A whole lot of unnerving fun.
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The franchise that had us fearing tanning beds, LASIK surgery, driving behind logging trucks (or its equivalents) and more is back with fresh new fears!
The Final Destination franchise returns to the big screen after a 14-year hiatus with Final Destination Bloodlines, directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein and written by Guy Busick. The film stars Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Teo Briones, Richard Harmon, Owen Patrick Joyner, Rya Kihlstedt, Anna Lore, Brec Bassinger, and Tony Todd.
Bloodlines follows Stefani (Santa Juana), a college student who has been plagued with nightmares of her grandmother Iris during her younger years (Bassinger) where she died alongside everyone that visited the Sky View Restaurant Tower when it collapsed. Stefani finds out that her nightmares are actually Iris’ premonitions of that fateful day and she managed to save everyone because of it.
See, Death doesn’t like it when someone messes with his plans, so of course he goes around collecting the lives of those meant to perish at the tower collapse (along with their descendants) over the years. Now, he’s finally reached the end of his list – Iris and her family. Stefani, having inherited her grandmother’s unique premonition abilities, races against time as she tries to save her entire family after they start dying one by one.
If you’re familiar with this supernatural horror franchise, you’ll know they are plenty generous with distinctive kills. What sets Bloodlines apart from its predecessors is its more established human connection between the victims. The pressure of keeping a family alive and avoiding lineage eradication increases the stakes here. Shoutout to Stefani’s cousin Erik (a scene-stealing Harmon), a snarky skeptic who later joins her cause in saving their family when his brother is next in line to die.
For a film so riddled with foreshadowing, the shock factor will still get you with every kill that happens throughout – some quicker than others but gruesome all the same, especially a very graphic death featuring an MRI machine that undoubtedly joins the ranks as one of the franchise’s best. It’s also indubitably hilarious, a nice touch the other films of the franchise lack, making for an enjoyable watch even if you’re squeamish with gore.
It may have been a long 14 years since the previous instalment but the franchise proves its relevance in the genre with its latest offering. Final Destination Bloodlines is a lot of unnerving fun best enjoyed with a roomful of people. Go experience it for yourself at the cinemas and you’re bound to have a good time!
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