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Final Destination is ”back” and I can’t say that enough. You know what? Death has grown older, and with that, its killing methods have gotten more brutal. I don’t think any of the death sequences in the previous films match the level of the ones featured in Bloodlines. As a horror fanatic who grew up watching Final Destination movies, I would say the sixth installment of the franchise proves to be the greatest comeback ever. No wonder it sits on Rotten Tomatoes with a rating of 95% so far.
Final Destination: Bloodlines kicks off with Stefanie, the lead actress of the story, having a dream of her maternal grandmother. The teenager learns about the Sky Tower incident that occurred 50 years ago through the nightmare that haunts her every night and doesn’t let her sleep. So, she embarks on a journey where she must walk on the path shown by her grandmother, as she would be responsible for the Campbell bloodline’s safety. If you are planning to watch it in the theatre, read our Final Destination Bloodlines review before you enter the theatre.
Spoiler Warning:
This post contains major spoilers from Final Destination: Bloodlines. So, read at your own risk..
Final Destination: Bloodlines Stands Tall Compared to the Previous Movies in the Franchise
If you’re a Final Destination fan, you must have found the narrative familiar. A person gets a premonition and manages to cheat death, and after that, death follows them as it doesn’t like to be dodged. The catch here is that the previous films revolved around a group of strangers or friends who aren’t connected through blood, but Bloodlines sees a ”cursed” family trying harder to fight death.
The fifth installment was released in 2011, and after that, it took Bloodlines 14 long years to arrive on the big screens. So, as time has changed and the slasher genre has evolved over the years, Bloodlines features killings that could compete with the likes of Thanksgiving and Halloween Ends and impress the audience of 2025.
Since the last Final Destination movie was released, we have seen our fair share of slashers that surprise you with creative deaths. So, Bloodlines not only had to compete with the previous Final Destination movies, but it also had to be better than all the great slasher movies that were released during this time period.
And, well, I am glad to say that Final Destination: Bloodlines stands tall when compared to other modern movies falling under this genre. Honestly, previous Final Destination movies were great, but the deaths in those movies were often quick. Bloodlines, on the other hand, played smartly and featured some of the most painful and slow deaths. Erik’s death, for instance, is so painfully slow that it makes your stomach churn. It’s the same with every other character’s death in the movie.
Also, Final Destination: Bloodlines brings out the human side of its characters. For instance, after Brenda reveals Erik’s real identity, everyone gets worried for Bobby, who seems to be the next on death’s hitlist. We also get chances to grin when everybody tries to keep every sharp object, weapon, and peanut butter away from the boy’s reach.
In terms of the story, Bloodlines surpasses the level of the earlier installments by making us feel the presence of death in the form of the sudden change in the weather or the flow of wind. It finally makes us fear the invincible force that has been orchestrating everything from the shadows in the first five Final Destination films.
Bloodlines Tricks You With the Story, But in a Good Way
Every Final Destination film before Bloodlines showed the ones escaping their deaths getting killed in the same order they were supposed to die. However, Bloodlines decides to take a different route, and when everybody is concerned about Erik, the film kills off Julia instead.
Later, we learn that Erik doesn’t belong to the Campbell bloodline, and that’s why he survived the explosion in his tattoo shop. The movie does a great job of distracting you from Erik after the reveal, but right when you think he is safe and you’re concerned about Bobby, the plot surprises you yet again by giving Erik the most painful death.
The marketing team of Final Destination: Bloodlines also made us believe that Erik would die in the tattoo store through the official trailers. However, nothing like that happened. The character dies in the film later on, and not because he tricked death in the past, but because he came between Bobby and death. Tragically, his death was one of the events that I’m sure will haunt me in my dreams for some time. But at the same time, I love that Bloodlines took this risk with Erik, and it worked out incredibly well. The film really catches you off guard with Erik’s reveal, an element that was missing in previous FD movies.
Powerful Performances that Complement the Story
Besides Tony Todd, the film featured no celebrated cast; instead, it gave the fresh faces a chance to shine and make their way in the industry. I must say the creators made a smart choice as every Final Destination Bloodlines cast member made it a success by portraying the fictional characters with their whole heart.
The story is obviously intriguing, but it wouldn’t have mattered if the performances lacked. Almost every performance does justice to the character, but the ones who left me impressed were Erik (Richard Harmon) and Bobby (Owen Joyner). The little banter between the Campbell brothers will make you feel their bond while also making you grin.
That’s why the deaths of these characters affected me the most. Similarly, Darlene was a well-written character who appeared only for a short time to make things better for Charlie and Stefanie. However, the incredible performance from Rya Kihlstedt made me empathetic towards Darlene.
That being said, I wish the writers paid a little more attention to Stefanie’s character arc. She is introduced as an anxious teenager, and she dies as an anxious teenager. Despite being the main lead, Stefanie has very little character growth. I felt worse when Erik, Bobby, and Darlene died as compared to Stefanie because the film didn’t give me fair enough reasons to connect to the lead girl.
A Proper Farewell to Tony Todd’s Iconic Character
Tony Todd is no more, and this realization makes it more difficult to watch him in his final project. He was a brilliant actor who will always be remembered by the fanatics of Final Destination as no one would have looked so good in the shoes of James William Bludworth, aka “JB.” Bloodlines featured him in a cameo role, but we finally discovered the character’s origin story, like who he was and how he was familiar with death’s nature from the start.
“Life is precious… enjoy every single second.”- William Bludworth
JB clearly hints that now that Iris is dead, he doesn’t have much time to live, as he was the last one to die in the Sky Tower premonition. Even though he doesn’t die on screen, we know that if a seventh film of Final Destination is announced, there will be no William Bludworth in it. Of course, his absence will make many fans sad, including me, but it feels good to say that Bloodlines gives a proper farewell to the character and the actor.
Should you watch Final Destination: Bloodlines in Theatres?
Now, let’s answer the biggest question: Should you watch Final Destination: Bloodlines? Well, I am glad to say that the answer is Yes. Bloodlines is one of those modern slasher horror movies that is better experienced on the big screen. Final Destination feels close to home, as many of us grew up watching these movies, but Bloodlines isn’t simply cashing in on nostalgia. It’s a rather modern and fresh take on the traditional Final Destination story.
The creative deaths in the movie made my stomach churn, and I truly cared about the characters, especially Erik and Bobby. The movie is going to stay with me for a very long time, and I truly wish that the franchise returns with more installments.
Aparna Ukil
