The Final Destination franchise has been around for 25 years now, yet surprisingly it’s only recently released its sixth installment. I say surprisingly because over the past few decades the horror genre has been the most reliable one to see quick turnarounds when it comes to sequels, and let’s just be blunt, often quality be damned. That’s not to say all horror franchises that spin out yearly or bi-yearly sequels are bad (some are quite good!) but often a smaller budget and big opening weekend box office is all that matters. That’s why it’s actually refreshing to see a franchise like Final Destination not pump out sequels for the sake of it, actually waiting for a worthwhile reason to do so, which is the case with the latest entry, Bloodlines.
Now, I must clarify that I do understand that the Final Destination movies are gory, popcorn munching fun, so when I say that the filmmakers wait for a reason to do so I don’t mean some mind-blowing script that will draw in audiences, I simply mean that they take their time with the movies to make sure that ultra-violent blood splatter is worth the price of admission. The first film released in 2000, with the follow-up films releasing every three years until Final Destination 5, which came out two years after the fourth movie. Then we hit the big hiatus, with Bloodlines releasing 14 years later.
What’s so fun about Final Destination Bloodlines is how it ties itself to the rest of the franchise, beginning the film with a bit of a twist to the usual premonition. We begin in 1969, with a young Iris (played at this age by Brec Bassinger) out on a date with her boyfriend Paul (Max Lloyd-Jones). He’s surprising her with a night out at the new Skyview tower restaurant (think the C.N. Tower or Space Needle), which has been completed five months early. This is a Final Destination film, so to nobody’s surprise the night is a disaster, with everyone in the tower dying in unique and excruciating ways.
The twist is that instead of Iris waking up and being our main character, we’re instead flashed forward to 2024 where Stefani Reyes (Kaitlyn Santa Juana) wakes up in class screaming. This is a reoccurring nightmare that she’s had for months now and she’s confused as to why it’s about Iris, her grandmother on her mother’s side with whom she’s never met. I won’t get into the nitty gritty, but the fresh take that Bloodlines takes the franchise in is that Iris stopped the disaster from happening that night, saving hundreds, and in doing so has had death chasing everyone involved – including their bloodlines who should never have been born – in the decades since.
This is just such a fun and unique idea that changes things up from what audiences are used to, while also tying in the fact that certain bloodlines can be traced back to characters or disasters in previous films in the franchise. It’s just enough to give the entire film a fresh feel as far as plot is concerned, all while giving audiences exactly what they want from the franchise as far as insanely gory death sequences are concerned.
Yes, as nice as an interesting story or characters you can root for are, the two main selling points of a Final Destination film are the opening premonition and the inescapable deaths that follow. It’s been over a decade since the last one and Bloodlines was clearly up for the challenge of fighting for the crown of most memorable opening. Much like the logs on the highway in Final Destination 2, the entire Skyview sequence will strike fear into the heart of anyone who’s afraid of heights, or ever stood on one of those glass floors hundreds of feet in the air and thought they heard the glass crack.
For those who aren’t afraid of heights, well, you can just sit back and enjoy the carnage that plays out in unrelenting fashion. This franchise has never held back when it comes to gore, and while Bloodlines has some ridiculously over the top death sequences that cater to 3D glasses and CGI messes, it’s still got some absolutely brutal moments. I’d say nobody really gets off easy and some get far, far worse than they deserve. I mean, that’s another thing with the series, as nobody really deserves what they get. They often avoid a fairly quick death that would’ve happened during the premonition only to be met with a grizzly, drawn out death in the days that follow. But again, that’s what audiences want, and Bloodlines delivers on all counts.
They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder and that certainly seems to be the case with this franchise, as Bloodlines has become the highest grossing film in the series by a long shot. So don’t expect another 14 years to pass before death goes on the hunt once again, as I’m actually somewhat surprised that a 7th installment hasn’t already been greenlit (depending on when you read this, maybe it has. Heck, maybe it’s out!) Again though, the waiting for the proper idea to move forward with is what makes these movies stand the test of time as far as causing audiences to gasp, cover their eyes, and or scream in horror as events unfold. Final Destination Bloodlines has proven that there’s lots of life left in this franchise, which bodes well for fans, but not for future victims – I mean, characters.
Overall Movie Score: 4/5
4K Blu-ray Video and Audio Review:
Warner Bros. delivers here with a gorgeous 4K visual 2160p/HDR10/Dolby Vision transfer that will please the toughest critic. There’s a superb amount of detail that brings the 1969 Skyview disaster to life (and death) in spectacular fashion. The colours are rich and the textures and natural look just draws the viewer in. The death sequences often blast into your living room, and this is a franchise where there’s a bit of forgiveness given to the CGI that helps the kill scenes along, as the just…I’m running out of descriptors here, as they’re just so damn brutal, yet also fun to watch, and they look brilliant in this 4K release.
We’ve also got a really solid Dolby Atmos mix that makes each death truly hit home in room shaking fashion. If you’re one to scream out, or even gasp loudly, they’ve accounted for it here, as you’ll be drowned out by the unforgiving torment that these characters are put through. As a whole it’s just a solid mix that fills the room when needed, keeps things a bit calmer when required, and delivers exactly what you want from a movie like this.
Special Features:
Audio Commentary – Here we’ve got co-directors Adam Stein and Zach Lipovsky and if you’re a fan of the franchise or even just this movie then buckle up, as these two really delve into the filmmaking process, the franchise, Easter eggs that fans may have seen or missed, and loads more. It’s a great listen with two guys who clearly love what they do, love the series and are happy to share their experience.
Death Becomes Them: On the Set of Final Destination Bloodlines – Here we’ve got a 6-minute featurette that sees the cast and crew talk about growing up watching the franchise, the impact it had on them and what it’s like being involved in it now themselves. It’s a quick, fluff watch, but the meat and potatoes piece is the commentary track, so these are more bite-sized viewing experiences if you’re short on time.
The Many Deaths of Bloodlines – Stein and Lipovsky return, along with cast and crew to talk about some of the death sequences in the film. Needless to say, you shouldn’t watch this until you’ve seen the movie. I don’t think many would, but hey, you’ve been pointlessly warned!
The Legacy of Bludworth – This is a quick five-minute featurette that focuses on the late Tony Todd, who played the role one last time in Bloodlines before he passed. I would have mentioned him in the review, but it’s not something that really fit in there seamlessly. Todd is a horror icon and Bloodlines really does Bludworth justice in what will likely be his final appearance in the franchise. I can’t see them doing any CG shenanigans, as everything works perfectly here to wrap his character in the series, so kudos to them for handling it so well, and thanks for the memories, Mr. Todd.
Disclaimer: A review copy of this Blu-ray was sent to me to cover in honest and truthful fashion.
Warner Bros. Pictures Presents Final Destination Bloodlines. Directed By: Adam Stein, Zach Lipovsky. Written by: Guy Busick, Lori Evans Taylor. Starring: Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Teo Briones, Tony Todd, Richard Harmon, Owen Patrick Joyner, Anna Lore, Rya Kihlstedt, Brec Bassinger, Max Lloyd-Jones, Alex Zahara, April Telek, Tinpo Lee. Running time: 110 Minutes. Rating: R. Released on 4K Blu-ray: July 22, 2025.
About Brendan Campbell
