Introduction to the Final Destination Franchise
The Final Destination films have been a staple of the horror genre for over two decades, with the first film releasing in 2000. Despite the lack of a traditional villain and heavily foreshadowed deaths, the franchise managed to spawn five films over 11 years. Now, a reboot, Final Destination: Bloodlines, has been released, offering a fresh take on the concept.
Plot and Tone
The film starts with a fantastic opening sequence set in the 1960s, which sets the tone and plot for the rest of the movie. The story follows Stefani, played by Kaitlyn Santa Juana, who has a recurring nightmare about a disaster that her grandmother, Iris, helped to avert. As the story unfolds, Stefani becomes convinced that she and her family are destined to meet a grisly end in the near future. The film’s tone is well-balanced, with a mix of suspense, horror, and entertaining death scenes.
A Creative Twist on the Original Concept
The idea of Death hunting down an entire family line due to the actions of the family elder is a solid twist on the series’ central premise. This change keeps the film from feeling repetitive and introduces the possibility that the entire series is connected due to Iris’ actions. The character’s scrapbook, which references well-known incidents from previous films, is a fun Easter egg for longtime fans.
Death Scenes and Storytelling
The film’s death scenes are creative and gruesome, with each successive death becoming increasingly bizarre. The Rube Goldberg-like manner in which each death occurs makes the scenes come off as entertaining instead of off-putting. However, the creativity of the kill sequences does not carry over to the overall story. Almost every character in the film only exists to meet a horrific end, making it hard to care about anybody outside of their impending doom.
Character Development
The cast is devoid of well-known actors, with Kaitlyn Santa Juana taking on her biggest role to date. She does well enough to want to see more of her in the future. The rest of the cast, including Alex Zahara and Rya Kihlstedt, are character actors who bring some history with them, while the younger group is composed of people still trying to make names for themselves.
Conclusion
Final Destination: Bloodlines is a solid return for the franchise, even if it feels more like a one-off film rather than a justification for more stories in the future. The film’s creative death scenes and twist on the original concept make it an entertaining watch. While the characters may not be fully developed, the film’s suspense and horror elements make up for it. With its release on May 16, fans of the franchise and horror genre will likely enjoy this new installment.
