The Final Destination movies are back, and I honestly can’t say that enough. The new film, Final Destination: Bloodlines, proves that the series still knows how to scare and surprise us. Death itself feels older, smarter, and even more violent in this one. As someone who grew up watching these horror films, I can confidently say this sixth movie is one of the best in the series. And I’m not alone—Bloodlines currently has a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes!
What’s the Story About?
Bloodlines begins with a girl named Stefanie, who is the main character. She keeps having the same nightmare about her grandmother. Through this dream, Stefanie learns about a horrible accident that happened 50 years ago at a place called Sky Tower.
These nightmares keep coming every night and won’t let her rest. Eventually, Stefanie finds out she has a special role she must protect her family line, the Campbells, from death. Her grandmother is guiding her from beyond, showing her what to do. Stefanie decides to follow this path and do whatever it takes to keep her family safe.
⚠️ Spoiler Alert
This article includes major spoilers about Final Destination: Bloodlines. If you haven’t seen the movie yet, you may want to stop reading here.
This Movie Stands Out From the Older Final Destination Films
If you’ve seen other Final Destination movies, you’ll recognize the idea: someone sees a vision of a deadly accident, escapes it, and then death comes after them and their friends one by one.
But this time, the movie changes things. Instead of a group of strangers or friends, this story focuses on a family curse. Everyone in the Campbell family is connected by blood, which makes this fight against death even more intense and emotional.
The last Final Destination movie came out in 2011. That means it’s been 14 years since the franchise had a new film. Horror movies have changed a lot in that time, becoming more creative and brutal. Bloodlines fits in with modern horror movies like Thanksgiving and Halloween Ends. It’s updated for today’s audience and it works.
More Shocking, Slower, and Brutal Deaths
In earlier Final Destination films, the deaths were often fast and unexpected. But in Bloodlines, the filmmakers took their time and that’s what makes the deaths more disturbing.
Take Erik’s death, for example. It’s very slow and painful to watch. It’s so intense that it might make your stomach turn. Other characters suffer in similar ways, making this movie much darker and more emotional.
But it’s not just about death. Bloodlines also shows the human side of the characters. After Brenda shares a big secret about Erik’s identity, everyone starts worrying about Bobby, who might be the next to die. There’s even a funny moment when the characters try to hide sharp objects and peanut butter from him just to keep him safe. These emotional and light moments make the scary scenes hit even harder.
A Smarter and More Surprising Plot
Earlier movies in the series followed a pattern, people die in the same order they would’ve died in the original accident. But Bloodlines breaks this rule.
For example, everyone thinks Erik will die next, but Julia dies instead. That’s because we later find out Erik isn’t even part of the Campbell bloodline, which is why he survived a previous explosion in his tattoo shop.
The filmmakers also tricked us with the movie trailers. They made it look like Erik would die in the tattoo shop, but that’s not what happens at all. Instead, he dies later on in the film and it’s one of the most painful deaths in the series. He dies not because he cheated death before, but because he tried to protect Bobby. This twist adds something new to the franchise and keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Great Acting Brings the Movie to Life
Aside from the return of Tony Todd, the film doesn’t feature any big-name stars. Instead, it gives new actors a chance to shine and they do an amazing job.
Everyone in the cast gives a believable and heartfelt performance, but two actors really stand out:
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Richard Harmon as Erik
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Owen Joyner as Bobby
The way these two characters interact, especially as brothers, feels real. You laugh with them, worry about them, and feel heartbroken when things go wrong.
Another great performance comes from Rya Kihlstedt as Darlene, a kind and caring character who helps Stefanie. She’s not on screen for long, but her role leaves a big impact.
That said, the main character Stefanie could have had more character growth. She starts as an anxious teenager and ends the same way. Her death didn’t feel as emotional compared to the others, mostly because we didn’t get to connect with her as much.
A Farewell to Tony Todd’s Iconic Character
One of the most powerful moments in Bloodlines is the return of Tony Todd as James William Bludworth, or “JB.” Sadly, this was the actor’s final role before his passing.
In this movie, we finally learn more about JB’s background and why he understands death so well. He hints that his time is almost up now that Iris is gone and that he was the final person meant to die in the Sky Tower vision.
Even though we don’t see him die on screen, it’s clear that his story has come to an end. And if there’s a Final Destination 7, it likely won’t include him. Saying goodbye to such an iconic character is sad for fans, but it feels like the movie gave him a respectful and proper farewell.
Should You See It in Theaters?
Yes, absolutely! Final Destination: Bloodlines is a movie that’s best experienced on the big screen. The kills are intense, the story is smart, and the visuals are terrifying. It brings back the feelings we had when watching the earlier movies but adds a fresh, modern twist.
Even though the film brings back some old ideas, it doesn’t rely on nostalgia alone. It builds something new and even better. The creative deaths, surprising story turns, and emotional characters make it stand out in today’s horror world.
If you love horror or are a longtime Final Destination fan, this movie is a must-watch. I left the theater thinking about Erik, Bobby, and all the twists I didn’t see coming. And honestly, I hope this isn’t the last we see of this legendary franchise.
