Cheating Death (Again): "Final Destination" returns with a decades-old vengeance

"Final Destination: Bloodlines" photo via Warner Bros.

From the moment the lights dim, "Final Destination: Bloodlines" grabs you by the throat and barely loosens its grip. This isn't a film that's interested in giving you comfortable breathing room–it's determined to keep you perched on the edge of your seat, white-knuckling your armrest while anticipating the next elaborate death trap.

Let's be real here–nobody watches these movies for profound filmmaking. This franchise knows exactly what it is: glorious, unapologetic camp horror at its finest. "Bloodlines" embraces this identity with open arms, delivering a rollercoaster of gleefully macabre set pieces that somehow manage to feel fresh fourteen years after the last installment hit theaters. (Yes, really. It's been that long.)

The kills? Absolutely brutal. The visual effects team has clearly been putting in overtime, delivering death sequences that will have you simultaneously cringing and marveling at how far CGI has evolved since 2011. Each Rube Goldberg-esque chain of deadly events unfolds with sadistic precision that feels both inventive and wickedly satisfying.

What continues to set this franchise apart is its refusal to stick with what worked before. "Bloodlines" tosses several unexpected curveballs into the familiar formula, keeping viewers guessing right up until the final act. Don't waste your time trying to connect the dots prematurely–this film delights in laying out puzzle pieces that only snap together when it's good and ready to reveal its grand design.

4.75/5