FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES: A Delightfully Gory Return to the Series

Admittedly, I didn’t get into the Final Destination series until just recently, but of course I remember seeing the commercials (that truck with the logs in the back still influences who I drive behind on a highway). After seeing all original five, though, I can understand the appeal. They’re unique amongst similarly aligned B-monster movies because of one key detail: the monster itself is not a physical entity, but rather Death itself. We never see Death’s face, but we see the effect of it for sure, often in all of its grim, gory detail.

It may have been 14 years, but the latest entry in the series, Final Destination: Bloodlines, picks up right where the previous film had ended; there are premonitions of death, a wild story of Death coming for those who were able to escape it, and one-by-one, Death itself encroaching on our main characters. There is even more of a backstory and exposition for how Death works, and for one recurring character in particular. For fans of the series and even for newcomers who like this type of over-the-top horror, you’ve come to the right place.

Back To The Past

Bloodlines starts in the past, in the 1960s. There is a young woman named Iris (Brec Bassinger) and her boyfriend (Max Lloyd-Jones), who are on a date at a newly opened observation tower. Of course, something is about to go very wrong, though, and Iris is the only one who sees it. She inevitably is able to save a lot of people from their grisly ends. But as we see later on, Death is not very happy about this turn of events.

Fast-forward to the present day, and Stefani Reyes (Kaitlyn Santa Juana) is a college student plagued by nightmares. These nightmares, interestingly, include the very same tower collapse that we had seen at the start of the film. Stefani discovers that the nightmare is the actual vision that her grandmother, Iris, had received, and after visiting Iris, she realizes the truth. Because her grandmother was supposed to die on that tower, none of them were supposed to exist. Death is now coming for them all.

A Twist On The Formula

This added extra element distinguishes Final Destination: Bloodlines from its predecessors. It links a past event from nearly 60 years ago to the present, showing how the ever-looming presence of Death never really fades. It is eerie precisely because it is so relatable. Sure, Death may come in the most unusual forms here, but the fact that it could come for any of us at any moment really is a terrifying prospect. It’s for this reason that the Final Destination series has had the longevity that it has. We don’t need an actual physical monster to scare us; the concept of Death itself is scary enough.

Of course, this movie also has all the elements you would hope for in a Final Destination movie. There are the deaths themselves, which can be both ridiculous and also unexpected. The setups to each of them are precise, with tiny details such as a closeup of a beer bottle placed on an outdoor patio, whose purpose in an untimely death is only revealed after all the other elements are in place. It’s a macabre kind of enjoyment to see how the pieces come together, trying to predict just how a person’s death is going to come about. You may think a character is safe, but just wait. And once the deaths finally do come, often with an explosion of blood and gore, the only true proper reaction is a mix of disgust and laughter. Also, be sure for plenty of callbacks and Easter eggs to previous films.

Characters You Actually Care About

Another element that distinguishes this film from some of its predecessors is the development of its core characters. The screenplay actually spends a decent amount of time developing the characters and their relationships to one another, especially Stefani, a Scream Queen who is played well by Santa Juana, and her brother Charlie (Teo Briones), whose relationship is the centerpiece of the film. Their estranged relationship with their mother, who is only neglectful due to her own mother’s insanity and obsession with Death, shows how trauma can be passed down through generations. And Stefani’s own current obsession causes a rift in her family as well, that is, until they finally start to believe her about Death’s plan for them.

Also appearing in Bloodlines is the final appearance of Tony Todd (RIP) as William Bloodworth, a character who has appeared throughout this series. He has finally given a backstory here, as opposed to just being an ominously cryptic character who pops up to reveal details about Death to characters in the other films. And as Todd knew he was dying at the time, he also convinced the filmmakers to let him write his final lines. What he says here is both a wonderful sendoff to his character as well as a fitting tribute to a beloved actor. It is amongst the highlights of the film.

Conclusion

To conclude, Final Destination: Bloodlines is a wonderful return to form for a series that, though it has had its shortfalls (Final Destination 4, for example), has mostly retained its gory, over-the-top appeal. This latest entry both reimagines and reinvigorates what had made the original movies so enticing for horror-lovers. It is just pure B-movie enjoyment.

Final Destination: Bloodlines is now playing in theaters.