Final Destination: Bloodlines (2025) – When Death Refuses to Retire

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5 Stars)

Released 05-16-2025

Watched 05-26-2025

Reviewed 05-27-2025

Watched in the theater using Cinemark Movie Club

"I intend to enjoy the time I have left, and I suggest you do the same. Life is precious. Enjoy every single second. You never know when... Good luck."

The Final Destination franchise has always danced with fate, and Bloodlines brings that twisted choreography back with renewed energy. Directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein, this sixth installment revives the central premise that death is a force you can't outrun, only delay. Unlike many horror series that wear thin, Bloodlines leans into its roots with smart direction, sharp pacing, and a reverence for what made the original entries work.

Set years after the previous film, this chapter introduces a new cast of unlucky souls linked by a near-death experience that triggers the classic domino effect of creatively brutal demises. The fresh-faced ensemble, led by Brec Bassinger and Teo Briones, delivers earnest and believable performances. Their fear feels real, and their desperation is palpable, even as we watch them slide helplessly along fate’s carefully designed Rube Goldberg machines of doom.

Where Bloodlines excels is in its technical execution. The sound design is a standout and worth the price of admission alone. Hearing the subtle whirs, thuds, and atmospheric tension unfold in surround sound pulls the viewer deeper into the panic and dread. The theater becomes part of the experience. Cinematographer Mark Irwin returns to the franchise, helping to elevate the tension with clever framing and a strategic focus on red herrings, keeping audiences guessing which object will snap, fall, or explode next.

The film’s biggest flaw lies in its reliance on CGI. Some of the death sequences, while imaginatively staged, look too artificial to truly terrify. The tension loses its edge when digital effects become too obvious. And yes, fans of the series will inevitably find themselves muttering "I saw that coming," but that is part of the formula. Anticipation is half the fun.

Ultimately, Final Destination: Bloodlines does not reinvent the wheel, but it reminds us why the wheel was spinning in the first place. It is a strong return for a franchise that knows exactly what it is and who it is for. With early box office success, a sequel is almost certain.