The latest gory spectacle to shape the new generation
After 14 years of waiting, Final Destination: Bloodlines is finally here and it certainly did not hold back! With Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein at the helm, not only did they effectively revive an already beloved horror franchise, they also found a way to further expand the enigmatic lore behind the franchise’s staple chain reaction deaths. Which is a tall order if you know how the last one ended!
A family curse
Unlike the Final Destinations that preceded it, Bloodlines’ ensemble isn’t just a group of friends or strangers that become caught up in Death’s game. They’re actually direct descendants of a couple that escaped Death’s clutches years ago. Two generations later, a recurring nightmare signals that each of the family members’ judgment days are inevitably nearing.
What follows is a bloody spine-tingling turn of events that harkens back to the same horrifying yet campy absurdity that the franchise has mastered with every installment. With the element of family, raising the emotional stakes for the characters as they attempt to outsmart death at every turn.
The film also features Final Destination’s first Filipino casualties in the franchise, Stefani Reyes, played by Filipino-Canadian actress, Kaitlyn Santa Juana and Charlie Reyes, played by Filipino-American actor, Teo Briones.
While their heritage isn’t necessarily at the forefront of the film’s story, bits and pieces of Filipino culture are sprinkled throughout different aspects of the film like in its set design as well as the characterization of Stefani and Charlie. And as a nation that is rich in horror movie fanatics, this type of representation is a massive W, one that both actors even acknowledge!
Bludworth’s legacy
Bloodlines also features one of the last on-screen appearances of the horror icon, Tony Todd, following his passing in 2024. Final Destination fans know that the only thing consistent in this franchise’s films other than Death’s cruel way of killing is Todd’s character, William Bludworth. While filming wrapped before his untimely death, his scene honors Bludworth’s lasting effect on the franchise as well as his own impact on the horror genre beautifully.
While we celebrate original horror movies just getting better and better in recent years, it’s nice to see a familiar bloody face come back and haunt our silver screens. Final Destination: Bloodlines delivers a fresh new take on an iconic formula and does it well. Leaving you flinching, gasping, and clutching your pearls at the edge of your seat.
So whether you watched the film in its full petrifying glory or through the spaces of your fingers (we don’t judge), you’ll surely leave the theater with your gore-craving satisfied and your heart beating a little bit faster.