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Rating
Synopsis
A group of high school seniors is boarding an international flight to Paris when something unexplained happens. One of the students, Alex (Devon Sawa), has a vision of the plane exploding and tries to warn everyone. He starts causing a panic, so security removes him and several of his classmates from the plane, which explodes. Roughly a month after the crash, some of the survivors start dying under mysterious circumstances. Given his accurate predictions, FBI Agents Weine (Daniel Roebuck) and Schreck (Roger Guenveur Smith) deem Alex a prime suspect. With help from fellow survivor and love interest, Clear (Ali Larter), Alex tries to figure out Death’s plan. He discovers that Death is claiming the survivors in a specific order, so he tries to stop it. But what Alex soon discovers is that you can’t cheat Death, and Death will always find you.
Review
Even 25 years after its release, the original Final Destination still holds up as a fantastic horror film. While it may not be as over-the-top as its sequels, this movie still has some fun, elaborate kill sequences. What makes the scenes so enjoyable is seeing all the intricate steps that lead to the character’s ultimate demise. For instance, something as simple as a broken coffee mug can lead to a house catching fire and exploding. The film also features some simple death scenes interspersed to break up the monotony and provide a genuine shock. Though some are more obvious than others, the fact that they happen so suddenly makes them more shocking. Some are so sudden that it borders on being funny, which is fitting given some of the humorous touches. From background pictures foreshadowing the deaths to the use of a John Denver song, it’s cleverly morbid.
What also elevates this movie above many others of its time is the characters, who are likable in some ways. Devon Sawa shines as the reluctant protagonist trying to save everyone and stop Death’s plan, only to be their undoing. Ali Larter is also great as the loner Clear, and she has excellent chemistry with Sawa. Kerr Smith makes for a great hateable jock who talks tough but shows weakness as the deaths pile on. Kristen Cloke is also great as Ms. Lewton, the adult figure racked with guilt over the deaths of her students. She and the other actors do a great job showing the anguish and remorse they feel over surviving the crash. Also, while he’s only in one scene, the late Tony Todd steals the show as the mortician, William Bludworth. His menacing voice and imposing presence elevate what otherwise is an exposition dump.
Given that this movie came out a year before 9/11, watching the plane explosion now is unsettling. That said, it’s still an effective sequence, seeing how the suspense builds and builds until the sides blow out. Glen Morgan and James Wong do a great job of keeping the suspense going throughout and putting you on edge. Of course, none of this would be possible without Jeffrey Reddick’s original script, which helped launch an entire franchise. Admittedly, some of the humor clashes with the serious tone they’re trying to go for, but it isn’t awful. Plus, aside from Alex, Clear, Ms. Lewton, and Carter, the other characters exist just for cannon fodder. Granted, none of the characters are overly obnoxious, and the film moves at a solid pace. Overall, Final Destination still works thanks to its solid death sequences and a great mix of horror and humor.
Buy Final Destination from Amazon: https://amzn.to/4ja8rEv.
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