FINAL DESTINATION BLOODLINES (2025)

Genre: Horror/Thriller
Director: Adam Stein, Zach Lipovsky
Cast: Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Teo Briones, Richard Harmon, Owen Patrick Joyner, Rya Kihlstedt, Anna Lore, Brec Bassinger, Tony Todd 
Runtime: 1 hr 50 mins
Rating: R21 (Gore and Violence)
Released By: Warner Bros
Official Website: https://www.finaldestinationbloodlines.com.sg

Opening Day: 15 May 2025

Synopsis: The newest chapter in New Line Cinema’s bloody successful franchise takes audiences back to the very beginning of Death’s twisted sense of justice — Final Destination Bloodlines. Plagued by a violent recurring nightmare, college student Stefanie heads home to track down the one person who might be able to break the cycle and save her family from the grisly demise that inevitably awaits them all.

Movie Review:

During the preview screening of the sixth Final Destination film, there were many occasions when audiences erupted into roaring laughter. This writer was wondering whether it’s the most appropriate reaction as characters were dying in the most horrible way on screen. Isn’t Final Destination a horror franchise? Why were people laughing so loudly? Admittedly, this reviewer found himself chuckling too - though with a nervous edge.

After all, there’s always that lingering thought: what if, upon leaving the cinema, a freak accident like the ones in the movie actually happens? And the outcome? A really grisly and bloody death.

For those unfamiliar, the Final Destination series revolves around a group of people who cheat death after one of them has a premonition of a major disaster. Death is the invisible villain here, and it seriously holds a grudge when people miss their scheduled demise. For the rest of the movie, it will go all out inventing the most gruesome death traps to catch up with the survivors.

In the latest instalment directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein, the premise takes on a fresh twist, where Death comes for the descendants of a past survivor. College student Stefani Reyes (Kaitlyn Santa Juana) learns her family exists only because her grandmother once cheated death. And that means, the debt is now due. As her relatives start dying in horrific, twisted accidents, Stefani races against time to break the deadly cycle before it claims her too.

Who would’ve thought that nearly 15 years after Final Destination 5 (2011), Death would return to the big screen to claim a fresh batch of victims? Times have changed, and so has the gore – the movie is rated R21 (Gore and Violence), so you can expect more intense, graphic and disturbingly realistic carnage. Without spoiling too much, let’s just say that if you’re a fan of body piercings, you might think twice before stepping near an MRI machine a sequence in this movie delivers one of the franchise’s most unforgettable and grotesque moments to date.

The movie wastes no time in dishing out the thrills. The screenplay by Guy Busick and Lori Evans Taylor, based on a story developed with Jon Watts, will keep you on the edge, eagerly and anxiously awaiting each gruesome demise. As the tension builds with each death trap setup, nervous giggles ripple through the cinema crowd, and that will erupt into shocked laughter when the victim’s blood flies in gloriously messy fashion.

What’s notable about this film is that within its tight 110-minute runtime, you actually find yourself caring about the characters because they’re family. Stefani, along with her divorced parents, brother, and uncle’s family, must band together to outrun Death. Watching them protect one another from looming disaster adds a surprisingly emotional layer to the chaos. The relatively fresh cast helps too, allowing you to focus on the story rather than star power.

Tony Todd, known for his iconic role in the Candyman series (1992–2021), returns to the Final Destination universe as funeral home owner William Bludworth. Having passed away last November, this film offers a heartfelt tribute to the beloved horror legend, adding a poignant layer to the movie’s impact.

Movie Rating:

(Nearly 15 years after the last Final Destination instalment, the franchise returns with even more intense and graphic thrills, delivering its signature chaos while adding an unexpected emotional depth)

Review by John Li