I freely acknowledge my lack of familiarity with the “Final Destination” series. To be honest, it caught me off guard to learn this was actually the SIXTH movie in a film franchise that started way back, 25 years ago. The fifth installment, “Final Destination 5,” came out in 2011 and managed decent commercial performance. This success led to prompt plans for another movie, which eventually materialized after a fourteen-year wait – we now have “Final Destination Bloodlines.
Was it truly necessary to produce another “Final Destination” film, or was there a significant demand for one? These are questions frequently posed regarding movies of this kind, and I’ve never been a fan of them. Instead of confining creators with notions of what we supposedly “need” or forcing them to give us only what we desire, why not consider – Does the movie offer enough innovative concepts and/or invigorating energy to make it enjoyable? To my astonishment, “Bloodlines” successfully delivers on this front.
The film commences with quite a dramatic start. In the year 1968, Paul (Max Lloyd-Jones) decides to take his girlfriend Iris (Brec Bassinger) on a surprise date at the luxurious Skyview Restaurant perched high above on an imposing tower. Accessible only by a narrow glass elevator or an endless winding staircase, the restaurant offers exquisite dining, a posh bar, a dance floor, and lively music. Paul intended to pop the question while Iris was unaware of her pregnancy. However, a series of unfortunate incidents leads to the tower’s collapse, claiming the lives of everyone inside.
Fifty years later, Stefani (Kaitlyn Santa Juana), a college student, has been tormented by vivid, recurring nightmares about the Skyview catastrophe. These nightmares have made it impossible for her to sleep, leading to academic problems and eventually probation. Desperate to understand the source of these disturbing dreams, Stefani decides to drop out of school and return home. Her first priority is to rebuild relationships with her family members, whom she has been estranged from since leaving for college.
However, Stefani encounters a more severe and deadly predicament due to the disclosure of her family’s connection to the Skyview incident. To put it mildly, her remote and secretive grandmother (Gabrielle Rose) managed to survive that day and later had offspring who should not have been born. Now, death has returned to claim what is rightfully its own and has set its sights on Stefani’s family.
Absolutely, the movie’s unique aspect lies in its portrayal of a chain of events that, at first glance, appear random but ultimately lead to a character’s demise. Directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein amplify the tension with their graphic, chaotic, and sometimes humorously dark depiction of death scenes. Death serves as a cunning adversary, making audiences uneasy through skillfully crafted suspenseful moments that eventually culminate in brutally satisfying conclusions.
Admit it, I’d be telling a white lie if I claimed I fully grasped all the intricacies of this story. The characters didn’t exactly captivate me, but they were well-developed enough to serve as convincing victims for the ruthless Reaper. It results in an entertaining and innovative horror film that manages to be both amusing and unsettling, sometimes even at the same time. And let’s not forget, we get to witness the exceptional performance of the late Tony Todd in his perfectly suited final major screen appearance. His single scene is a testament to why this movie deserves a watch. Farewell, Mr. Todd.
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2025-05-19 17:57