The Final Destination franchise is back in full force at the hands of directors Adam Stein and Zach Lipovsky. Over 200 candidates were considered for the directing role, but Lipovsky and Stein were selected for their passionate pitch, which creatively staged an accident reminiscent of events in the franchise. With three talented writers—Guy Busick, Lori Evans Taylor, and Jon Watts—on board, Final Destination: Bloodlines showcases a deep love for the series. The premise reinvents the often-repeated formula from the previous five films, offering a fresh angle that embodies the essence of the franchise. Instead of being just a cash grab, audiences can anticipate a collaborative effort to deliver a film that justifies the 14-year wait, thanks to its family-centered plot and inventive kills.
Final Destination: Bloodlines opens in 1968, following two characters, Iris (Brec Bassinger) and Paul (Max Lloyd-Jones), as they attend the opening of a new structure called Skyview, which closely resembles the Seattle Space Needle. After taking the elevator to the restaurant on the top floor, Iris begins to experience a bad feeling while exploring the area. This bad feeling ends up being a premonition of the structure collapsing due to a multitude of bad luck, leading to the deaths of dozens of people. In the present day, a college student named Stefanie (Kaitlyn Santa Juana) is struggling with her grades and her life, largely due to a recurring nightmare about a woman named Iris and the disaster previously mentioned. This leads Stefani to discover that Iris is her grandmother, and the nightmares she has been experiencing are linked to the premonition Iris had back in 1968 when she saved all those lives. As death reawakens, this revelation sends Stefanie down a similar path to her grandmother’s, as she tries to protect her family from death itself.
In the previous Final Destination films, the basic structure can be summarized as follows: a premonition occurs, a massive disaster strikes, a group dodges the disaster, and then they try to figure out who will die next. The pacing is typically fast, leaving little time for character development. The focus is mainly on the characters scrambling to identify death’s next victim, often arriving too late to save them.
In Bloodlines, the structure is slightly different, adding a layer of insight into the characters. Grandma Iris, obsessed with death, becomes a hermit with a deep understanding of how death operates. This awareness changes the dynamics for the characters; they now know how death acts and take on a defensive stance, in contrast to the offensive approach seen in the previous five films. This defensive position makes Death respond in ways we haven’t seen before, not only advancing the plot but also introducing a humorous tone. Death gains more depth and a personality that he is not to be messed with, and is aware of the character’s motives.
A notable example in the film features Stefani, who is aware of her surroundings and attempts to save her cousin Erik, whom she believes is the next target. While Erik does not die in that moment, Stefani’s concerns resurface later, emphasizing that death is indeed paying attention.
The deaths in Final Destination: Bloodlines are very creative, featuring a new level of misdirection that hasn’t been seen in previous films in the franchise. The best comparison for this level of misdirection would be the screw on the beamboard from Final Destination 5. In Bloodlines, an item might be introduced, removed, or reintroduced, only to ultimately play no role in a character’s death. The opposite could also be applied; elements that seem insignificant can unexpectedly come back for fatal outcomes. Overall, Death in Final Destination: Bloodlines keeps the audience more on edge than usual.
In this franchise, we usually see groups of friends taking center stage, but in Bloodlines, the characters are all about family. This family vibe feels real, with great banter and an honest look at issues like family abandonment and its effects. Richard Harmon steals the spotlight as Erik, the rebellious kid with piercings, tattoos, and a laid-back attitude. He lights up every scene he’s in—not just because he’s so out there, but also because his character plays a key role in the story.
Then we have Erik’s siblings: his sister Julia (Anna Lore) and younger brother Bobby (Owen Patrick Joyner). Each of them has their own unique personality that really stands out. Unlike the other movies that typically have friends or strangers facing off against death, Final Destination: Bloodlines gives us a more tightly written group and allows for a deeper dive into the story, which is a nice change of pace for the series.
Tony Todd makes a memorable appearance as William Bludworth in his final scene, drawing you in with his signature cryptic messages that start to make a lot more sense as the scene unfolds. His character, who has usually just popped in to give advice, feels much more significant this time around. Although his role was short once again, it’s a scene that will go down in horror history as one of Tony Todd’s most important.
Final Thoughts:
Final Destination: Bloodlines is hands down the best movie in the Final Destination series. You can tell that the directors and writers love the franchise—they put a lot of creativity and effort into the storytelling. It’s not easy to keep coming up with fresh ways for characters to meet their end, especially when the fanbase is so passionate. With one of the wildest and most intense disasters yet and a story that expands on the lore, fans will be glad to know that Bloodlines was worth the 14-year wait.
4/5
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Ever since my mom took me to go see The Blair Witch Project in theaters when I was 7 years old I’ve been obsessed with not just movies but the horror genre. When I’m not watching movies you can find me thrifting, attending a local horror convention, or collecting physical media. I attended the University of Central Florida with a degree in Cinema Studies and use my degree to rant about movies online.
MY FAVORITE MOVIES: The Cabin in the Woods, Cabaret, Seven Samurai, The Blair Witch Project, Inglourious Basterds