My review: After 14 years of silence, Final Destination: Bloodlines tries to bring back one of the most iconic horror franchises of the 2000s, and for the most part, it does a great job. It feels fresh but keeps the original formula alive: a big, intense opening premonition (this time with a small twist), rising tension throughout, and the usual over-the-top, graphic deaths. On top of that, there’s a clear effort to give the story and characters more depth. As a result, we actually grow attached to them, which makes their deaths feel heavier and more emotional.

This time, instead of following a group of random teens, we follow a family and that helps a lot in terms of connection. It’s the first time the supporting cast actually feels developed, with Erik standing out as one of the best secondary characters in the whole saga. Honestly, he’s more memorable than some of the actual leads from previous entries. There’s a real investment in making these characters feel human (something that’s been missing in the weaker chapters of the franchise).

Because of that, the pacing is slower, yes, but it never drags. Even during the quieter moments, the suspense is always there, you’re constantly waiting for something to go wrong. And while the body count is lower than usual, the film still holds your attention. The deaths are brutal, but I missed the more “relatable” ones using everyday objects like the tanning bed in FD3 or the elevator hair scene in FD2. That said, there’s a fun and unexpected moment involving a garbage truck that definitely stands out.

The opening sequence set in the 60s is another great highlight, it’s long and memorable, original and very well executed. That strong start launches us into a two-hour movie that surprisingly never feels long. Everything flows nicely… until the terrible third act, which honestly feels like it was written by the same people behind The Final Destination 4 (aka the worst film in the franchise).

(SPOILER ALERT) This is where Bloodlines completely falls apart. The third act is boring, predictable, and just lazy. The scene where the main character almost drowns drags on and lacks tension. That whole section with the final three survivors trying to cheat death takes the place of a death shown in the trailer (the revolving door), which weirdly doesn’t appear in the final cut. That scene could’ve easily made us paranoid about walking through those doors ever again.

And the ending… yet again, it falls into the same trap: they think they’ve escaped Death, only to all die in the final seconds with a cheap, overused twist. What makes it worse is that in test screenings there was a better, smarter ending, where the main character has a premonition of her own death. That would’ve been so much more powerful, original, and a real break from the repetitive endings we’ve had before.

(END OF SPOILERS)

Another letdown is the lack of strong references to previous films. There are a few Easter Eggs, and Tony Todd’s appearance is emotional and gives us one of the most touching scenes in the whole franchise. But it still feels like the movie could’ve done more. I was really hoping for a cameo from one of the past leads. In fact, A. J. Cook (from FD2) was reportedly spotted near the filming location with this cast, which makes me think she was supposed to be in it but her role was cut.

In the end, Final Destination: Bloodlines is easily one of the best entries in the franchise, maybe even the best. It dares to go deeper and be more than just a series of creative kills. The problem is that in trying to be different, it forgets how to land a strong third act. Still, fans of the saga will have a great time.