Film Review: Final Destination Bloodlines

Final Destination Bloodlines
Directors: Zach Lipovsky, Adam Stein
Warner Bros. Pictures
In Theaters: 05.16.2025

As a self-proclaimed horror enthusiast, I will admit that one blind spot in my horror knowledge is the Final Destination franchise. After hearing its premise for the first time, I didn’t understand the appeal because the characters had no way of avoiding their fates. However, after watching the entire Final Destination franchise, including Final Destination Bloodlines, I am now fully invested.

Final Destination Bloodlines is a campy gore fest of the best kind with a splash of dark humor. Complete with massive set pieces and the beloved Rube-Goldberg-esque deaths, Final Destination Bloodlines delivers for both longtime fans and newcomers. It adds interesting new layers to the rules and lore of the ever-present Death, will constantly have you on pins and needles and may even unlock a new irrational fear. 

Final Destination Bloodlines follows college student Stefani (Kaitlyn Santa Juana, The Flash) who has been losing sleep due to a recurring nightmare of a woman named Iris (Brec Bassinger, Bella and the Bulldogs, 47 Meters Down: Uncaged) who goes to a high rise restaurant known as the Sky View and ends up dying after a series of accidents cause the tower to explode and collapse. Iris is revealed to actually be Stefani’s grandmother (Gabrielle Rose, Timecop, Double Jeopardy) and unbeknownst to Stefani, the nightmares are actually the vision Iris had when she went to the Sky View which allowed her to prevent the deaths of hundreds of people. Determined to put an end to these nightmares Stefani returns home and reunites with her family: her father Marty (Tinpo Lee, The Curse of La Llorona), her brother Charlie (Teo Briones, Chucky, Wind River), her aunt Brenda (April Telek, Aliens in America, A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting), her uncle Howard (Alex Zahara, Another Cinderella Story, School Spirits), her cousins Erik (Richard Harmon, Trick ‘r Treat, The Age of Adaline), Bobby (Owen Joyner, 100 Things to Do Before High School, Julie and the Phantoms) and Julia (Anna Lore, They/Them) and her estranged mother Darlene (Rya Kihlstedt. Dexter, Obi-Wan Kenobi). Despite her family’s warnings to not interact with Iris, Stefani does so anyway and learns that due to Iris’ interference at the Sky View, Death has finally caught up to Iris and is now targeting her bloodline. As is customary for any Final Destination film, chaos ensues as Stefani tries to prevent her family’s demise. 

The kills are creative, suspenseful and over the top, sometimes bordering on cartoony. The opening scene in the Sky View is elaborate and fires on all cylinders; everywhere the characters turned, another disaster was awaiting. One death involving an MRI will definitely stick with you, not just for its gruesomeness, but for all the little details added in to make it more visceral. In short, this film definitely delivers on the kills. 

Watching this movie, you truly get the sense that the people that made it have a deep love and appreciation for the franchise. The film is filled to the brim with Easter eggs, but they aren’t distracting. Despite this being the sixth installment of an early 2000s franchise, it feels fresh and new. It knows what it is, but still adds some depth to keep the story grounded and treats its characters with respect. Well, with as much respect as can be expected from a franchise known for finding the most unhinged ways for someone to die. Final Destination has come a long way since the overcast look of the original Devon Sawa film. The film is bright and poppy, with editing that really brings out the inherent humor of the concept of Death just being a petty entity who is upset someone messed up their plans. My one critique would be the over reliance of CGI. For a franchise that it known for its practical effects, seeing so much CGI was a bit jarring.

The performances are perfectly corny, imbued with a charming sense of humor that makes the characters endearing, as opposed to the nostalgic, one-dimensional characters from previous installments. Special shout-out to Harmon for bringing a Roman Roy energy to his character. And of course, this goes without saying, but it was very emotional seeing Tony Todd (Candyman, The Crow) reprise his role as the mortician William Bludworth. He was a true horror icon and this was a fitting farewell for both the character and himself. 

What was originally a concept for an X-Files episode is now a full-blown successful franchise with a passionate fandom, all united by their love for the good ol’ splatter fest. For longtime fans, this film gives you even more lore to dig into and newcomers are sure to be entertained. All in all, Final Destination Bloodlines has breathed new life into this franchise. —Angela Garcia

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