FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES. Killed to Death [REVIEW]

Although the creators of the first Final Destination claimed they never intended to make a slasher film, history quickly revised their ambitions. Over the next decade, Death—lying in wait for the series’ next protagonists—firmly established itself in the horror pantheon, alongside such legends as Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers, and Jigsaw. The question is, after so many years since the last installment (and following several genre-defining turning points), does the franchise still have a reason to exist?

Fortunately, Saw X demonstrated that there’s still room in contemporary horror cinema for icons of the early 2000s gore renaissance. The writers of Final Destination: Bloodlines are drawing from the same playbook as the creators of the most recent Jigsaw outing—while staying faithful to the franchise’s well-known formula, they introduce some rather significant changes.

This is evident right from the opening scene, where young Iris enjoys a romantic evening with her boyfriend at a newly opened rooftop restaurant. When the filmmakers start hinting at an impending tragedy—small cracks in the glass floor, a dangerously swaying chandelier—we think we know exactly where it’s going. Iris has a vision of a catastrophic accident and the deaths of everyone in the building—only for the first twist to be revealed: we weren’t watching Iris’s premonition at all, but rather a nightmare had by her granddaughter, Stefani.

As Stefani eventually learns, her grandmother did indeed have a vision years ago, one that allowed her to save the restaurant’s guests. However, this act also triggered a long-delayed retaliation by Death, which now claims not just the survivors but also their families. Iris, who has spent years hunting for signs of Death’s presence, has become estranged from her loved ones. But when Stefani and her family find themselves in Death’s crosshairs, it’s time to reconcile with the family matriarch and learn from her hard-earned wisdom.

The theme of a horror antagonist as a metaphor for generational trauma naturally recalls Halloween (2018). And while we all come to these movies mainly for the inventively staged death scenes, this thread is handled skillfully enough to make us genuinely root for the characters. What builds suspense further is the fact that—unlike past protagonists in the franchise—Stefani and her family don’t benefit from premonitions. What they do have, however, is an unexpected gift from Grandma: a hefty book in which Iris has meticulously written down tips for spotting signs of Death’s approach. It’s as if she’d been watching the earlier Final Destination films herself, taking notes on all the rules the screenwriters have pulled out of thin air over the years.

The filmmakers are, of course, well aware of the audience’s familiarity with the franchise’s formula. Luckily for us, they still find plenty of ways to surprise. This is clear in the opening sequence and continues with a series of spectacularly executed deaths. Various Chekhov’s guns are carefully planted throughout the film, only to “go off” at the least expected moments. The grotesque blends seamlessly with dark humor, and the methods by which characters meet their demise are among the most inventive in the entire series.

Bloodlines also cleverly ties into the franchise’s legacy. Fans will easily spot the subtle nods to earlier films, but the most significant callback is the appearance of the much-missed Tony Todd, reprising his role as coroner William Bludworth one final time. From the very beginning, Bludworth has been one of the franchise’s constants—and its greatest mystery. With his deep knowledge of Death and its workings, he has always existed on a slightly different plane from the rest of the characters. We’ve never known for sure who—or what—he really is. Although he only gets a few minutes of screen time here, the writers manage to add new layers to his character. Todd is thus given a worthy send-off, resulting in what is, surprisingly, perhaps the most emotional scene in the entire series.

This final bow from the legendary actor also underscores the film’s genuine emotional core. The latest Final Destination entry isn’t trying to revolutionize horror—it’s not even clear whether it will successfully breathe new life into the franchise. But that’s not really the point. What we’ve been given is exactly what we hoped for: cleverly staged mayhem, along with an engaging story and characters we can actually care about. And for a good time at the movies, that’s more than enough.

Written by Jedrzej Paczkowski