10 days ago
404 Views
Ive been a fan of the Final Destination franchise since 2000, when the first movie came out and took the horror fiction world by storm. However, for 14 years, there was no Final Destination movie, which took the excitement for this one on a whole new level. Could a new team of directors, Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein, revive an iconic series? I made sure to attend the weekend show with my friends, and was totally taken back with how nothing has changed over the years. The same thrill and the same tension. As they say in the movie- Death was back, and nobody was safe.
The Narrative:
The story starts in 1968 at a big party where Iris Campbell sees a scary vision. The building is about to blow up and Iris warns as many people as she can, saving lives. However, cheating death means it will return to her. Many years later, Stefani Reyes, Iriss granddaughter, starts having bad dreams about the tower collapse. She goes back home to learn about her family and finds out that her grandmother Iris had a special power to see the future and tried to stop Death. She meets her cousins as one by one, everyone in her family starts dying in the worst possible accidents. The entire movie is about Stefani trying to evade death and bring her and her familys life back on track. Adrenaline runs high as we dont know what to expect after each scene.
My Insights:
After watching all previous movies of the franchise, I wasnt expecting them to do so well after a 14 year break. However, the directors made sure that excitement didn't end. Kaitlyn Santa Juana delivers a standout performance as Stefani and her emotions felt very raw and natural. Teo Briones, as Charlie, is the emotional heart of the film. His loyalty to Stefani and the sibling bond is amazing. The film delivers exactly what fans want-creative, suspenseful, and gruesome deaths. Everyday objects and activities become fatal and you never know from where the death arrives. I love such films where you cannot predict the plot, or even if you can, it is hard to imagine what the next scene will be like. There are a lot of small references of old movies, but the concept is still new.
Winning Elements:
Just like every Final Destination movie, screenplay and visuals steal the show. The deaths have gotten more inventive. The Skyview opening is a showstopper, and later deaths, like the MRI machine and the derailed train are both shocking and dark. I also loved how there is an emotional connection between the characters. The bond of family between the cousins makes it more heartwrenching to watch. The cast gives justice to their roles. The direction is also very creative with lots of close-up shots and smart edits. It keeps you hooked to the screen.
Final Thoughts:
If you are bored and want a fast-paced, exciting movie, then there is no better movie at the moment. Bloodlines is like the old movies, but still nothing like them. The theatre experience was amazing. I would suggest watching in 4Dx or IMAX if you can. The movie is more about the death scenes than the actual plot. It is like, everybody knows what fate lies ahead, but nobody knows how theyre dying, or actually saving themselves. 10/10 movie!
