The Snapshot: The sixth Final Destination is a series best, delivering a masterclass in suspense and terror that will leave audiences breathless.
Final Destination: Bloodlines
9 out of 10
18A, 1hr 50mins. Horror Drama.
Directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein.
Starring Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Teo Briones, Rya Kihlstedt, Richard Harmon, Brec Bassinger and Tony Todd.
Now Playing at Galaxy Cinemas Sault Ste. Marie.
It’s something of a modern Hollywood miracle when everything fits perfectly into place and comes together effectively. That’s especially true in horror, one of film’s trickiest genres.
The highest compliment, therefore, I can give the new Final Destination: Bloodlines is that the film is so terrifying, exciting and relentless intense that I was transfixed for two hours in agonizing delight.
Not many franchises peak with their sixth film - the Fast and Furious movies might be the last real example, but new directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein have found lighting strike precision in balancing suspense, gore and empathy for their characters.
Terrific work from the cast and crew alike all synthesize into a movie that’s genuinely scary, but also evokes deep investment from the audience. It’s also a great premise seeing the featured Campbell family working together to cheat death and avoid their destiny.
Unlike the corny setups of past Final Destination films, the secret in Bloodlines is that the non-stop foreshadowing of terrible, violent fates never reveals who the victim is until the last second before death sneaks up on them.
Viewers should be warned, however, that this is not the nuanced drama and thematic strong storytelling like last month’s Sinners. This is a true horror film from start to finish, and one that’s brutally intense with its violence, stunts and effects.
Read more here: Sinners' Blues, horror and history blend in unforgettable fashion
The shock value on some of the death scenes are extremely grisly, and the 18A rating feels soft at some parts. While nothing is exceptionally queasy or gross, this is definitely not appropriate for anyone seeing a horror flick for the first time.
Elevating the insanity of those stunts is a greatly invested cast of actors, especially new star Kaitlyn Santa Juana as Stefani, learning to hone her premonitions of death. Richard Harmon also steals every scene he’s in as the sardonic tattoo artist Erik.
For those with sturdy constitutions (and strong stomachs), Final Destination: Bloodlines is the rare horror films that delivers on the fear factor and high quality of storytelling.
Longtime fans will also appreciate the return of Tony Todd as William Bludworth, in his final film role. His advice stands out as the purpose behind why horror can be a meaningful vehicle in cinema: “Life is precious. You should enjoy every second.”