Final Destination 6 manages to revitalize the franchise by reopening a seemingly closed loop in its universe - and does so commendably. The previous installments, particularly 1 and 5, had established a cause-and-effect relationship. However, this sequel daringly pulls back the timeline, offering a reasonable explanation that retroactively ties every victim from the initial five films to the grandmother’s actions. The potential for expanding this universe feels limitless, with the “Sky Tower” incident forming the genesis point.
The Sky Tower incident serves as a pivotal point in Final Destination 6, linking past events and opening new possibilities for future films.
This approach allows for easy nods and references to previous movies. Should a character get killed by a piano in Final Destination 7, audiences might see it as a callback to someone from Final Destination 6. For a horror franchise this long, that is exactly what it needs.
Subverting Tropes and Elevating the Stakes
Final Destination 6 displays some clever deconstructions of genre conventions. It plays with the “final girl” trope in an intriguing way, primarily through the Grandmother character. This design element is skillfully executed; the story follows through with elements of the “final girl” trope, delivering familiar horror film storytelling. However, this is subverted by ending her story early in the runtime which allows greater complexity.
A Smarter Victim Pool？
Instead of relying on the typical “stupid decisions” to drive the plot forward, the film focuses on family dynamics, creating an emotional connection with the protagonists. We empathize with the family at large, and not just certain characters. This investment makes their deaths more impactful. Unlike previous installments, this group is relatively lucid and quick-acting. This new approach makes the film a more enjoyable viewing experience.
Giving Death a Face (of Sorts)
One of the most ingenious aspects of Final Destination 6 is the “materialization” of Death. The film solidifies Death’s presence in the form of a coin, and this design elevates the film compared to previous entries of the franchise. The audience can then pin their emotions on something tangible. The image of the coin rolling on old newspapers at the end suggests that the coin itself is the essence of Death, making for a elegant design choice.
A Bittersweet Return
Then there’s the Black coroner, a character whose enigmatic role finally comes to fruition in this installment. This, combined with the sad passing of the actor in real life, gives his performance additional weight. His line from the film “Live for today” underscores the meaning of the Final Destination series to close the loop.
Final Destination 6: Flaws and All
To be fair, Final Destination 6 faces its share of problems. The plot progression feels clumsy in places, resulting for pacing and time spent across the run time of the movie. The second-half death scenes were to close in proximity to each other, wasting character arcs. Despite these issues, the innovative approaches in this sixth entry earn my approval. Considering the challenges faced by sequels, especially those beyond a trilogy, Final Destination 6 stands out as remarkably excellent.