Final Destination 5

To say the Final Destination series is a mixed bag would probably be an understatement, as this series has some great moments and truly terrible ones. This film edges out the other ones in the franchise and is probably the second best overall behind Bloodlines.

For one thing, the CG is either good or passable. The disaster sequence at the beginning is well done and has some great kills. Beyond that, the film twists the lore of the franchise to create a more unique ending. A lot happens in the last ten minutes that is both intriguing and weird. I particularly like the ending of this film over the endings of most of the other films, but despite that fact it makes very little sense how it's written.

Final Destination 5 has some of the more creative deaths in the franchise, with some very laugh out loud funny moments to go along with the gore. These movies are best when they are tongue in cheek and self aware, and this one works in that manner for the most part. There is some boring and unnecessary dialogue among the characters, but there are also some who are morally bankrupt and pure evil to mix things up and make the situation more interesting.

As an individual that believes gimmicky 3D effects are just, well, unnecessary gimmicks, this fifth instalment purely focuses on blood, guts and eyes flying at your face. Whilst a step up from the abomination that was 'The Final Destination', this time around we see a group of young students avoid yet another catastrophe (suspended bridge crumbling because of "high winds") thanks to a premonition. However, Death has nothing better to do than to be creative again and find the most unlikeliest of methods to kill these individuals. You all know the drill. A formulaic disposable horror that is rapidly feeling dry featuring a cast of dull actors that portray one-dimensional characters. You watch in the hope that you'll be invested in the story, but you stay for the absurd death sequences. And that is exactly what makes this movie tolerable, the ingenious deaths. Another chapter that has scarred me from going to the safest of places. No more do I want to go to an acupuncturist, nor will I ever fix my eye sight and receive laser eye surgery, and I definitely will not be doing gymnastics (which is a shame because I have the potential...*cough*). What makes this entry that little bit more spicy compared to its predecessor, are the "red herrings" that are precariously placed. The camera focuses on water dripping next to a live wire, building the anticipation that this oblivious girl is going to get electrocuted, only to find she gets killed by something else. Classic misdirections that make the experience that little bit more enjoyable and anxiety-inducing. It strangely concludes by linking back to the first 'Final Destination'. It's a nice touch for fans, but feels wholly unnecessary and a huge amount of wasted potential. Particularly as a coroner constantly keeps babbling "Death doesn't like to be cheated" and that he has "seen this before". The visual effects were mediocre and the weird tonal shift towards the third act felt misplaced. It's not a return to form for the franchise, but it is an improvement from the fourth entry.

OK, Final Destination 5 is JUST AS GOOD as the first. And better than the sequels. It is violent as ever!, has great acting, the 3-D is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!! and the plot is spectacular!!!! It' better than Final Destination 2, Final Destination 3 and Definitely The Final Destination 4! it makes The Final Destination (4, 2009) look like garbage. Me and my Dad loved it. And my Dad hated the last two. And the deaths are VERY disturbing and realistic. If you saw the last one and was turned off by it, then you will be surprised about this one. I'm glad I saw it!!!!! It was the scariest and most realistic Final Destination.

Most likely, you're not reading this unless you're a fan and already plan to see the film. And if you are, then know that my review is based on my fandom and in relation to the series itself. Therefore, it will be in the context of horror films, slasher films, and more importantly, the series itself. With that out of the way, who would have though the fifth film would be the one. Ever since the original, the series has sort of meandered around, trying to recapture the initial wonder of death playing the part of a slasher and killing off a group of people.

Yes, Final Destination 5 is truly the best sequel since the first. There hasn't been this much tension and creativity since the original, and practically every scene is filled with an uncomfortable level of anxiety. This is what the film has truly been missing, whether spoiled by the trailers before it or just a lack of creativity. For the most part, Final Destination 3 and 4 (TFD) lacked the necessary level of creativity and menace that was present in the first film, and even in the second. However, we have plenty of that here and a few nice twists as well. While the kills are also pretty ridiculous, most are plausible and, unlike TFD, should please fans with their level of gore and brutality.

The filmmaking qualities here reach above the standard the film has set. It looks great, with plenty of swift and enticing editing that will make your skin crawl with anticipation. The acting, while still not of any award winning caliber, or even really all that great, is decent enough here. The portrayals are more realistic this time around. While the film had though to settle into the I-found-the-answers-on-the-internet routine, here we have a smooth flow in which characters sort of lose their mind trying to figure things out. And while some might have called the main couple's relationship cringe worthy, I actually found it to be quite well played out as the couple has real issues they work through on top of everything that's going on. Suffice to say, it's nice to see the FD series making better attempts at developing it's characters. Still not great, but better.

With that said, this is Final Destination, and problems persist. Despite better attempts at character development, the majority still play fodder for death's machinations. Sure, we learn a little about them, but it's not any more than the bare minimum: this guys a jerk, that girls wild, etc etc. There is also one kill, in particular, that, while brutal, defies logic. Sure, it's FD, but there is a certain point of ridiculousness where the line is drawn. The characters trying to figure out what's going on is also getting old. There's certainly a reason here, which I won't spoil, why our characters don't know about what is happening in the same way characters from previous films know. But this leads to the problem of it being explained too quickly. This might contradict what I said above, but what I mean is that Tony Todd's character if far too quick to reveal information and the new twist. In comparison to FD1, where things had a slow, natural pacing, here we get a couple death scenes, and explanation, and then more death scenes. The progression is better, but still not as good as the first two films.

Fans will truly enjoy this solid sequel. There are a couple twists, and the final scene will blow everyone away. It's beyond what you would expect, and very nearly worth seeing the film alone. But with a handful of creative and brutal twists and a decently put together film, this should certainly warrant a decent box office and, maybe unfortunately, another sequel or two.

Anyone familiar with the Final Destination franchise knows what to expect: hot chicks, the ever-present menace of ordinary objects, and gruesome scenes of graphic death. Well, with Final Destination 5 you get all that, and in incredible 3D! I was initially concerned with the 3D during the opening credits, which feature cast and crew names on panes of glass being shattered by objects from past FD movies complete with showers of CGI blood, where the 3D would be the usual "in your face" gimmick that only makes you flinch. But in the opening bridge scene, the 3D effect dramatically enhances the frightfulness of the dizzying heights of the action and the horrifying dimension of the scene. I mean, I'm deathly afraid of heights but I was riveted.

Otherwise the death scenes were so intense and sudden that I shrieked at first but then found myself and the people around me laughing in relief and self-awareness.

FD fans will get a huge kick out of the final scene, as well as the ending montage of past FD death scenes.