Twenty-five years after the last entry in a series where ingenuity seemed exhausted and gimmick worn thin, along comes franchise resurrection that feels legitimately fresh and fun, illustrating why the formula worked in the first place. This movie doesn’t need to change the core mechanics or mess with what made the series work. Outlandish rube-goldberg sequences of absurd death-dealing spectacle are the series' selling point, and this movie does not disappoint. The deaths are inventive and wildly creative, often escalating into cartoonishly hilarious gory setpieces eliciting equal parts cringe and giggles. Instead of threadbare disposable characters, the characters in this film are actually given time to develop and breathe before the reaper’s antics methodically rip them to shreds. The story trudges predictably along, a gaunt skeleton of fate-driven horror held together by anticipation of the next manic sequence of events.
Featuring Tony Todd’s final performance, a poignant tribute to his role being the connective thread for this entire franchise, and honoring his legacy as a horror icon. It is a surprisingly touching moment, and demonstrates this entry’s mission statement to honor the old, while breathing fresh life into a series about nihilistic inevitability.
Final Destination: Bloodlines (2025)