Movie Review: ‘Final Destination Bloodlines’

‘Final Destination Bloodlines’ receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.

Opening in theaters May 16 is ‘Final Destination Bloodlines,’ directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein and starring Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Teo Briones, Rya Kihlstedt, Richard Harmon, Owen Patrick Joyner, Anna Lore, Brec Bassinger, and Tony Todd.

Related Article: Tony Todd, Star of ‘Candyman,’ ‘Platoon,’ ‘Final Destination’ and Much More Dies Aged 69

Initial Thoughts

Fitting the definition of a crowd-pleaser about as much as a gory horror franchise can, ‘Final Destination Bloodlines’ reboots this storied series after a 14-year absence with style, a sense of humor, and all the ways to shred a human body to pieces that you can handle. Directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein (from a screenplay by Guy Busick and Lori Evans Taylor, who also wrote the story with ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ director Jon Watts), this sixth entry in the saga is a rare reboot that succeeds on both its own terms and as part of the larger narrative.

That’s probably because, unlike most franchises that strain for a jolt of energy via a legacy sequel, ‘Final Destination Bloodlines’ doesn’t have to desperately rely on distant memories of characters or lore from previous films. Although this movie does feature a recurring character (making his final, bittersweet appearance) and does incorporate the lore (look for nods to ‘Final Destination 2’ in particular), the premise itself is the draw, making it easy for someone who’s never seen a ‘Final Destination’ film to still appreciate what’s happening. With a few new elements added to the mix, we daresay that this ‘Final Destination,’ uh, lands the plane (get it?).

Story and Direction

As with every previous ‘Final Destination’ movie, this one begins with a vision of a massive calamity that claims the lives of dozens, if not hundreds. We won’t spell out the exact details, but it involves a glass-floored restaurant in the sky and, more surprisingly, it’s not a premonition of things to come as in all the other films: instead, it’s a vision of a premonition from the past, in the form of a nightmare experienced by college student Stefani Reyes (Kaitlyn Santa Juana).

Stefani is so traumatized by the nightmare that she’s in danger of flunking out of school and heads home to see her dad Marty (Tinpo Lee) and younger brother Charlie (Teo Briones). But it’s while visiting her aunt, uncle, and cousins that she learns her nightmare is a premonition that was experienced by her grandmother Iris (Gabrielle Rose), who now lives as a recluse and whose behavior led to the departure of Stefani and Charlie’s estranged mother, Darlene (Rya Kihlstedt). When Stefani visits her grandmother, she learns that Iris’ premonition led her to take action that saved the people in the restaurant – but ever since, those people and all their descendants have been stalked by Death because they did not die when they were supposed to and their descendants should not even exist.

As Stefani finds out all too soon after, Death is indeed stalking her family members, and the only other clue she has is about someone with the initials “J.B.” who somehow found a way to defeat Death. But time is running out, as Stefani’s family begins getting mowed down one by one in increasingly elaborate ways. “When you f**k with death, things get messy,” as someone says, crystallizing what this whole series is about.

While the overall formula is not tweaked all that much – and the film benefits, like the others, from the invisible presence of Death rather than some indestructible killer in a mask – the addition of the family element allows ‘Bloodlines’ to develop a depth of characterization that a number of past entries (we’re looking at you, ‘The Final Destination’) never really explored, with the casts of those films little more than meat for the visual effects grinder. Family secrets and trauma come to the fore, and the idea of death being passed down an entire family line like a hereditary disease is a fascinating one, as is the notion that whole generations of humans aren’t supposed to exist except for one person’s decision.

Directors Adam Stein and Zach Lipovsky manage to keep the family soap opera entertaining and even endearing with everyday squabbles and sudden confessionals, while the relationship between Stefani, Charlie, and their mother Darlene makes for an effective emotional spine. But let’s not kid ourselves: everyone is here for the deaths, and the directors stage some particularly nasty ones, starting with the opening massacre. Other highlights are a kill on a quiet suburban street that will make you drag your garbage pails to the curb with extreme caution from now on, as well as a showstopper in a hospital MRI lab that wrings maximum agony out of the poor schmuck involved, whose only crime is getting in Death’s way.

Yes, there is a certain inevitability to the way the plot unfolds, and in the mix of practical and digital effects some of the CGI doesn’t hold up as well as it could, but ‘Final Destination Bloodlines’ still has a spring in its step and the directors are clearly working from a place of love for the entire franchise, winking at the audience instead of just nihilistically wracking up a body count (which it also does).

Cast and Performances

This is a cast of primarily young, not-well-known actors, with many of them piling up most of their credits on television up until now. The most experienced main performers here, Rya Kihlstedt and Richard Harmon, bring a little more depth to their roles just by virtue of their longer time in front of the camera, and it shows in particular in Harmon’s case as he probably has the most presence and confidence of the younger cast.

But lead Kaitlyn Santa Juana is no slouch either and gives Stefani more complexity that probably most characters in youth-based horror movies ever get, with the script and actor not afraid to make her occasionally unlikable but always empathetic. Teo Briones as her younger brother Charlie displays some noticeable growth through the film as well. Their reunion with Kihlstedt as mother and children is organic and earned.

We also have to pay tribute to the late, great Tony Todd, delivering one of his final onscreen performances here as William Bludworth, the connective tissue in many of the previous five films. Todd, whose sadly shortened life and career encompassed the stage, TV, and movies, was a horror icon, not just for this series but for his role as Ben in the 1990 remake of ‘Night of the Living Dead’ and, of course, his signature role as the title entity in the ‘Candyman’ franchise. His appearance in this film (which is also dedicated to his memory) features Todd speaking not just in character to the rest of the cast but as himself to the audience, in a melancholy and beautiful sendoff.

Final Thoughts

Enjoyable for newbies but still peppered with enough series trademarks to be a hit with longtime fans, ‘Final Destination Bloodlines’ surprisingly proves that some franchises can still pack a punch well into middle age. The film’s subtle self-awareness – directors Stein and Lipovsky know exactly what this movie is supposed to be – and light touch only add to the morbid fun.

We had a better time than expected with a movie that is the sixth in the series’ lifespan, thanks to the stronger emphasis on character and the suspenseful yet knowing way in which each death is teased and unveiled for maximum impact. There may be no happy endings here, but ‘Final Destination Bloodlines’ makes going into the grave as entertaining as possible.

What is the plot of ‘Final Destination Bloodlines’?

Plagued by a recurring nightmare of a calamity that causes mass fatalities, a young college student discovers that her entire family is marked for death and only one estranged relative may know how to prevent that from happening.

Who is in the cast of ‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’?

• Kaitlyn Santa Juana as Stefani Lewis
• Teo Briones as Charlie Lewis
• Rya Kihlstedt as Darlene Lewis
• Richard Harmon as Erik Campbell
• Owen Patrick Joyner as Bobby Campbell
• Anna Lore as Julia Campbell
• Gabrielle Rose as Iris Campbell
• Brec Bassinger as young Iris Campbell
• Alex Zahara as Howard Campbell
• Tinpo Lee as Mr. Lewis
• Tony Todd as William Bludworth

Kaitlyn Santa Juana as “Stefanie” in New Line Cinema’s ‘Final Destination Bloodlines,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Eric Milner. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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