A Bloody Good Time: “Final Destination: Bloodlines” Revives the Franchise with Dark Humor
The “Final Destination” franchise, which taught the world to fear logging trucks, will be a quarter-century old in 2025. This anthology series, centered on the inevitability of fate and the price of disregarding safety precautions, has had a slightly shorter run than, say, the consistently sequel-generating “Saw.” “Bloodlines” marks only the sixth film in the series, arriving 14 years after the lukewarm reception of the fifth installment. Let’s delve into how this horror flick by Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein handles the legacy of its predecessors and why death makes the best comedian.
Stephanie (played by Kaitlyn Santa Juana), a college student, is plagued by a recurring nightmare: In the 1960s, a young woman named Iris (Brec Bassinger) attends the grand opening of the Skyview restaurant with her fiancé, reminiscent of Seattle’s iconic Space Needle. Predictably, the party ends in a catastrophic tragedy, which Iris manages to avert thanks to a premonition of death. Stephanie’s nightmares push her to the brink of sanity and academic expulsion. Urged by her roommate, she returns to her hometown to unravel the mystery of the woman in her dreams.
Kaitlyn Santa Juana in “Final Destination: Bloodlines”
It soon becomes clear that Iris is Stephanie’s grandmother, who, through a mystical vision over half a century ago, prevented the deaths of many. However, the Grim Reaper turns out to be a vengeful and unforgiving entity, not pleased with the thwarted demise of its intended victims. The invisible killer’s plan spans decades, targeting not only those who escaped the ill-fated restaurant but also their descendants. Iris, having evaded Death for years, compiled a book detailing the Reaper’s tricks and a comprehensive list of potential victims. In her quest for answers, Stephanie receives her grandmother’s manuscript and guidance before Iris willingly departs for the afterlife. Now, Stephanie must find a way to save her remaining relatives from a gruesome fate.
Kaitlyn Santa Juana in “Final Destination: Bloodlines”
A Fresh Take on Fatal Accidents
The directorial duo of Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein have taken a thorough approach to this franchise reboot. The subtitle “Bloodlines” not only hints at the familial connection between the new film’s main characters but also alludes to the invisible link between virtually all the characters in the series, making this sixth “Final Destination” installment the most layered yet. However, it doesn’t expand the universe’s lore significantly. Death remains the same invisible and incomprehensible force, derailing entire freight trains to eliminate a couple of youngsters who thought they could outsmart it.
Death as a Comedian
The inventiveness with which the characters in “Bloodlines” are dispatched is poised to break the records of previous installments. The filmmakers keep viewers guessing, showcasing close-ups of household appliances, shards of glass, and random garbage trucks, only to subvert expectations and concoct the most grotesque, violent, and absurd deaths imaginable. “Bloodlines” elevates the franchise, turning the main antagonist into a seasoned comedian. Lipovsky and Stein know the material well, sprinkle in references and Easter eggs for fans, and aren’t afraid to exploit the characters’ inherent stupidity, a hallmark of the long-running series, for their own purposes.
Behind the scenes of “Final Destination: Bloodlines”
Each death in the film is a blend of Rube Goldberg machine mechanics and slapstick comedy. Some characters, walking stereotypes from the 2000s, have been transformed into gag-producing instruments. For instance, Richard Harmon plays a heavily pierced nonconformist with unwavering seriousness, determined to cheat the Grim Reaper to save his brother. The character constantly mocks Stephanie’s obsession with her grandmother Iris’s stories, delivering one joke after another, oblivious to the role his numerous piercings will play in Death’s comedic show.
Self-Awareness and Gory Fun
Self-deprecation, levity, and constant winks to the audience distinguish “Bloodlines” from its predecessors. It seems the creators have found the perfect formula for working on the franchise: “We’re not trying to create a masterpiece; we’re just having as much fun as possible.” And while the dotted plot still serves as a filler between spectacular dismemberment scenes, and the characters, albeit burdened with interpersonal relationships, remain extras for a beautiful death, “Bloodlines” doesn’t try to deceive anyone. It delivers exactly what the entire series was created for – a hilarious and violent thrill ride.