Final Destination: Bloodlines

It's crazy to me to think that the last time a 'Final Destination' movie came out I was a young 20 year old man full of hopes and dreams. And the title of the fourth film in the series, 'The Final Destination', implied it would be the final instalment of the series back in 2009, however anyone familiar with modern Hollywood probably knew that was unlikely to remain the case - and it lasted 2 years.

When you make an instalment 14 years after the last, there's probably a sense that you have to do something a little different in order to justify it. And this film does mix the formula up - slightly. Just enough that it feels a little different, but not enough that it really alters the formula we have come to know and love.

The opening scene in this movie was really good. It was lengthy, fairly creative and had some great individual kills in the mix. From there thing go into a lull for a while, allowing the story to set itself up. Then the film goes bananas the rest of the way and we are treated to brilliant kill scene after brilliant kill scene. There are some really good ones in this film.

One thing that was a problem here - and something that has plagued the series in almost every film - is that it is riddled with unlikable characters. I can only think that's being done intentionally at this point to make people feel disposable and like no one is safe, but I can't help but feel the films would be slightly more impactful if the characters were a bit more likable overall.

All in all though I would say 'Final Destination: Bloodlines' was a lot better than it had any right to be 25 years after the original. 8/10.

Not bad at all. It makes the most logically-connected sense out of all the FD series. But... Realism? Way less now. Personally, it's still between "mid" to the "quite good" level. The FD series have always stood out in the category of horror. This movie still has some questionable scenes that leaves me with slight curiosity on how some of the occurences could be avoided, but it didn't disappoint me. The casting is wonderful and so is the acting. Plus, this one's highly supernatural and not as gory as the others in terms of screen time. A lot relies on the sound/music, and angles. I watched it in Premiere so I got the benefit of the sound system's work. The special effects and lighting quality made every scene look realistic in portrayal. What impressed me is that this is one of those moderate-comeback horror thrillers that's categorized as supernatural but isn't involving a visible entity or character. These kinds of movies stand out to me. And I'm overall impressed by the tense moments FD is able to exhibit. Also, this is my first review on IMDb!

Really enjoyed this one! It's super brutal again, but the story was told differently this time with the whole Bloodlines twist, which made it feel fresh and exciting. The plot was good and kept me entertained all the way through, with lots of intense moments, great pacing, and a few cool surprises along the way. I watched it in D-Box with Dolby Atmos - the sound was absolutely amazing, super powerful, and the moving seats made it even more intense and fun. Definitely a unique cinema experience. If you enjoy brutal action, great sound, and a fresh twist, you should totally check it out. Solid 7/10!

It's wild to say this, but after five movies and more than two decades, Final Destination somehow still has life left in it. Or rather, death. And this time, it hits a little closer to home. Bloodlines isn't just about unlucky strangers cheating fate anymore but it's about family. And with that shift, the stakes suddenly feel heavier, the emotions more raw. Because when death comes for the blood, it's not just fear you feel. It's grief. It's guilt. It's love. And maybe that's why this entry stands out, for better or worse.

Let's start with the concept. Family has never been the center of this franchise. We've seen classmates, co-workers, and acquaintances on the run from death, but this time, we're watching people who genuinely care for each other fall into that cycle. That makes a huge difference. It hurts more. It hits deeper. And yeah, it makes us wonder, if it were your family, how far would you go to stop the inevitable?

Also, credit where it's due. The film tries something new with the opening accident. No highways, no planes, no race tracks or suspension bridges. This time, it all kicks off in a high-rise restaurant. That shift alone already breathes new life into the formula. It's unexpected. It's acrophobic. It's oddly elegant and terrifying at the same time. But don't get too excited, if you were hoping for the long-awaited ship or water-related disaster (like many of us were), this ain't it.

Now, let's talk about the gore. We know why you're here. And yes, the deaths are brutal. Bloody. Wild. There were moments we flinched, moments we squirmed, moments we covered our eyes and peeked through our fingers. But as great as some of those sequences were, they don't quite reach the unforgettable horror of FD 2 or 3. Why? Because it uses too much CGI. The deaths feel animated and not in a good way. There's something about practical effects that stick with you, that disturb you long after the credits roll. Bloodlines often trades that realism for spectacle, and in doing so, it loses a bit of its bite.

