The Scream Queen

As Benjamin Franklin once said, ‘In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.’ Although taxes can be cheated, the Final Destination franchise has proven over the last 25 years that no one can cheat death. From being scorched alive in a sunbed to being executed by an elevator, Final Destination has been traumatising audiences since the millennium. But with the last entry in the franchise being released in 2011, can death’s intricate designs still scare a new generation of film goers?

The answer is yes. Final Destination Bloodlines is a triumphant, tongue-in-cheek return to the franchise; a hard feat to pull off considering the world has changed a lot since the 2000s (a simpler time). What Bloodlines succeeds in so well, is not falling victim to recognising the time period in which its made; there is no irritating social media plot device, and COVID is never mentioned. We are not constantly being reminded that this movie is set in the present, rather we are just left to enjoy the gory chaos about to unfold. However, the film does have an emotional undercurrent that the majority of the other instalments lack. This mainly comes from the family dynamic within the narrative, putting a fresh spin on the story. Some of these emotional moments are undercut with a vicious sense of humour however, as the film acts more like a horror comedy, which will work for some and not for others. What will work for most audiences is the kills; they are as bold and brutal as ever, providing for some seriously nasty moments. One death involving an MRI machine has already become infamous, up there among some of the most memorable of the franchise. Fans will be pleased to know that deaths designs are as original as they were 25 years ago. Seeing this in 4DX is a must for that immersive experience – part of the cinema door even fell on me and my friends while we were leaving the cinema (hopefully not a warning sign).

For fans, a stand out of the franchise is always the appearance of coroner William Bludworth, played by the late Tony Todd. One of the finest actors working predominantly within the horror genre, Todd sadly passed away after the filming of Bloodlines, making it his last onscreen appearance. It becomes clear that Todd was very unwell during this time, and his final performance suggests that he knew that his time to pass was near. It is a bittersweet moment, played with a nice twist, that lays rest to both an iconic character and actor. The film is ultimately dedicated to Todd, who will continue to live on as generations discover the films that he made truly great.

Bloodlines, as much as it succeeds, is missing a certain noughties charm that the rest of the franchise is imbued with. 2000s horror is of its time – a time that can never be recreated. The original Final Destination franchise worked so well because people didn’t care about the emotional side to a narrative – they just cared about seeing some gnarly kills and having fun. To an extent, film can never return to that – it was also a time filled with a host of stereotypes and offensive content – but sometimes I wish horror could be simple once again. However for now, I think this is as close as it can get, and I’m glad to see my favourite franchise back on the blood-soaked big screen.

Final Verdict:

The latest instalment in the Final Destination franchise is well worth a watch, especially in the cinema, where death plays out gloriously in formats such as IMAX and 4DX. Seeing it with a crowd makes the bone-crunching thrills all the more fun. Bloodlines will appeal to both new viewers and franchise veterans alike, bringing back a franchise that I hope continues to be resurrected forever. Go and see this while you have the chance – especially since you never know what day will be your last.

4/5 Screams.