Final Destination: Bloodlines Review – Death’s banquet returns, and every bite kills deliciously

Final Destination: Bloodlines Review: Story - Stefani Reyes (Kaitlyn Santa Juana) wakes up every single day to a recurring nightmare—one where her grandmother, Iris Campbell (Brec Bassinger), and grandfather die in a mishap at a hotel perched atop a high-rise tower. The nightmare drags her back to her roots and pushes her to explore the cause, leading to the revelation that their bloodline has been marked by death. Now, they must either outrun it—or perish. Will Stefani manage to survive? Will death finally be defeated? Are there still any dumb, gory, and sinister ways to die left? The story is co-written by Jon Watts—the same man who brought us Tom Holland’s Spider-Man trilogy in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It seems the universe knows how to balance Disney’s (now faded) no-blood policy.

Final Destination: Bloodlines Review

I must have been around 13 when I was first introduced to the madness of the Final Destination franchise. A nine-minute, poorly cut and edited compilation of deaths—arguably one of the most-watched videos on YouTube—sucked me into this twisted world. Tough childhood, it seems. But the pop culture impact of the franchise on an entire generation is undeniable. The fear of trucks carrying wooden logs, or simply the thought that no wire in the world is safe and could slice us all to pieces, is etched deep into our subconscious. You know who to thank. So when the makers announced Final Destination: Bloodlines, we were seated—and they made sure it was worth it. Jon Watts is credited for the story (it may take me 100 business days to fully process that fact).

As we move forward, the story of Final Destination: Bloodlines unfolds in the best way possible. Written by Watts, Guy Busick (who also handles the screenplay), and Lori Evans Taylor (screenplay too), and directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein, the film thrives because it doesn’t bend under the pressure of evolving with time. Some stories need to stay true to their roots, and Final Destination is one of them. No one watches these movies for nuance or subtlety. There must be drama and top-notch gore—because, let’s face it, you buy a ticket to a Final Destination movie to be scared of your seat and the screen you’re watching. Meanwhile, watch all these fresh releases on Lionsgate, Zee5, and more this week.

And the filmmakers get that. Final Destination: Bloodlines isn’t written with a changing audience in mind, but rather with respect for the franchise’s legacy—why it’s lasted over two decades and why the first film still holds relevance today. You walk in, become terrified of the tiniest wooden object, and walk out still scared. That’s the expectation from this franchise—and if it gives you anything more, that’s just a bonus. Bloodlines does exactly that. It brings what we’ve loved: a story packed with drama, flashes of humour, and a brilliant blend of all the things that make this a very worthy watch.

The sadistic nature of the killings is deliciously entertaining for fans who are just waiting for the next gruesome death—hoping it’s even worse than the last. A piercing being pulled off a man’s crotch by a magnet made a hall full of viewers burst into laughter. Imagine how sadistic these movies have made us. That’s the impact I mentioned earlier. Yet, it’s also smart enough to remind you it’s fiction—none of this is likely to happen when you step out of the cinema.

One of the protagonists of the Final Destination franchise has always been death itself—and that remains very much alive (pun intended) this time around. However, one thing that doesn’t sit right is how Iris and Stefani can see the future. We’re never told how they got these powers. But what it leads to is so engaging that you almost forget the fact that no explanation was ever offered. Credit goes to the choreography of the scenes—they hold your attention long enough to make you overlook the flaws, if there are any. The opening sequence, one of the best in the franchise, is brutally exquisite. It’s choreographed to perfection. You know it’s going to be violent, and you’re strapped in—but the filmmakers take their time to tease, lure, comfort you, and then throw you off a cliff.

The innovation in the death scenes proves yet again that this team knows exactly what they’re doing. And one can only wonder—if these scenes made it to the final cut, what did the rejected ones look like? The screenplay does briefly fall into the trap of a repetitive dysfunctional family subplot—until the death dance begins. But once it does, the brutality pulls you back in and keeps you hooked. The CGI is seamless for the most part and highly effective. The well-placed humour also deserves praise—it lands just right at the perfect moments.

Kaitlyn Santa Juana delivers an earnest performance, and Richard Harmon deserves special mention for the humour he brings to the table. But the highlight is the cameo by the late Tony Todd, who returns for one scene and reminds us why he owns this franchise. All in all, Final Destination: Bloodlines is a complete package—satisfying both longtime fans and newcomers.

Final Destination: Bloodlines Review: Final Verdict

Final Destination: Bloodlines succeeds because it doesn’t force itself to evolve—it stays true to what this franchise is, and that’s exactly what works. Ample blood, plenty of chopped limbs, and a few people mashed like potatoes all come together to give you one hell of an entertaining ride.

Final Destination: Bloodlines releases in India on May 15, 2025. Stay tuned to OTTplay for more on this and everything else from the world of streaming and cinema.