The suspense is honestly a hit or miss. Part of what made Final Destination so scary was how simple the deaths were. The log truck that caused generational trauma, the tanning bed that was caused by dripping water, the escalator that was merely simple but very traumatizing, the lasik eye surgery that could happen basically to anyone. They made you fear your own bathroom. But here, some of the deaths feel too 'engineered'. Like fate had to go through a hundred different steps and a sprinkle of miracles just to make them happen. That makes it less scary, less grounded. It becomes a "movie death," not a "this could happen to me" death.

And that brings us to tone. This one's tricky. Bloodlines has this weird, goofy energy that feels like it wandered in from another genre. While we have cloudy sombre mood in Final Destination 2 or gothic rock look in Final Destination 3, this one felt goofy overall. It's still horror, yes, but it sometimes flirts a little too hard with comedy and not in the smart, dark humor way. Some of the jokes land, but a few feel way out of place. Like they belong in a Nickelodeon teen movie, not a franchise built on dread and doom. It felt comical and fantasy-like. You can definitely feel the directors' Disney Channel DNA in there especially in how some of the dialogue is written and delivered (Remember, they directed the live-action Kim Possible Movie fore real). A few lines honestly made us laugh, not because they were funny, but because they felt awkwardly placed or just plain corny.

But even with the tonal whiplash, the movie does do a few things really well. The balance between drama and horror is actually quite solid in some scenes. There are moments where you do care about the characters, their grief, their confusion, their desperation. There's one particular scene involving a sibling that really tugged at the heart. And those are the moments where Bloodlines reminds us what this franchise can be when it isn't trying to be too clever or too loud.

There are also some nice throwbacks for longtime fans but it's blink-and-you'll-miss-it easter eggs like a passing log truck, a familiar hospital name (Clear River, anyone?), and references to past characters or deaths. It's fan service, sure, but in a sweet, subtle way. Not overbearing. Just enough to make you smile but in fear.

Unfortunately, the pacing could've been tighter. The first half is a slow burn, and if you came in expecting death after death like Final Destination 2 or 4, you might be let down. This feels more like the first film. The story drives the engine, and the deaths are pit stops along the way. The final climax was mid. It doesn't really feel like that was supposed to be the climax of the movie. They could have explored more on how they could have impacted the story or the deaths more but what we got was a mid climax that felt boring and meh. It just doesn't build up to that edge-of-your-seat tension we were hoping for. It fizzles, rather than explodes.

We need to be honest about the visuals. Some of the camera work, lighting choices and delivery of dialogues just feel... off. Almost like you're watching an 18+ TV show rather than a polished horror film. At times it looks cheap, which is disappointing because this series deserves to feel cinematic. The horror deserves weight. Gravity. Darkness. Instead, it occasionally feels like a high-budget student film with B to C-list actors.

Still, despite all of that, we can't lie. We had fun. It gave us chills. It made us look over our shoulder. And more than anything, it reminded us that the Final Destination series still knows how to make death feel terrifyingly inevitable.

Verdict: After five films and a long break, Final Destination: Bloodlines doesn't just bring the franchise back - it rewires it. It's flawed, yes. The CGI bleeds into the kills too much. The goofy tone doesn't always match the stakes. But it hits deep. This isn't just about death anymore. It's about love, guilt, and what it means to lose someone you'd die for. Sure, some deaths feel too engineered, and yes, the tone sometimes slips into Nickelodeon-territory, but there's a real beating heart underneath the chaos. The CGI may cheapen the gore, but it still made us squirm, look away, and nervously laugh all in the same breath. It's not the scariest entry but it might be the most 'human'. And for a series known for senseless carnage, that's a wild achievement.

Final Destination: Bloodlines is a great time. It does the smart thing and goes for a more comedic approach than earlier entries in the series.

Bloodlines contains possibly the best opening of the franchise and the first 20 minutes are a treat. The effects, while not amazing, do the job and are particularly gory even for this series.

The movie works well bringing a new twist on the Final Destination formula and the family are all likable enough in their own ways.

It would be remiss of me not to mention a standout in Richard Harmon. I spend a good portion of his time on screen trying to calculate if Tom Green could have fathered him as he is his dead ringer in this (amazingly both canadian as well). It was obvious they were going for a Tom Green type of character.

Tony Todd shows up for the last time as the mortician and it's a great emotional and poetic send off for him as well as giving his character an interesting backstory.

The movie has some nice little easter eggs for fans of the series with some call backs to previous entries as well as harking back to some of the premonitions.

The Final Destination franchise has always been interesting to me but never quite delivered a quality movie. This is perhaps the closest it has came to that by just being a good time and not getting bogged down in the lore.