Final Destination 5

I'm a huge fan of the Final Destination series. They aren't Oscar contenders, but they are certainly quite entertaining. However, after hearing a lot of negative feedback on the 4th FD, I decided not to watch it and hung my head in disappointment. I genuinely thought my favorite deadly franchise had finally bit the dust itself, and in a bad way. But when I heard about this fifth and final Final Destination, I decided to give it one more chance. Because hey, I hadn't been to the theater in awhile and if it sucked I'd at least have a good laugh. But, I am very happy to report that I was pleasantly surprised by Final Destination 5.

The story, as other reviewers have mentioned, really sets FD5 up to good prospects. It feels a lot more like the first FD, much darker without being too complex. I honestly liked the 2nd and 3rd ones a lot, but they were missing the creepy factor that the first installment had. This fifth episode really brings it back. The characters are surprisingly believable. Granted, you have the gratuitous hot chick and ladies man, but the characters never feel contrived or forced. Kudos to the actors for keeping this from being a $5-bin campy horror film.

The effects, even in 2D, were just as I think a film's effects should be: realistic enough to avoid the fake-factor, but not so excessive that they drown out everything else in the film. Yes, one could argue that these movies are all about death, but what always made them different for me from other horrors was the focus on build-up. The FD franchise has it's fans trained to watch for every little thing in a scene that could cause someone's demise until your skin crawls--and FD5 gives the audience this "detective" feeling perfectly.

To be honest, I wasn't expecting much out of this movie. However, from the very beginning, I was impressed. A few points of warning: it is very graphic, but anyone who has seen any of the other FD films should know that already. Also, you will not enjoy this film as much if you haven't watched at least the 1st FD, if not the 2nd and 3rd as well. When you factor in the story and characters, the death and mayhem we've all come to love, and one of the best plot twists I've seen this year, FD5 is very worth watching. Go on, have some fun.

But you all just be careful, now. ;)

I really loved the opening credits of this film. It introduces the killers of the series. Random objects are the true killers of the these movies. They jump out of the screen and shows us how dangerous they are. Even the most innocent objects can be dangerous. The mysteriousness of the intro is obvious and it became intense when a dead corpse flies out of the screen then random blood splatters the broken glass. The film itself is a remake of the last four films. They added some new rules here but it doesn't change anything. At least this is better than the fourth one but in the end, this is just another sequel(or remake).

Here's the thing about Final Destination. It's an intriguing high concept horror movie. But after the second film, they decided to repeat all the things from the first movie and make the deaths more gory than ever. They added new things here like the "Kill or Be Killed" concept. It's pretty interesting but it doesn't make any changes. That concept just made the climax more psychological and create some twists. Like I say, this is just another Final Destination sequel.

If you're a fan of the film then you might enjoy it by its silly death scenes. Yep, the 3D use is gimmicky. Dangerous stuff, even the ones that aren't dangerous jumps out of the screen. Blood and gore throughout. See how fragile these people are. Here's the big problem, The film points at Molly as the important character of the film but she is really/very bland among all of them.

Final Destination 5 is just another Final Destination movie. Told some new rules but still no changes. The twist in the end reveals something intriguing but after that, it became pointless. This series means nothing but to show how dumb gory violence can happen by random accidents and little objects. The movie itself will make you unsatisfied but if you are seeing this for the stupid gory violence then this repetitive sequel is your satisfactory. Kind of.

This movie will surprise you because after the disappointment of the last few movies in this franchise I had very low expectations for this film but happily for me it was dark back to the roots of the original with a great twist ending which will leave you wanting to see part 1 all over again

While it was not a great or perfect film (particularly in the dialogue, ending and some of the acting), the first 'Final Destination' was entertaining and effective (especially with its terrific opening plane sequence and the creative deaths) with a fascinating idea done well.

The bigger and bolder 'Final Destination 2' had its flaws but was just as good and perhaps the best of the four sequels. 'Final Destination 3' is just as big and bold, as well as gorier, and is also as good. 'The Final Destination' was however a big disappointment, easily the series' worst and to me the only bad film in the series. After wearing off and becoming stale in 'The Final Destination', despite the more of the same structure, 'Final Destination 5' shows the novelty returning and being refreshed and refined. It's as good as the previous three and a huge improvement over 'The Final Destination'.

'Final Destination 5' isn't perfect. The down-time and exposition between the deaths is turgid and clumsily written, saying very little interesting.

Characters are as shallow as to be expected, the dialogue is just as flimsy and the effects look pretty cheap.

However, the opening bridge scene is spectacular and perhaps the best opening of the series. The ending is also the series' cleverest, the only truly shocking one and the least illogical and contrived. The story has more time to develop and while it uses the time it does it in a way that makes everything as tight as possible. Really enjoyed the interesting new plot rule that allows the tension and thrills to register strongly.

Standing out in particular are the deaths. They are very scary, very inventive in terms of being bold and elaborate and surprisingly witty. They are also quite gory, but not gratuitously so or in a way where it's overused and abused. The laser-eye surgery and acupuncture ones are especially well done.

Visually, 'Final Destination 5' is atmospheric and stylish. The music is suitably eerie and the direction shows a grasp and understanding of the genre and the ability to breathe life and freshness to a formula that should have been fatigued by now. In the acting stakes, it fares favourably too.

On the whole, good fun. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Sam Lawton (Nicholas D'Agosto) is going to his brother's wedding but his girlfriend Molly Harper (Emma Bell) cancels and breaks up. He is wrestling with a job offer in Paris. His friend boss Peter Friedkin (Miles Fisher) is trying to hide a relationship with intern Candice Hooper (Ellen Wroe). Olivia Castle (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) is a bitch. Isaac Palmer (P.J. Byrne) is a talkative womanizer. Nathan (Arlen Escarpeta) is pushed by union rep Roy and Dennis (David Koechner) is the big boss. The group is going to a business team-building retreat. The bridge collapses and most of them die. It turns out to be a dream and Sam is able to save 8 of the group. However death has different designs. Agent Jim Block (Courtney B. Vance) investigates but he doesn't believe Sam's explanation. Coroner William Bludworth (Tony Todd) warns them and gives them a possible solution.

The opening bridge death dream sequence is great and a vast improvement over the previous racetrack sequence in 4. The CG looks much better this time around. The set pieces look realistic except maybe for the final kills. After the save, the individual kills are nothing new to the franchise. The laser eye surgery is a nice kill. There is something about being close to the eye that is truly creepy. Also the final twist is nicely constructed. And who doesn't love a kill montage.