IN the current movie landscape where revivals, rehashes, and reboots of franchises become more prevalent, the sixth installment from the Final Destination (shortened to FD) series doesn’t feel unnecessary. Even if the last entry (Final Destination 5) had perfectly closed the loop of the previous installments, Final Destination Bloodlines manages to justify its existence and introduces a clever trick of continuing the narrative and unveiling the grandness of Death’s design. It was woven perfectly into the lore never feeling out of place nor seemingly overstaying its welcome.
Clocking in at 1 hour and 50 mins, this recent FD entry is the longest to date. The movie takes its time to explore the history that explains and entwines all the strange events that happened in the entire timeline. And when the dust settles, it pulls the lever starting the layout of the crazy kills that last until the credits roll.
The cast was fun to watch as they have built a palpable chemistry. There is emotional pull on some characters when they get killed off the screen, although there were one or two that weren’t fleshed out enough for the audience to care for. But there are certainly standout characters in here that managed to grabbed the audience attention and lift the spirit of the storytelling even all of these happen in a universe where death unapologetically comes after them from every corner.
I’ve done my rewatch of the first five and I can say that Bloodlines has the most hilarious scenes. The movie knows when to throw a punchline but still able to surprise with deaths that will make you squirm from your seat. The kills were creative and the gore that you know and love from this film series is still there. There were no censors so you can enjoy the bloodbath in all its glory. But personally, I don’t think there was a specific scene that will burrow in your subconscious, stay with you, and make you fear for simple objects. Maybe it’s for the best because we don’t probably need to add a new one to our collective fear of log trucks, tanning beds, roller coaster, and pool drains.
For all its worth, this was also a nice send-off for Tony Todd. Appearing in almost all of the Final Destination installments, his recurring character of William Bludworth is one of the most memorable in the franchise. Before his death in November 2024, he was able to come back for the movie and shoot his part. His final speech (which was both scripted and ad-libbed) on life and death was perfect which able to convey a tinge of pain and optimism.
Overall, Final Destination Bloodlines crushes it and delivers a fun time in the cinema. Best enjoyed with friends. Or better yet, with family.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
