Summary
With one of thegreatest horror movie plot twistsof all time,Final Destination 5was able to save its underwhelming reputation, making the fifth installment worth the watch. Known for their elaborate setups,theFinal Destinationfranchise has produced five memorable films so far, with a sixth movie,Final Destination: Bloodlines, on the horizon as well. Following a set formula,Final Destinationcontains some of the most ridiculous deaths, providing a unique take on the horror genre through its lack of a physical villain and heavy focus on the inescapability of fate.
Each installment in the horror franchise is driven by different characters trying to useFinal Destination’sdeath rulesto cheat their inevitable fate, with new rules being added over time.Final Destination 5established a different approach to the usual formula by introducing an interesting death rule which set it apart from other films. AsFinal Destination 5was trying to recover the franchise from the disappointing reception ofThe Final Destination(the fourth and supposed lastFinal Destinationmovie), it is no surprise that the fifth horror movie entryalso introduced a shocking twist to win audiences over.
6 Harsh Realities Of Rewatching Final Destination 24 Years Later
The first Final Destination movie, released in 2000, launched the franchise worldwide. But, upon rewatching, some harsh realities do come to light.
Final Destination 5’s Timeline Twist Made The Movie Better In Hindsight
Final Destination 5’s Ending Redeems The Movie
Final Destination 5featured a timeline twistwhich, in hindsight, made the movie better. At the end ofFinal Destination 5, Sam and Molly, who have managed to escape death for two extra weeks, notice a fight between some high school students as they board a plane to Paris.In a surprising development, the students are revealed to be Carter Horton and Alex Browning, making the flight they are boarding, Volée Airlines Flight 180 from the firstFinal Destination. This means thatFinal Destination 5, which fans thought to be a sequel, is actually a prequel to the whole franchise.
Had they not included the shocking timeline twist inFinal Destination 5, the movie may have followedThe Final Destination’sdisappointing fate.
Ultimately,Final Destination 5’sbig reveal made the movie much more enjoyable as the rest of the film was fairly standard. DespiteFinal Destination 5having thesecond-highest kill count, a new death rule, and the best CGI, itmostly follows the usual formula and was marketed as the final film, leading people to expect more of the same. Had they not included the shocking timeline twist inFinal Destination 5, the movie may have followedThe Final Destination’sdisappointing fate. Therefore, when the ending introduced one of the best horror movie plot twists, it revitalized the movie.
Final Destination 5’s Ending Was Great, But The Movie Was Disappointing
There Is A Final Destination Burnout
WhileFinal Destination 5’sending was great, the overall film was disappointing.Final Destination 5follows a group of co-workers who defy their fated death in a bridge collapse and spend the rest of the movie trying not to die.Tony Todd returns as William Bludworth in this moviefor the first time sinceFinal Destination 2, presenting a new (or old, depending on how it is viewed) death rule; death can be cheated by taking someone else’s life.The setup makes the movie stand out from previousFinal Destinationfilms as it introduces a moral debate for the characters.
Final Destination 5
53% (50,000+ Ratings)
However, despite the new death rule, timeline twist and use of adult characters, as opposed to the usual teen protagonists,Final Destination 5has a 53% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the second-lowest ratedFinal Destinationmovie, afterThe Final Destination.Audiences complained thatFinal Destination 5was rather predictable up until the ending, the characters were underdeveloped, and that some of the deaths overly relied on CGI, making them look cheap. Therefore, it appears that theFinal Destinationfranchise may need a different story inFinal Destination 6’sreboot, to rectify the fifth film’s reputation.
Final Destination Going Full Circle Set The Stage For A Reboot
Bloodlines Will Reimagine The Franchise
Final Destination 5’stimeline twist sent the franchise full circle by tying it up with the original film, setting the stage for a reboot. As a result ofFinal Destination 5being a surprise prequel, it wrapped the franchise up quite nicely. Therefore, whenFinal Destination 6was confirmed, audiences were skeptical about how well the next movie might do considering the fatigue felt in the previous two films. However,after a 12-year hiatus, theFinal Destinationfranchise may experience a bit more success, especially withFreaksco-directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein set to directFinal Destination 6.
Freaksis a sci-fi thriller which follows a 7-year-old girl who leaves home for the first time after being hidden away by her father.
AlthoughFinal Destination 6has been called a reboot, it is being treated as a “reimagining” for theFinal Destinationfranchise.Creator Jeffrey Reddick has explained that the premise ofFinal Destination 6will be different, steering away from the original formula, which is a good idea considering it has become overused. The cast has been announced, with Tony Todd returning as Bludworth, who will be a key part of the movie. Bludworth was the expert on death’s rules inFinal Destination,Final Destination 2,andFinal Destination 5.Hopefully, the sixth installment will finally reveal his mysterious backstory.
Cast
Final Destination 5 follows a group of coworkers who narrowly escape a deadly suspension bridge collapse, thanks to one man’s premonition. Unbeknownst to them, they were never meant to survive, and they must confront their fate while attempting to outwit Death’s relentless pursuit.
