Every single Final Destination film has the same story, the main character (who's always a young man or woman) becomes the victim of a random but tragic massacre that occurs due to some form of negligence or another. The film then flashes back to moments before the tragedy begins where the main character realsies they saw a premonition of what's to come and with that new information saves as many people as they can before the inevitable. After they have survived, Death cleans up the mess that has been made by the main character and kills the survivors in the order they were meant to die in various random and harrowing ways, giving audiences new fears of everyday items with each franchise entry.
Final Destination Bloodlines, after five films of recycling the same concept over and over and a 14 year gap, finally switches up the formula with it's brutal and franchise-best opening. Writers Jon Watts, Lori Evans Taylor and Gus Busick take audiences back to the 1950s where a couple take a date to the opening of a new tourist attraction tower with a glass floor, fans of the franchise won't need explaining as to where this goes. After a brilliantly directed and appropriately tense build up to a classic Final Destination slaughter, the death of the main character of the scene doesn't lead to a flashback to the beginning of the tragedy but in fact is revealed as the dream of a contemporary young girl, Stefani, daydreaming in a university lecture. This begins Stefani's (Kaitlyn Santa Juana) journey to discover the meaning of her dream and the plans that Death has for her family.
The Final Destination franchise is a sort of cousin or maybe even a sibling of the Saw franchise. In both, the story is more or less the same for each installment and is almost inconsequential as what fans really remember are the variety of ways that people are brutally murdered. In Final Destination this will be by tragic "accidents" orchestrated by Death and in Saw its in the form of traps set by Jigsaw. Both make attempts to connect each film (Saw more successfully than Final Destination) but at the end of the day, that's not what people are coming to watch. With that being said, when there is a good story with good characters, it's more than a bonus. That bonus is what Final Destination Bloodlines provides.
Bloodlines narrative provides a thrilling and entertaining watch with twists and turns that are both enthralling and shocking. The franchise tongue in cheek tone is in full force with deaths that are gruesomely macabre accompanied with almost soap opera esque drama. What sets Bloodlines apart from its franchise brethren, however, is its main cast of characters who don't exactly break the mould when it comes to archetypes do in terms of their outlook on what's going on around them. The characters, especially Stefani, feel as if they've actually seen the previous films so the script becomes almost meta without becoming cringe-inducingly so like certain other superhero projects. Moreover, the film pays tribute to the late Tony Todd by not only giving him a surprisingly heartwarming farewell scene but also giving his character William Bludworth an actual backstory and explanation, making Bloodlines feel like a full circle moment for the series while also being a dedication to the franchise's and the actor's legacy.
But of course, as mentioned before, the story is not what audiences will be going to see this film for, it's the kills. Bloodlines provides these in droves, and will also give people new fears of the everyday. There are most likely several people out there who are afraid to go up buildings like the Shard or the Empire State Building (or more appropriately, the Seattle Needle) who will have their fears very much confirmed by the opening sequence of this film which is almost matter of fact with the way it depicts innocent party goers plummeting to their deaths through a glass floor. However, after watching Bloodlines, everyday things like a lawn mower, ice and bin collection days will cause post traumatic stress. Additionally, due to a story point relevant to the film's title that won't be spoiled here, there is a lot more opportunities for deaths than in previous films.
It's fascinating how things like gruesome death can bring people together into a community. If you have the right audience for this film, it will be the cinematic experience of your life. Build ups to slaughter will be accompanied by appropriate oos and eers and when the eventual deaths happen the gasps and chesty laughs will erupt throughout the screen. A full audience for Final Destination Bloodlines is probably the only place where you will ever hear a cheer so loud in response to the death of a child. Audience participation has been given a bad reputation this year since the "Chicken Jockey" epidemics that A Minecraft Movie has created but hopefully Bloodlines will be the vaccine these reactions need to become more communal than disruptive.
Final Destination Bloodlines is the best in the franchise since its first endeavour. It reinvents series tropes while also managing to stay true to its tried and tested formula. It gives new and old fans alike the chance to experience a Final Destination on the big screen in a new and exciting way and as a result is the cinematic event of the year. It's by no means an Oscar winner, but that's never what it was meant to be and serves it purpose well and beyond.
★★★★
Final Destination Bloodlines releases in UK cinemas May 14
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