Fifth film is not for the faint-hearted

It’S been 11 years since Flight 180 exploded killing everyone aboard except for a ‘lucky’ few who escaped due to their friend’s mystical premonition of the crash.

Since then the Final Destination franchise has spanned a decade with each film featuring countless teenagers dying in increasingly ridiculous ways.

From decapitations to accidental stranglings it was hard to imagine what the creators of Final Destination could be thinking when they sat down and decided to take a stab at a fifth film.

But I am glad they did. At first when I heard a fifth film had been wheeled out I turned my nose up at it.

For those of you who have missed the background to these films (where have you been?) – the premise always remains the same. A teenager saves a gaggle of unlikable friends from certain death when he/she had a premonition prior to a ridiculous accident.

We’ve had plane crashes, road accidents, spectator stands collapsing, broken roller coasters and in the most recent offering? A suspension-bridge collapsing. Brilliant.

Movie makers outdid themselves here coming up with a believable and suitably appalling opening to a Final Destination film that successfully rivals its predecessors.

This time it’s character Sam, a wannabe chef, played by Nicholas D’Agosto, who sees the accident before it has happened.

Sam manages to save a handful of his co-workers who were all on a bus headed for a work retreat.

But just as the lucky survivors celebrate one-by-one they begin to die off in ever obscure ways as death works his way down his ‘list.’

Oddly the great thing about these films is the audience know what is going to happen right from the start.

We were all waiting for a big accident, lots of deaths and then the characters to slowly bite the dust one by one.

What you don’t know is how and when it’s going to happen.

Movie makers ran and ran (and ran) right the way into a fifth film with this idea. But it’s a premise that keeps the audience on the edge of their seat right from the start.

As a result this film is not one for the squeamish, I spent large parts of the movie with my hands covering my eyes wondering when it was safe to look again.

Watching characters having acupuncture or laser eye surgery when you know they are about to die makes for some pretty unnerving viewing.

Some people could argue ‘if you’ve seen one Final Destination film you’ve seen them all’. I would argue ‘if you liked one Final Destination film, you will like them all’.

And this one even wraps up the five films leaving the audience satisfied with their lot.

The latest 3D technology added to the horror with guts, gore and bloody hooks jumping out at cinema-goers.

It’s a macabre film to enjoy but enjoy it I did, and at just an hour and half long there isn’t time to get bored.

The actors and actresses made little impression in the film as neither particularly bad or particularly good.

Comedy actor David Koechner injects a certain amount of humour into his role as the teenager’s sceptical boss.

Former ‘Candyman’ Tony Todd also reappears, this time as the coroner who offers the teenagers spooky unclear hints and tips about what they have to look forward to.

All these elements combine perfectly for a silly squeamish and not to be missed sequel, but perhaps writers ought to quit now while they’re still ahead?

by Debbie Sansom

Star rating HHHH