FINAL DESTINATION: Bloodlines

FINAL DESTINATION: Bloodlines (2025)
Directed by: Adam Stein, Zach Lipovsky
Written by: Guy Busick, Lori Evans Taylor
Starring: Anna Lore, Brec Bassinger, Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Owen Patrick Joyner, Richard Harmon, Rya Kihlstedt, Teo Briones, Tony Todd

You know the drill! A premonition, a survival, death awaiting to make amends….the deadly franchise is back…..

They say “time is a healer” which in this instance proves the case as excuse the pun – the FINAL DESTINATION franchise was dying a slow death by the time the last instalment hit cinemas way back in 2011. Now remembered as having quite possibly one of the greatest horror twists in recent memory – yes its that good – and of course being a huge improvement on the ghastly 3D heavy fourth entry, even fans would admit that it was time for death to take a rest from correcting timelines and actually give teenagers a chance to survive such carnage set-pieces.

Now after 14 years away, DEATH is back from his extended break and in the mood for some gore and bloodshed, but first he needs to go back to the 1960s and remember an incident that occurred in a very tall tower block where a huge party is taking place and the revellers are dancing along to “Shout” while standing over a glass floor. In-between the drinks being poured and a kid set to throw a penny from the high building – fans will know that’s a no no – stands Iris (Brec Bassinger), all set to be proposed to by the love of her life, before glass cracks, fire burns and hundreds are falling towards their death.

Its a very strong opening, perhaps the best since the third’s rollercoaster chaos, but still nothing compared to the first sequel’s motorway bloodbath that to this day sees many unwilling to drive behind a lorry that’s carrying logs – an unforgettable horror sequence to which even this film references on a few occasions. Surprisingly, in a franchise first, the premonition is witnessed by a screaming Stefani (Kaitlyn Santa Juana) who many years later is plagued by this recurring nightmare that feels to real to ignore. Is the woman in her dreams her long-lost grandmother?

To the full credit of Guy Busick and Lori Evans Taylor who wrote the screenplay with the story from Spider-Man’s Jon Watts, they ignore the recent trend of Requel horror and actually make BLOODLINES a proper sequel that fits nicely into the timeline and in fact offers a connection to what is happening here and to all the previous films.

The only Legacy Character to appear is that of Tony Todd’s mortician William Bludworth in what is the final ever appearance on film of this horror icon actor which not only explains how William knows so much about Death and his design, but also gives us the fan a final chance to say goodbye to Todd himself whose final ad-lib of life will bring a tear to all those watching – goodbye Candyman….you’ll be solely missed.

All the traits are back in place once Stefani realises all those she loves are in danger and directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein are clearly having loads of fun, playing with the expectation of the viewer, more so for those who have been on this journey for the last 25 years with even a piece of glass disguised as an ice cube bringing unexpected suspense in what is a really good set-piece and we need to mention the hilarious “football” gag that had me laughing out loud, until of course a body is crushed in front of your very eyes in such horrific fashion.

And that’s the beauty of a really good Final Destination film in that it will make you laugh, make you wince and then change your life forever as will it will make you think twice of ever going to a place with a glass floor ever again?

BLOODLINES doesn’t reinvent the wheel here, just dusts down a formula that reminds all fans that horror can be fun and at time a rollicking good ride – just watch out for those logs….Barbeques,, body piecing’s, rakes, lawnmowers, rollercoasters, buses ….etc…etc……