Final Destination 5
2 stars (out of 4)
Rated: 18A
Stick a fork in the Final Destination franchise — probably something that’s been done in some variation to a poor slob in every one of the ongoing series — it’s done.
The comic-horror series that always opens with someone foreseeing disaster and helping pals avoid it, only to see the ticked off, cheated Death (welcome back, creepy Tony Todd) return for his pounds of bloody flesh, has long since run its course. Now it’s a parody of a parody, and the squishy scenes, although creative, get tiresome as the movie wears on.
Still, this one is arguably the best of the franchise since writer-director James Wong’s first Final Destination in 2000, although the rote dialogue and plot-free proceedings courtesy of Jeffrey Reddick and Eric Heisserer aren’t getting any credit. Neither does the wooden acting, which seems deliberately bad.
Rather, the nod for whatever entertainment Final Destination 5 brings goes to director Steven Quale in his feature debut. He builds tension with skill and that’s a welcome change. Fanboys and girls will squeal over some deliberate shout-outs, like the movie’s final death scene, which gives an elaborate nod to an earlier movie, and the post-finish homage to the best of the worst deaths.
For this Final Destination, Sam (Nicholas D’Agosto, Heroes’ West Rosen) has a premonition while on a company bus trip to a corporate retreat with coworkers from Presage Paper (get it?) led by slimy boss Dennis (David Koechner).
Sam “sees” the bridge the bus is crossing start to crumble and collapse. All of those on board die in the kinds of horrific Road Runner-like ways that are a hallmark of the series, victims of bad luck and worse timing. Panicking, Sam snaps out of his reverie and hollers for the gang to get off the bus. A handful alight to safety as the bridge does just what he foretold.
Death won’t be denied and starts picking the gang off one by one. Quale’s first death scene is the best, as college gymnast Candice (Ellen Wroe) finishes her balance beam routine by sticking her landing with far too much enthusiasm.
As usual, loose screws, short circuits, flying steel rods and exposed wires are the devil’s playthings and each death is met with howls of glee from the theatre — it’s impossible not to laugh at this stuff, especially when each dispatch gets a final flourish, a coup de grace that draws hoots and even applause.
The critics’ screening I attended was in 2-D, but judging from the stuff flying out during the credits, this could be a case where the 3-D-version is worth the extra few bucks, especially if you prefer your horror full frontal and in your face.
But enough, already. The fourth film in the franchise, 2009’s The Final Destination, was billed as the last kick at the can, but a fifth went into production soon after. Now there are rumours a sixth and seventh are on the way. Overkill? Indeed.
Linda Barnard is a syndicated movie critic for The Toronto Star.