Final Destination: Bloodlines is a Killer Theater Experience

Watch your every step - death is watching us.

Final Destination: Bloodlines exploded into theaters in 2025. In the latest deadly story of the franchise, Stefani Reyes is plagued with recurring nightmares of a horrific incident from decades ago. She only has little time to break the cycle until death comes for her family.

Let’s see, pennies, garbage trucks, and ceiling fans; I can add these objects to the to-fear list after watching a Final Destination movie. Final Destination: Bloodlines is my first franchise theater experience. It was a wild time! Bloodlines is a brutal film that takes a new direction but avoids new territories.

A new cast joins the franchise. Kaitlyn Santa Juana is a highlight as Stefani Reyes. Teo Briones, Rya Kihlstedt, Richard Harmon, Owen Patrick Joyner, and Anna Lore do a noteworthy job of exploring more depths of the script. Credits also include Alex Zahara, April Telek, Tinpo Lee, and Max Lloyd-Jones.

Final Destination: Bloodlines is the final film for the late Tony Todd, who died shortly after filming was completed. With his frail appearance, it was sad to see him in poor condition. Filmmakers gave him creative control of his scenes. Todd’s strength and improvisation of a powerful dialogue made his final appearance a heartwarming tribute.

Bloodlines is one heck of a good time, but it followed too closely with the stakes of a usual Final Destination film. Writers missed some story opportunities that could have made it stronger, like the whole generations of cursed families. What if the film focused on more than one family trying to stop death?

Iris (played by Brec Bassinger and Gabrielle Rose) is the most intriguing character. With how things turned out, Iris’s character deserved to be expanded. Iris’s story would have been a fascinating storyline, considering the period. The story layout overshadows certain character dynamics and relationships.

In the fourteen-year gap, Zach Liposky and Adam B. Stein changed the game of the Final Destination franchise. As passionate fans, they upped the deaths and violence to 1000! Bloodlines set some records, like the oldest stunt woman to be set on fire at 71 years old.

The opening scene is gnarly. The opening scenes of all Final Destination films are a signature for how they grab the audience’s attention. Bloodlines' opening is a salute to how far the franchise’s digital effects have advanced in the last twenty-five years!

Bloodlines is brutal. It’s one bloody film with gruesome and gut-wrenching injuries. One scene involves an important medical machine that I had no idea was so deadly when handled the wrong way. Special effects are well-achieved with sound, editing, and makeup.

Final Destination has always had a knack for subtle foreshadowing and tricking audiences. The films also get away with dark comedy. Harmon (Eric) has some funny one-liners. He was also the one to propose an idea for a death scene.

It’s interesting how you’re laughing at one moment at something horribly wrong, until you’re clenching your face at a horrific decapitation. Most of the time, my friend and I gasped, covered our mouths at the gruesome kills, and gave our commentary on how characters’ decisions risked their outcome.

That’s the fun part about Final Destination. Everyone in the theater had loud responses and even cheered. Every Final Destination film has its flaws, however, Bloodlines initiates different creative motives to keep the franchise solid. I hope to see more installments.

Bloodlines is exactly what fans want to see. It’s unhinged in all the best ways possible. The theater is the setting to witness the gore, decapitations, and a thrilling ride.