In 2000 the Horror Nation was treated to a fresh new fantastic franchise with the release of Final Destination. With an original plot, crazy death scenarios, and terrific terror performances, the film went on to gross over 100 million at the box office and capture a legion of fright fans. Every few years, death came back calling to the deadly delight of audience members eager to see what cold blooded concoctions the talented terror teams behind the films came up with. Death laid dormant for fifteen years until scare scribes Guy Busick, writer of the most recent Scream films, and Jon Watts, developed a story to bring back the ultimate killer with a vengeance. With a massive 50-million-dollar budget and the last big screen appearance of the late great Tony Todd, expectations will be sky high for this sequel to surpass the previous entries.
Stefani is on the verge of being booted from college as she is slowly losing her mind with consistent nightmare visions of a tragedy from long ago. After returning home, the sleep deprived student unravels her family’s dark history which the elders of the clan have desperately attempted to hide from their younger loved ones. Once the cursed family starts to die in unusual circumstances, Stefani starts sprinting into a race against death and time before her entire bloodline becomes extinct.
This time it’s personal, was a clever tagline for Jaws part 4. The catchy phrase can be used to describe this similar sequel. Busick and Watts do an admirable job making this installment a slightly emotionally deeper film, but directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein just miss the mark with the most important part of the franchise…the deaths. While there are some great new kills to add to the legendary lore of the films, they come few and far between. As well, previous directors masterfully loaded suspense before the kills, keeping the tension high, these filmmakers pacing is just a tad too quick and forced. All the performances are solid, with lead Kaitlyn Juana carrying the narrative through a descent into darkness that will be right up there with other great cast members that have been celebrated through the franchise. Horror fans will have eyes welled with tears as the legendary Tony Todd ties the films together with one last great extended cameo. Bloodlines is another good entry into a franchise that has not had a dud, but the rapid death scenarios, extended unnecessary plot line, and a far too long run time, may have this sequel ranked near the bottom when fans debate over the series.
Scream Score: 7/10
RIP Tony Todd. You will forever be remembered as the kind gentle soul that you were.
