The Final Destination (2009) Review
Written by: BlackTequilaKiss
Horror movies have a rule of thumb when it comes to sequels, prequels or hell even remakes. Stay true to the original and give it your own spin.
This is largely where The Final Destination fails.
It has the deaths, it has the gore and a coherant plotline but it falls short due to the fact it's merely a mimic of its predecessors. Whilst there is nothing wrong with following tradition, it's particularly buried when it's accompanied by flat, wooden actors and deaths that just are not memorable but really altogether forgettable.
I think it is high time this film franchise was quashed, it had its day but that time has no long since passed now.
PLOTLINE
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On a fun day at the races, Nick O'Bannon has a premonition in which a series of bizarre events kill those in the audience including him and his friends. When he comes out of the grisly nightmare and with omens showing his premonition is due to happen he manages to get his friends and girlfriend to leave seconds before the horrific vision becomes reality. Thinking they have cheated death, they get back to everyday. It's only when several more deaths of survivors occur he realises it is not over. He begins to realise that he must find a way to cheat death before he reaches his own final destination.
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I was in two minds throughout the film. One part of my subconscience screaming it was a waste of space and another part of me wondering if I am becoming jaded towards horror films? The more I learn of older horror movies, the more I experiment with lesser known titles, the more dull; cliche and tired certain movies are becoming.
I loved the original which of course started the concept, the sequel had some fun moments and overall was a sustainable watch, the third was a guilty pleasure, not fantastic but with some nicely aided moments but this one just fell flat.
Where it failed primarily came down to two things:
The actors and the way the gore was handled- CGI.
Why the first two worked so well was because on some level we care about the characters, there is a sense of unity towards the would be intended victims, whereas in this no one was really worth caring about. Carrying the same monotone expression and trying to gain sympathy does not automatically guarantee that will happen, alas it doesn't. We're introduced to a bunch of teenagers who take far too much for granted and then are supposed to care for them? It just doesn't work, the only plus to this flaw is the deaths whilst typical are enjoyable for the fact we look forward to seeing them die.
Next gore. Oh dear lord. I'm not a fan of CGI but I can take a little of it, e.g. Midnight Meat Train but this was CGI overload and it's all too much. Not believably, not clever and not memorable.
Music, cinematography, the likes, it's all just very samey. I can't complain but bottom line is that it is nothing special, nothing original just rather blah.
But the major let down of this film is the ending.be aware if you don't want to know there might be SPOILERS ahead...
I loathed the ending. Had it taken a different mantra from the previous movies it might have been a saving grace instead it turns into a cop out of massive proportions. Another ending, that twist and BAM!
They die... it's disappointing. I'm not saying it's not without a little flavour but it's no longer a twist when we can see it coming. A disappointing finale to a disappointing film. There are far too few saving graces and it's a watered horror for this who like cliches and typically asinine deaths. The weakest in the franchise and although it carries on the torch this is the one I recommend you leave in the dollar basket. Not a good movie, a weakly executed idea, cardboard acting and a formulaic plotline, skip this move for both your sake and sanity.
A poor excuse and only worth 2 stars for at least two good actors and a decent enough score. Let's just hope The Final Destination stays true to its title and makes this the final destination...