This clever and darkly humorous horror sequel plays with our expectations, sets up some unforgettable scares, and provides us with some of the most elaborate death scenes in this horror franchise. So, sit back, relax, and get ready for a movie that will have you laughing, trembling, and questioning your own mortality.

Final Destination 2 is one of the few horror sequels that manages to outshine the original. Released in 2003, this movie establishes what we now consider a typical Final Destination film. It is a clever, well-crafted horror movie that offers some unforgettable scares. With its entertaining characters, elaborate deaths, and trademark dark humor, Final Destination 2 is a movie that has truly stood the test of time.

The movie opens with a spectacular car accident that turns out to be a vision of Kimberly Corman, played by AJ Cook. Her vision shows an accident on the interstate, and so she blocks the entrance ramp, saving everyone who was behind her. However, as a result of her actions, all of her friends who were travelling in her SUV die in a fiery crash.

Kimberly is the only survivor, and she quickly realizes that death is still coming for her and her new group of friends. The new group of friends includes lottery winner Evan Lewis (David Paetaku), stoner Rory (Jonathan Cherry), neurotic chainsmoker Kat (Keegan Tracy Connor), teacher Eugene Dix (T.C. Carson), and Nora (Lynda Boyd) and her son, Tim (James Kirk). All of them have cheated death, and now death is after them.

The deaths in this movie are a lot more elaborate than the first movie, and death itself is shown to have its own dark sense of humor. It plays with its victims before finally killing them, making the movie both terrifying and entertaining. It seems that if you manage to escape death the first time, then death isn't just going to come straight for you. It’s going to track you down, play with you, and have some fun before it finally fills its quota.

One of the best things about Final Destination 2 is its characters. They are far more eccentric than the characters in the first movie and are all well-written and likable. The main cast is joined by Clear Rivers, played by Ali Larter, who returns from the first movie to act as a sort of death guru and provide an excuse for linking this sequel with the original.

What sets this movie apart is the dark humor that is present throughout. The deaths are so elaborate that it occasionally feels like a satirical take on the first film. However, this humor is not just limited to the deaths. There are moments when the movie plays with our expectations, such as when Clear Rivers arrives and gives them a list of safety precautions that make her sound like an overprotective parent, only to remind us of the dangers that are all around us.

Final Destination 2 is a clever movie that gets at a universal truth. You can avoid death, but you can never truly escape it. This horror sequel has remained one of the best horror movies ever made, and it is easy to see why. If you want a movie that will keep you entertained and on the edge of your seat, this is the movie for you.

As the credits roll on Final Destination 2, it's hard not to feel a sense of unease. We are reminded that death is always lurking around the corner, waiting to collect its due. This movie provides a thrilling and terrifying exploration of the idea that we can never truly escape death's grasp. But it also manages to lace that exploration with a dark, macabre humor that makes it all the more entertaining. Final Destination 2 has remained one of the best horror sequels ever made, and it's easy to see why. It's a movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat, entertains you, and lingers in your mind long after the final scene. So, if you're in the mood for a horror movie that's clever, fun, and genuinely scary, then Final Destination 2 is definitely worth checking out. Just don't be surprised if you find yourself looking over your shoulder for a while afterward.

4 out of 5 stabs 🔪🔪🔪🔪
FINAL THOUGHTS: Final Destination 2 is a darkly humorous and well-crafted horror sequel that offers unforgettable scares, elaborate deaths, and entertaining characters, making it a standout in the horror genre.

August 13, 2023|Final Destination Series, Horror Reviews , Slasher, Killers, and Psychos, Supernatural and Paranormal

The clock ticks down as a group of high school seniors enjoy a night out at an amusement park. Little do they know that Death is about to pay them a visit. When one of the students has a premonition of a catastrophic roller coaster accident, she manages to save herself and several of her friends from certain death. But their reprieve is only temporary. Death doesn't like to be cheated, and soon, the students find themselves stalked by an unseen force that is hell-bent on claiming their lives. It's a race against time as they try to outsmart Death and cheat fate once again, but as the body count rises and the premonitions grow more frequent and gruesome, they begin to realize that they may be fighting a losing battle.

Final Destination 3 is a horror movie that invites its viewers to revel in death and destruction. With elaborate death scenes that are designed to shock and entertain, it is a film that is committed to pandering to the lowest common denominator. While its creators, James Wong and Glen Morgan, attempt to inject a superficial moral discourse into the movie, Final Destination 3 is ultimately a shallow and cynical exercise in shock value.

At its core, the film is about a group of high school seniors who cheat death, only to find themselves stalked by the Grim Reaper as he comes to claim what is rightfully his. The idea of fate and the inevitability of death is central to the movie, but the way it is handled leaves a lot to be desired. Instead of exploring the complexities of mortality, Final Destination 3 fetishizes it. The film’s elaborate death scenes become the main attraction, and Wong and Morgan seem to take a perverse delight in coming up with creative ways to kill people.

