The Final Destinationfranchise will always be terrifying, evidenced by the caution taken in our daily lives when driving behind trucks carrying logs. The franchise also stands out because, unlike other horror movies that utilize slashers or spirits as villains, death itself is the antagonist. The films are cleverly put together, indicating how death controls the environment, creating a series of events that eventually leads to the demise of characters who previously cheated death.
Currently, the franchise boasts five films, which were all successful, grossing a total of almost $700 million worldwide. However, like all franchises, there are those particular films in the collection that were better received by viewers and, of course, one that stood out. Despite not being the highest-grossing film in the franchise,Final Destination 5was better received than most of the others, and here’s why.
The Clairvoyant Scenes Stood Out
AllFinal Destinationfilms start with apremonition scenewhere the protagonist goes into a trance and sees a glimpse of the near future, what they call seeing death’s pattern or design. The protagonist then comes out of the trance, claiming everyone will die. Whoever listens is saved, at least for that moment, before being brutally killed later in the order they died in the premonition.
The premonition scene inFinal Destination 5stands out from the other films in the sequel, perhaps because it was set on a collapsingNorth Bay Bridge, it took longer to detail how everyone died savagely, and it made great use of 3D.
The Special Effects Went Above and Beyond
Final Destination 5was probably the bloodiest, followed closely byFinal Destination 3and2. In fact, film critic, screenwriter, and author, Roger Joseph Ebert wrote inhis reviewthat the special effects added toFinal Destination 5did a brilliant job of incinerating, beheading, squishing, and vivisecting. Perhaps the most fascinating and captivating aspect is that the bloody horrific deaths started at the film’s beginning, during the premonition scene, and didn’t stop there.
RELATED:Final Destination: Every Opening Premonition in the Movies, Ranked
It Toyed With Viewers' Expectations
Perhaps unlikeFinal Destination 5’spredecessors, predicting how a character dies is difficult in this one. Being probably the two most essential components of horror, mystery, and thriller films, suspense and its resolution contribute greatly to viewers' responses. The build-up to threat and tension before death unpredictably takes the life of the surviving characters definitely one-upped the prequels.
Director Steven Quale portrayed his brilliance in toying with viewers' expectations, and perhaps whyFinal Destination 5was better received than most horror sequels in its position. When you think a particular character will die a certain way, you soon realize it’s just pieces of a puzzle laying themselves out before an unpredictable final blow.
If you can recall, in the originalFinal Destinationdeath moved the environment unnaturally, where water leaked from the toilet faucet, strangely followed the first victim’s movements and drained itself after the character was dead. In the sequels, it’s clear the directors made much improvement in making the survivors’ deaths look more naturally accidental. And inFinal Destination 5, Quale achieved this, making viewers fall in love with the film.
RELATED:Here’s Every Final Destination Movie, RankedThe coroner plays a significant role in the franchise by bringing a mythical touch to the film. He helps the survivors stay alive through ways to cheat death. InFinal Destination, you could skip death by saving the life of the next person on the list. InFinal Destination Two, only a new life could stop death from killing everyone. These are all good acts, but when it comes toFinal Destination 5, there’s a new twist! The survivors needed to kill a person to take their place, and they would enjoy their years.
Final Destination 5’sending surprised viewers, who realized the film is actually a prequel toFinal Destination. Remember the plane that exploded in the original? That is the same plane the two survivors fromFinal Destination 5boarded, and we even see Alex Browning(Davon Sawa)fromFinal Destinationshouting, “the plane is going to explode,” as he is roughly escorted out. TheFinal Destination 5protagonist realizes what’s about to happen, but it’s too late.
Will There Be a Final Destination 6?
Final Destination 6has been in the workssince 2019. Though another year ends without the film debuting, things are looking up.Warner Bros. PicturesandNew Line Cinemaannounced in January that Guy Busick would be collaborating on the script with Lori Evans Taylor, and it’s now public knowledge that HBO Max will distribute the sixth installment. Also, according toThe Hollywood Reporter, the sixth sequel has already signed directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam B Stein. Death is definitely coming back after taking a holiday.
