Final Destination Bloodlines Review - A Nostalgic Gorefest for Fans
- Massiel
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 1 hour ago
Final Destination Bloodlines marks a surprising return of the franchise after a 14-year hiatus, and it’s exactly what horror fans have been craving. Directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein ensure the movie balances new elements of fate-driven thrills with the nostalgic gore that fans know and love.
What stands out right away is the film's return to the franchise's roots, moving away from the heavy CGI of recent installments, and embracing practical effects. This shift brings back the tangible horror that made the original films so enjoyable, avoiding the sense of artificiality that made the later sequels a tough watch.
This time around, the storyline digs deeper into the Final Destination lore, offering more insight into how Death’s curse ties certain characters together through a generational connection. Kaitlyn Santa Juana leads with her portrayal of Stefani, a college student who becomes central to figuring out the meanings behind her visions of a deadly tower collapse from 1968. She searches for the root, her grandmother, to help unpack the family’s dark history.
The movie creates a perfect balance between tension and humor. Richard Harmon and Max Lloyd-Jones bring some comedic relief in between the darker, more intense moments. Their great chemistry and timing add a lighter touch, keeping the film from feeling too heavy while still maintaining the adrenaline-pumping pace that we love about the FD movies to begin with.
Tony Todd’s return as William Bludworth is an incredibly important piece in Bloodlines. Though Todd passed away in 2024, he filmed his final scene while ill, and the filmmakers captured a deeply emotional moment. His brief appearance serves as a tribute to his iconic role and made it feel even more special for viewers who have followed the series since the beginning.
Adam Stein and Zach Lipovsky revealed in an interview with The Guardian, that Todd's emotional scene was unscripted. "Everyone involved knew he was ill, and we weren't sure at certain points whether he would be able to participate. It was a really unique moment because, talking about his own death for the movie on this meta level, he's speaking to the fans about his death," Stein reveals. "And so in that moment when he had his final goodbye, we asked him if he would be able to kind of put the script away and do a take where he spoke from the heart about what death means and what life means … it's his honest words of wisdom direct to you."
The movie was filmed for IMAX and takes full advantage of the large-screen format, elevating the gory death sequences to new levels. If you are able catch the film in IMAX, you’ll find yourself on the edge of your seat.
Overall, Final Destination Bloodlines brings everything fans loved about the franchise back to life. With practical effects, intense death sequences, and a deeper dive into the lore, it’s a nostalgic thrill ride from start to finish.
Watch Final Destination Bloodlines in theaters on May 16th, 2025.