The result is a film that is almost entirely devoid of emotional resonance. Characters are given little depth or nuance, and their actions often feel ludicrous or arbitrary. Even the film’s protagonist, Wendy, is simply a vehicle for moving the plot along, with very little attention paid to her emotional journey. Instead, Wong and Morgan seem to be more interested in wringing as much shock value out of each death scene as possible. The result is a movie that is violent and disturbing, but ultimately hollow.

It is worth noting that this kind of approach to horror movies is not new. Films like Saw and Hostel have explored the same kind of themes in a more thoughtful and nuanced way, giving their audiences a chance to reflect on the nature of violence and mortality. But Final Destination 3 seeks only to entertain, and it succeeds on that level. Its death scenes are elaborate and well-executed, and they are sure to make viewers squirm in their seats. But the movie doesn’t do anything to deepen our understanding of the human experience. Instead, it simply offers us a glimpse into the darker corners of our collective psyche.

The final scene fades to black as the audience is left with a sense of unease. Was the film they just watched only meant to entertain, or does it reveal something deeper about our society's fascination with violence and death? The creators of Final Destination 3 may have intended it as a harmless horror movie, but it raises important questions about the consequences of our media consumption.

As we continue to consume popular culture that glorifies death and violence, we risk becoming desensitized to real-life suffering. It's easy to dismiss movies like Final Destination 3 as mindless entertainment, but the stories we tell and the images we consume have a powerful impact on our worldview. It's time for us to demand more from our media, to challenge ourselves to think critically about what we watch and why. 

If we fail to do so, we risk creating a culture that is indifferent to the suffering of others. We must ask ourselves, what kind of society do we want to create and what role should our media consumption play in shaping that society? As the clock ticks down, the final destination may be closer than we think, and it's up to us to steer the course.

2 out of 5 stabs 🔪🔪
FINAL THOUGHTS: Final Destination 3 is a shallow, exploitative film that relies solely on cheap thrills and over-the-top gore to satisfy its audience, never bothering to offer anything of substance or value beyond its twisted fascination with death. Unless you are a dedicated completionist, I strongly advise against watching this film.

August 15, 2023|Final Destination Series, Horror Reviews , Slasher, Killers, and Psychos, Supernatural and Paranormal

Buckle up, and hold on tight. The world of "The Final Destination" is not for the faint-hearted. From the heart-stopping premonitions to the bone-chilling death scenes, this film will take your breath away. As you grip the edge of your seat, the characters will take you for a ride as they attempt to cheat death itself. Their striking resemblance to typical college stereotypes will only heighten the suspense and leave you guessing until the very end. With every twist and turn, the scares just keep on coming. Welcome to The Final Destination, where everything is on the line, and one wrong move could result in a gruesome and violent end.

The "Final Destination" series has always been known for its creative and gruesome death scenes, and the fourth installment, "The Final Destination" (2009), is no exception. Director David R. Ellis and co-writer Eric Bress return to the franchise after the second installment, taking advantage of the 3D trend that was popular around the same year as "Avatar." Although the special effects might not be the strongest point of the film, the combination of suspense, anticipation, and fear builds up to some thrilling, intense moments.

The movie begins with an accident at a racetrack. Nick (Bobby Campo) experiences a premonition where he sees a racecar crash into the audience, killing everyone in its path. Nick, along with his girlfriend Lori (Shantel VanSanten), and their friends Janet (Haley Webb) and Hunt (Nick Zano), leave the bleachers as a result. As they exit, the stadium collapses. This opening scene establishes the movie's recurring theme of young people trying to cheat death itself.

The plot follows the four college friends, who are portrayed in typical stereotypes: Nick is a regular guy, Lori is his pretty girlfriend, Janet is the typical uptight girl, and Hunt is the jerk. Nick is haunted by his premonition and believes that Death will come after him and his friends. He confides in George (Mykelti Williamson), a security guard, who initially dismisses Nick's suspicions until several accidents prove that Nick's sixth sense is not entirely unfounded.

The death scenes are the highlight of the movie. Screenwriter Bress draws inspiration from things that are scary when we were kids, but in real life, hardly ever caused tragic accidents. The scenes where Janet is stuck in an automated car wash, intercut with Hunt being sucked into a pool drain "Alien Resurrection"-style, are standout scenes. Another extraordinary death scene is Lori's death, as she gets pulled into the mechanical works of an escalator.

Although the performances are average, Bobby Campo gives a pleasant performance in the lead role and he does justice to the part. Mykelti Williamson, a known actor, adds a unique character to the plot with his performance as George, who undergoes a transformation of sorts as the story progresses. Krista Allen, known for her appearance in the "X-Files," appears in the movie playing the role of MILF/Samantha. However, it's worth noting that Tony Todd, a known actor, doesn't appear onscreen in this chapter of the series.

Overall, "The Final Destination" might not be the best part of the "Final Destination" franchise, but it's still worth watching for its entertainment value. The death scenes are imaginative and impressive, and while the movie may be lacking in character development and realism, it still delivers on the series' recurring theme of how death is inescapable. The movie is not for the faint-hearted, as it will likely make viewers think twice before embarking on any mundane activity.

