Final Destination….a slasher franchise like none other. Move over Michael. Take a seat Vorhees. This is only series where death is the killer.
While the sly murders of the Reaper are pretty sick, not all ends are equal.
[customfont1]5. Final Destination 3[/customfont1]
The characters are paper thin and even more awful than usual. Somehow, the film manages to be more dated than the previous two films with it’s reliance on technology like digital cameras, flip phones, and very dated CGI. The pictures were supposed to show what the deaths would be and I found many to be overreaching in significance. It got old fast. The individual deaths are pretty horrific and feature wonderful practical effects, but the rest of the film is thin, only serving as connective tissue for the kills. Even Mary Elizabeth Winstead can’t improve this one.
[customfont1]4. Final Destination 2[/customfont1]
While the beginning car crash is one of the most horrific I’ve seen on film, Final Destination 2 is a bit bland overall. It adds too much to the lore in one sequel and the characters trying to save everyone are responsible for at least 2 deaths in the film. The characters are extra annoying and the kills aren’t as interesting as the first. The expansion to the lore turns out to not even be relevant and only serves to muddy the formula. Except for the first, they are more sudden and less open for guessing. The last scene is funny, but the rest of the ending is just annoying.
[customfont1]3. The Final Destination[/customfont1]
Even though it has a ton of 3D gimmick, this installment feels so much more fresh and interesting than the previous two. The kills are back to being more innovative and Rube Goldberg-y. The characters are fleshed out just enough to care slightly about except one or two guys which made their deaths have a satisfying edge to them. The previous sequels had too many contrived twists and convoluted additions to the lore. It felt nice to return to the basic formula.
[customfont1]2. Final Destination 5[/customfont1]
Beyond the original, this installment has the most innovation and the best kills. The characters are a bit bland, but the kills are top notch. They’ve included ones that really made me squirm like the laser eye surgery gone wrong or the horrific gymnastic accident. A possible expansion of lore and the twist ending make it a little different from the rest of the series while still going along with the basic formula. Subtle details point to the twist that I glossed over the first time. Tony Todd also has a more extended role to play, which automatically boosts the film as a whole.
[customfont1]1. Final Destination[/customfont1]
The first is the film that set up the formula that every other film is based on. The acting and visual effects aren’t great, but it has enough self awareness and humor with an over the top, ominous tone to feel fresh and keep my interest. The deaths, which are Rube Goldberg machines of death, are on point and remain some of the most interesting and memorable I’ve seen.