The latest addition to the Final Destination franchise - Final Destination: Bloodlines - has made its way into theaters, bringing a whole new level of tension to the series as it effortlessly blends suspense, some very creative ways to die, & the mainstay idea that you just can't outsmart death. Behind the camera, Zach Lipovsky & Adam B Stein are the guys calling the shots, & what they've managed to do is bring a fresh cast of characters to the series while at the same time staying true to what made the franchise so beloved in the first place - the film really does have an old-school feel to it, but it's still chock-full of innovation that will keep both the fans who've been with the series from the start & newcomers on the edge of their seats.
Set way down the line from the original series, Bloodlines introduces a new cast of characters who just barely escape a train wreck - think of it like a major near-miss - only to find themselves on the receiving end of a very driven pursuit by Death itself. At the heart of the story is a young woman, played by the talented Brec Bassinger, who's got a premonition that not only saves her own skin but also those of her friends from a potentially disastrous family reunion gone wrong. The trailer does a nice job of giving us a sense of the kind of chaos & catastrophe that the characters are going to be trying to survive as the story unfolds. Reviewers love the way the film weaves everyday drama & straight up horror together in a way that really adds to the tension of the whole thing - it's not just the gruesome fates the characters are trying to avoid that make this a tough watch, it's also the personal stuff they're dealing with along the way: namely, a family dark past that's about to come back to haunt them.
What really sets Bloodlines apart is its bold take on the classic death sequences that this franchise has made famous. The directors really ratchet up the tension with loopy, Rube Goldberg style contraptions that keep you guessing. Go from a creepy carnival ride that goes haywire to a kitchen disaster that’s just plain terrifying, and while each one of these set pieces is gruesome, they still manage to really grab you. What the reviewer notes is how the film’s mixing of practical effects and CGI comes across as pretty seamless - and that helps to make those moments even more visceral without over doing it.
The cast - including Teo Briones and Kaitlyn Santa Juana - all give solid performances, but it’s Katherine Bassinger who really shines as the lead, torn in two by her emotional turmoil. What the reviewer likes is how the cast has a great chemistry, which makes the supernatural horror feel like it’s grounded in real life through the connections people make with each other. Howeve,r the reviewer does mention that the second act has a couple of pacing issues - like at one point when some of the supporting characters’ backstories feel a bit rushed.
Coming in at a runtime of 98 minutes, Final Destination: Bloodlines does a great job of balancing out gore, suspense and heart, earning itself an impressive. The filmmakers do a great job of paying respect to the original series while also introducing some fresh twists - like a look into the rules of fate that’s a bit deeper than what we’ve seen before. For fans who are craving that non-stop thrill ride where the Grim Reaper is always on your tail, Bloodlines delivers a bloody good time that’s bound to leave you happy and still wanting more.