As the credits roll, and the screen goes black, the world of "The Final Destination" lingers on. The images of creative and gruesome death scenes will haunt you long after the movie has ended, and the recurring theme of inescapable death will stay with you. Bobby Campo's strong performance as the lead character, Nick, and the impressive Mykelti Williamson as George, will strike a chord with even the most jaded movie-goer. While the movie may have its faults, it's undeniable that the suspense, anticipation, and fear build to a thrilling and satisfying climax that is sure to leave audiences wanting more. So, buckle up, hold on tight, and get ready for an unforgettable ride to cheat death. The final destination has arrived.

4 out of 5 stabs 🔪🔪🔪🔪
FINAL THOUGHTS: With its heart-stopping opening scene and haunting death sequences, "The Final Destination" offers a captivating and suspenseful experience, perfect for those in search of unrelenting action and blood-curdling horror. For anyone seeking fast-paced, gory action, I highly suggest watching this movie.

August 16, 2023|Final Destination Series, Horror Reviews , Slasher, Killers, and Psychos, Supernatural and Paranormal

The air was thick with tension, and the sound of creaking metal filled the space. A group of coworkers stood frozen on a massive suspension bridge, their eyes wide and their hands trembling with fear. They all knew that something was about to go terribly wrong, but none of them could have predicted the horror that was about to unfold.

In the midst of this chaos was Sam, a young man who had just had a terrible vision of the bridge collapsing and everyone on it tumbling to their deaths. Terrified and confused, he tried to warn his coworkers of the impending disaster, but none of them would listen to him. They all brushed him off as paranoid, a hopeless pessimist who was imagining things.

But Sam knew better. He had seen it all before, in his nightmares and premonitions. He knew that death was coming, and that there was no escaping its grasp. And as the bridge began to shake and buckle beneath their feet, Sam found himself looking on in horror, knowing that there was nothing he could do to stop the inevitable.

Final Destination 5 is the fifth installment in the Final Destination franchise and proves to be a standout horror film. Director Steven Quale captures the same eerie atmosphere that made the original movie so successful and offers suspenseful scenes, solid performances, and inventive gore shots that make this film one of the best horror outings of the summer.

The movie centers around a man named Sam, who has a premonition of a massive suspension bridge collapsing. Concerned about the safety of his coworkers, he manages to save them from certain death, but death doesn't like to be cheated. One by one, the survivors experience gruesome accidents, and it becomes clear that death is coming to collect its due.

The film succeeds in reviving the once-original horror series, offering a unique spin on the familiar death-filled game that has become a staple of the franchise. Final Destination 5 feels like a well-crafted thriller, striking a perfect balance between character development, suspenseful moments, and visceral gore. As a result, the movie delivers an intense and entertaining horror experience that fans of the genre will love.

One of the aspects of the film that sets it apart from other horror movies is its cast. The characters are a likable bunch, with Nicholas D'Agosto and Emma Bell creating a very charismatic leading couple. They bring a human element to the story and make viewers care about their fate. As well, Tony Todd returns as the coroner, offering a foreboding sense of doom. He seems right at home in the role, and it is refreshing that he has returned.

David Koechner and Courtney B. Vance also add a little credibility to the proceedings. Koechner plays the company supervisor, while Vance plays the suspicious Agent Block who is investigating the bizarre accidents. Both performances are terrific, adding to the overall charm of the movie. The rest of the cast, including Arlen Escarpeta, PJ Byrne, Ellen Wroe, Jacqueline MacInnes Wood, and Miles Fisher, are also commendable, making this one of the most amiable groups of fodder to show up in a horror flick in some time.

The deaths in Final Destination 5 are, as usual, gruesome, creative, and quite memorable. From a single nail on a balancing beam to a nightmarish massage, the film delivers several moments that will shock and disturb. The suspense leading up to the characters' demise is enormously intense, which makes for some excruciatingly unnerving moments. The 3D of the film works as it should, especially with the witty opening credits that set the stage for the ensuing gore fest.

Final Destination 5 manages to pay tribute to the original while still upping the gruesomeness on every level. The film offers insurmountable tension, surprisingly solid performances, and inventive gore shots that are sure to leave audiences on the edge of their seats. The movie successfully revitalizes the franchise and proves that death has never been better. This time, he may have a few "twists" up his sleeve. Speaking of twists, the ending of this film has a helluv one.

The survivors may have stumbled away from the wreckage of the collapsed bridge, their faces etched with horror and disbelief. But for Sam and some of his coworkers, the nightmare was not yet over, as death continued to stalk them. With courage and determination, they defied death and emerged victorious, proving that sometimes, it's not about escaping death but facing it head-on. Final Destination 5 is a standout horror film, offering suspenseful scenes, solid performances, and inventive gore shots. It breathed new life into the beloved franchise and is a thrilling cinematic experience that kept audiences on the edge of their seats.

3 out of 5 stabs 🔪🔪🔪
FINAL THOUGHTS: Final Destination 5 is an intense and entertaining horror experience that delivers surprisingly solid performances, inventive gore shots, and insurmountable tension, revitalizing the franchise and proving that death has never been better! I definitely recommend Final Destination 5 as an intense and entertaining horror film that will leave audiences on the edge of their seats.