“Final Destination: Bloodlines” follows Stefani, a college student plagued by a recurring nightmare who returns home to break the cycle of death and save her family from the grisly demise that inevitably awaits them all.
Strong Opening, Shallow Payoff
From a personal standpoint, I don’t enjoy the “Final Destination” films much. “Bloodlines” doesn’t change that. The movie opens with 30 charming minutes filled with over-the-top kills and plenty of laughs. However, after a certain point, it all becomes rinse and repeat. With a 109-minute runtime, I quickly lost interest.
Despite this, there are a plethora of creative deaths and moments in “Bloodlines.” There are also several large-scale sequences that I wasn’t expecting. Creative camerawork, cuts and transitions bring these bizarre moments to life. Even when I was losing interest in the film itself, these aspects at least kept a grin on my face.
No Emotional Stakes
The performances in “Bloodlines” aren’t special, but a few bright spots shine through. Kaitlyn Santa Juana excels in the lead role as Stefani. Although the dialogue isn’t the best, she and Richard Harmon as Erik manage to deliver their lines more effectively than others.
“Final Destination: Bloodlines” fails in its emotional storyline. While I by no means went into the movie looking forward to this aspect, the film itself tries to push it more than necessary.
Charming Until it Isn’t
Entire sections are dedicated strictly to comedy before attempting to be ultra-serious. These tone shifts weren’t effective, especially as the film had no interest in true character development. If “Final Destination: Bloodlines” would have stuck with the meta tone throughout, it might have been a much more enjoyable viewing experience.
Because of the inconsistent tone, the characters and their entire storyline fall flat by the time the movie comes to a close.
“Final Destination: Bloodlines” charms until it doesn’t. Longtime fans of the franchise will likely enjoy it, but for those who aren’t, it probably won’t sway them. Viewers can enjoy many laughs and witness a lot of bloodshed. However, it all amounts to nothing. The film attempts an intriguing storyline, but it fails to come together, leaving this installment feeling empty.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
