Final Destination 5: A Surprisingly Solid Sequel
The fourth sequel to a horror franchise that began as a story originally conceived for “The X-Files”…
Sam, a young cook, experiences a terrifying premonition: he and his colleagues, on a corporate retreat, perish when a bridge collapses under their bus. Coming to, Sam convinces his friends to leave the ill-fated vehicle, saving their lives as the bridge crumbles moments later. However, their reprieve is short-lived. Soon, the surviving colleagues begin to die in mysterious and gruesome accidents.
So, here we have the fourth sequel to a horror series that started as an idea for an episode of “The X-Files.” Typically, films like this would bypass theaters and end up on late-night TV, awaiting a complete reboot. What’s surprising is that “Final Destination 5” not only gets a wide release but is actually quite good. Then again, perhaps it shouldn’t be so surprising. The “Final Destination” franchise is arguably one of the most consistent horror series of the 2000s. The fourth installment, released in 2009, even grossed more than the first three (partly due to its 3D presentation and higher ticket prices).
The reason for this success is fairly clear. In the “Final Destination” films, the question of “How?” dominates over “Why?”, “When?”, and “What are the characters’ names?”. The answer to those latter questions is essentially in the title: we’re all going to end up there. The only difference is the unique and personalized method of transportation each character will take.
The faceless but relentlessly persistent villain, Death, is determined to eliminate those who cheated their fate in the initial disaster, disrupting its grand design. This provides filmmakers with ample room for creativity. In this story, the characters are merely meat, or rather, biomaterial, used to illustrate the popular notion of our fragility. (Speaking of songs, the clairvoyant cook is haunted by another fitting hit: “Dust in the Wind”).
The Real Stars: Ropes, Wires, and Malfunctioning Equipment
In reality, the true protagonists of all “Final Destination” films are snapping cables, exposed wires, and out-of-control medical devices. In “Final Destination 5,” the central character could be considered a sharp bolt falling vertically onto a balance beam, providing viewers with an unforgettable five minutes of suspense: when, oh when, will the bare gymnast’s heel step onto the waiting spike?
In short, first-time feature director Steven Quale has successfully invented and visualized new death traps. Delivering a total of four extended set pieces (the gymnastics scene being a standout) and several “impromptu” moments, he only falters with a clumsy and lengthy fight scene in the story’s climax. However, the ending has always been the weakest point of the “Final Destination” films. On one hand, as we’ve learned over the past decade, Death cannot be cheated, no matter how hard you try. On the other hand, only the great Agatha Christie could get away with simply killing off characters one by one. Nevertheless, “Final Destination 5” more than makes up for its shortcomings with a spicy epilogue that might be the best in the entire franchise.
The 3D Experience
Ah yes, 3D. It’s straightforward here, as Quale, despite being a first-time feature director, has years of experience working with James Cameron, including serving as second unit director on “Avatar” (2009). In other words, the eyeballs rolling towards the camera easily convince you that popcorn might be somewhat superfluous at this celebration of… death.