Generational trauma meets gore in ‘Final Destination Bloodlines’

The Final Destination franchise has a proven-and-tested formula that has traumatized generations since the first film came out in 2000: one person experiences a premonition, wakes up from reality, warns others that Death is coming for them, they escape, the rest die, and Death eventually comes for them because they were not supposed to survive.

It’s a franchise that prides itself on claiming its victims in full bloody glory. As such, it may be too much to ask for something substantial when viewers come for the extravagantly violent, yet entertaining deaths.

But in its return to the big screen after a decade, it has to catch up with the times, and what better way to reintroduce “Final Destination” to the public consciousness than to incorporate generational trauma, a recurring theme in many films these days.

“Final Destination Bloodlines” marks the franchise’s return to cinemas after 14 years. It had sneak peek screenings last weekend in the Philippines via Warner Bros. Philippines, and is now being widely released today, May 14.

In its sixth and latest entry, the film starts with Stefani Reyes (played by Filipino-Canadian actress Kaitlyn Santa Juana) having constant nightmares of her grandmother Iris’ (Brec Bassinger) premonition at the opening of a skyview restaurant in the ’60s.

At risk of losing her college scholarships due to sleepless nights, Stefani decides to dig deep into her family history, as Iris’ paranoia about Death has long estranged her from her loved ones. Stefani eventually finds the older Iris (Gabrielle Rose) in a cabin where she has lived in isolation for most of her life.

Iris reveals that she was able to save everyone from the restaurant. But as a consequence, Death is now coming for each person she saved — along with their kin — one by one. Iris’ family is next, since she was the second-to-last person meant to die in her original vision.

Given a book that references other premonitions from the previous films, Stefani uses Iris’ knowledge to protect their family from Death’s violent wrath. Along the way, she tracks down a mysterious figure who also knows of Death’s presence: William Bludworth (Tony Todd in a posthumous appearance), who may hold the secret to cheating Death.

Adding a layer of family bloodlines and a dash of generational trauma into the Final Destination lore shifts the way the films are seen. It’s implied — though not explicitly confirmed — that the previous deaths may have always been intentional. This new angle brings a fresh perspective to the franchise while maintaining continuity despite being mostly a standalone legacy sequel.

As with any Final Destination film, it starts with a strong premonition that sets the tone and expectations for how gory the deaths will be throughout the film. Thankfully, its Philippine release is rated R-16 without cuts, allowing audiences to enjoy the gore the way it was intended.

However, like many of its predecessors, it suffers from a mismatch between memorable kills and lackluster deaths, which makes the plot feel undercooked as it progresses. In this film specifically, the editing seems to rush through the deaths, cutting away as soon as the victim dies instead of letting the violence linger and fully impact the audience.

Final Destination 3 remains the franchise’s best for its entertaining death scenes —exaggerated yet terrifying — and its ability to extend the pain onscreen, which is exactly why audiences keep tuning in to the franchise, even those few who usually avoid horror.

A highlight scene in “Bloodlines” isn’t even a violent one, but rather a quiet moment: the reappearance of Bludworth, whose backstory is finally revealed, along with the reason why he has always known about Death’s presence.

His return also delivers a message to the franchise’s fans: to enjoy life as much as they can. It feels fitting, considering how Iris’ survivalist instincts may have robbed her of truly living, and left trauma in her family. It also serves as a touching send-off for Bludworth’s character, as actor Tony Todd passed away last November, months before the film’s release.

While a meatier plot and tighter editing could have made “Bloodlines” a standout entry, its still-entertaining deaths and added layer of family trauma make it worth seeing in cinemas with friends. One important note for watching a Final Destination film: Come for the deaths, not the plot. Three stars out of five.