Final Destination: Bloodlines

This sixth franchise installment keeps the same core concept as the previous films but takes a fresh approach to the story. This time, the accidents aren't shown through the typical dynamics of the characters, but focus on tragedies from the past of the main character's grandmother. The film doesn't just involve friends and loved ones, but also family, making the narrative much darker and more morbid.

The deaths are far more creative, and while the accidents themselves aren't typical for a horror movie, they're events you could imagine happening in everyday life. Still, these occurrences are something we haven't seen in the series before, making the film all the more unpredictable.

It's been 14 years since the last installment, and I'm glad the creators decided to bring Final Destination back. I think they nailed the essence of the story, and the film is just as good as the previous ones, if not better than some. The effects are incredible, the CGI is top-notch, and we've been lacking a high-quality horror film like this, especially in the last few years.

I have to mention that the film disgusted and shocked me more than the previous ones, which means they nailed the effects. This film not only satisfies fans of the franchise but also brings something new and revitalizes the series.

Having seen all the previous films I can honestly say this one was actually pretty good at reviving the formula. I loved the original (had it on VHS as a kid and watched it to death) and got to see a double feature tonight of the original on the big screen and then this one back 2 back. This one has the same premise as the others only it concentrates on a family this time around rather than a group who all avoid a deadly disaster. The main set up at the start was well done (some dodgy CGI but that's fine) and will unlock another new fear in you. Some of the deaths scenes are brutal but being a horror fan I'm never bothered by the red stuff on screen and particularly one scene set in a hospital. I hope they do make more of these movies because the possibilities are endless and they're enjoyable with some laughable deaths as well. If you liked the others you will enjoy it so go see it.

One of the problems with movie series like this is that makers can't handle the pressure of the hype and eventually let it down. BUT, they found something new and exciting with Bloodlines. The movie starts like a typical Final Destination, makes you think that it's going to be the same old stuff again but it eventually grows out to be a Well Written Storyline with a great screenplay that keeps us hooked to the scene even though we kind of expect what is going to happen. I mean that's the whole point of Final Destination itself right?- we know what's gonna happen and wait for the ways that's gonna happen and the WAYS are written and shot beautifully. Loved the experiments with cinematography. Humor worked out good at places.

A Good fun watch. Definitely recommended.

Final Destination: Bloodlines isn't going to pull a rabbit out of its undead hat, reinvent the horror wheel, or stake its claim as a genre-defining masterstroke-but that's not the point.

What it does do is breathe new life into a franchise that felt like it had run out of steam. Bloodlines is a solid sixth installment, packing the same patented "inevitable death" mechanics we know and (occasionally) love, but with enough fresh twists to keep die-hard fans from checking out.

If you never warmed to the idea of "death's design" calling the shots, this won't convert you. For everyone else, the film delivers brilliantly choreographed set pieces of grisly demise-think elaborate Rube Goldberg traps drenched in splatter FX-that hit the sweet spot between macabre creativity and good old-fashioned gore.

The biggest upgrade this time around is emotional buy-in: the victims aren't a bunch of arbitrary strangers thrown together by fate. Instead, Bloodlines builds sincere rapport with its core ensemble, giving each death a bit more narrative weight (and, yes, a smidge of pathos) before the inevitable payoff.

Unfortunately, the dialogue remains as thin as ever-flat exposition one moment, telenovela melodrama the next-reminding you that subtlety wasn't high on the call sheet.

On the plus side, the movie leavens the carnage with genuinely funny, ironically staged moments-many courtesy of Erik, whose over-the-top flair steals scenes from our so-called protagonist-and the delightfully absurd chain reactions (who knew the garbage truck could be such a menace?).

Even though the film trudges into its predictable finale with all the subtlety of a wrecking ball, Bloodlines is pure adrenaline: brutal, energetic, and darkly comedic. In other words, exactly what you paid for when you bought that Final Destination ticket.

There's a scene around the middle of the film Final Destination: Bloodlines where William John Bludworth, the character played by Tony Todd throughout the series says "I intend to enjoy the time I have left, and I suggest you do the same. Life is precious. Enjoy every single second. You never know when... Good luck."

It such a wistful moment because this was Tony Todd's last film and was extra impactful because it almost looked as if Tony broke the fourth wall and spoke directly to the audience. It was an extremely poignant moment, especially since Todd appeared to be in such ill health.

We all know the general premise by now - cheating death just delays the inevitable.

When a woman named Iris saves hundreds of people from death in a space needle like structure that's about to collapse what happens is that they eventually die but it takes decades instead of days and Grandma Iris's family is now on the chopping block. Her granddaughter Stephanie has been having these insane nightmares about her grandmother's death in the tower and when she goes to see her, Iris tells her that you can cheat death, but you can't escape it.

And well, you can't.

This sixth installment in the final destination series ranks up there with the logging incident in the second installment. The opening scene of carnage is nothing short of amazing and superbly well-crafted and choreographed and funny and, thankfully, the perpetrator who caused all the damage was immediately rectified. 71-year-old stuntwoman Yvette Ferguson came out of retirement for a fire stunt in the premonition scene, which some believe to be a world record for the oldest person set on fire on camera.

Let's face it, at its core, the final destination movies are Rube Goldbergesque slasher films, but this one really had the best sense of humor of all the films in the series. Whereas the first few movies had scenes in which you would laugh out of relief this movie has scenes that genuinely make you laugh out loud, not from relief, but because the sense of humor evinced by the writers and directors is just so spot on.

Does it break new ground? Other than the laughs it provides, probably not, but it is still a highly entertaining film.

I am going to give this an extra half star "In Memory of Tony Todd."

WATCH IT

4/5.