Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.5

The Final Destination 3D Blu-ray Movie Review

"Don't you see? This is where I was supposed to be in the first place. I was meant to see this movie!"

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown August 6, 2011

As a self-proclaimed horror junkie (and occasional snob), I tend to turn a blind eye to derivative series sequels as readily as I embrace newer, more inventive fare. But for some inexplicable reason, the still-thriving Final Destination franchise -- four, soon five profitable films strong -- continues to entertain me, even when tossing batch after batch of fresh faces into the increasingly familiar genre grinder. Far from the unpredictable jolt that was the series' original entry, The Final Destination is nevertheless as fun and self-deprecating as a shallow sequel could be. Yes, its characters are more disposable than ever, its story takes an even further step backward than that of Final Destination 3, and the finality of its misleading title is only good for a laugh (as if we're to believe a franchise that's earned $470 million box office bucks won't continue to churn out sequels until there's no money left to fill the franchise coffers). But where else are you going to see ludicrously elaborate, Rube Goldberg deathtraps catching dozens of hapless victims unawares?

Thaaat's not going to end well...

The unwitting, nearly interchangeable young people caught in Death's ambiguous design this time around include future-peeping Nick (Bobby Campo), his girlfriend Lori (Shantel VanSanten), his cocky best friend Hunt (Nick Zano), and the group's superstitious tag-along Janet (Haley Webb). When an eerie premonition allows Nick to save several people from a tragic racecar crash and subsequent arena collapse, Death comes knocking, bound and determined to claim every soul He missed the first time around. Naturally, a parade of expendable stand-ins meet an untimely end long before our college-aged protagonists are placed in legitimate danger, seemingly for no other reason than to give Nick and his friends ample time to deduce and anticipate their own fates. And naturally, the twenty-somethings desperate attempt to thwart Death's plans are to no avail. But the allure of every Final Destination film remains intact: watching gasoline, nail guns, burners, pennies, faulty sunroofs, and discarded eyeglasses align for the sole purpose of dropping a knife, hurling a stone, or lopping the head off a scrambling survivor. There's never a chance of escape; no hint of hope; no real shot at winning. Inevitability rules the day without mercy, tucking everyone snuggly in their graves at the end of the night.

But therein lies the problem. Even four films in it's still entirely unclear why the series' main characters, Nick being the mythos' latest destiny-dueling prophet, receive visions of the future if Death is such an unbeatable, unrelenting foe. What entity is attempting to intervene and save these doomed souls? Is it a separate being or another aspect of Death itself? And why is it trying to help if the order of the universe is destined to prevail? Is the conflict a clash of cosmic forces? A time-twisting oddity? A supernatural game of cat and mouse? Or are these bizarre, otherworldly dominoes nothing more than a thinly veiled macguffin designed to keep a franchise afloat? Alas, The Final Destination offers fewer hints about the nature of its overarching story than any other entry in the series to date, abandoning any promise of closure and drawing out the mystery ad nauseum. Don't get me wrong, I'd be just as dissatisfied if too many answers were provided -- other ongoing series have tried to address their beasties' origins and failed miserably -- but adding a few more pieces to the puzzle would have gone a long way toward making the fourth film a truly three-dimensional sequel.

Ah well. Campo and VanSanten's performances are more than passable, engaging even, and Death's many wiles are as shocking and bloody as ever. The film's opening Nascar set piece trots out a quick succession of kills before redacting them all, a late-game mall fire ups the ante significantly, and a variety of tense (albeit fairly ridiculous) one-hit wonders will keep twisted horror fans giggling. Director David Ellis and writer Eric Bress' intentions are rarely, if ever, in question -- they tease, toy with, and wink at the audience incessantly -- but more humorless filmmaking would have rendered the film woefully pretentious, especially in light of the material (I'm looking at you, dear Saw sequels). To Ellis and Bress' credit, they manage to surprise even when it seems every twist and turn has been laid out for all to see. A gotcha ending arrives too early and is shoddily delivered, and several supporting actors (primarily Mykelti Williamson) utterly fail to provide the gravitas that would make their characters more effective, but the sheer audacity of the scenes help make up for such shortcomings. Suffice to say, The Final Destination doesn't offer revelations or resonance, only blood-spattered genre fun. Series regulars will obviously benefit the most and newcomers should approach the film accordingly. I would suggest picking up Final Destination, the vastly superior entry that jump started it all, and only playing Death's latest game after sampling the series' strongest outing.

The Final Destination 3D Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Shot using the same high definition 3-D technology James Cameron developed for Avatar, The Final Destination oozes 3D goodness. It's schlocky, gory, gimmick-ridden 3D goodness, of course, but the Blu-ray edition's MVC-encoded 3D presentation is an out-and-out blast; one that makes the film's 2D transfer seem positively tame. Don't misunderstand: the two share the same underlying qualities, the same slick sheen and the same hyper-polished visuals. But when it's hurtling at your face in all its barbed, razor-sharp glory, the experience itself becomes that much more fun. Before the film's release, producer Craig Perry told Bloody Disgusting, "having something pop out at the audience every four minutes gets boring." And yet something pops out at the audience every four minutes. Personally, I never found it boring, as the series' winks and nods at all-too-willing franchise fans are exactly what allows each successive Final Destination flick to emerge as such an infectious guilty pleasure. Shards of wood jut out of the screen, tires fly through the air, vans rocket down ramps, nails shoot toward their helpless victims, gasoline pours from above, bloody hands reach toward the audience, moviegoers are caught in the fury of an explosion, fire erupts, water gushes, blood splashes... it's heavy-handed 3D to be sure, but each home-theater-invading shock, jolt and projectile is in keeping with the lunacy boiling over on-screen. The three-dimensionality of the various elements is quite convincing too, with minimal ghosting. Explosions and water jets wreak some measure of crosstalk havoc, but the ensuing chaos tends to cloak almost all of the 3D presentation's shortcomings. And while depth isn't always as realistic or absorbing as Perry would go on to suggest in his Bloody Disgusting interview, it's both commendable and fairly consistent. Granted, darker scenes sometimes put a damper on the fun -- a death involving a late-night tow truck mishap doesn't pop much at all -- but the ineffective shots are few and far between.

Vibrant colors, bright arterial sprays, bold splashes of crimson, and gristly heaps of pulpy brain matter make their presence known as well, granting the image and DP Glen MacPherson's genre palette a fair bit of power. In fact, the film's steady stream of blazing primaries and healthy skintones make the dark, gritty confines of most horror films seem positively dull. Satisfying blacks and sizzling contrast only help, lending additional depth and dimensionality to an already effective three-dimensional kill-reel. I'll admit some of the visual effects flail -- the 3D presentation doesn't mask any of the CG's plasticity -- but detail remains impressive throughout. Textures are crisp and refined, edges are exceedingly sharp, and delineation is surprisingly revealing. If anything, a few shots lack polish while several others have been polished so much that the actors take on a glossy, wax-like appearance. It isn't a serious issue, and it certainly doesn't spoil the experience, but it distracts nonetheless. Fortunately, substantial artifacting, aliasing, crush, and unintended source noise are held at bay, and excessive artificial sharpening and ringing, though present at times, aren't a prevailing problem. All things considered, The Final Destination 3D is as impressive as its 2D counterpart, and looks about as good as a sticky genre pic could. Death's minions will be pleased.

The Final Destination 3D Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

A word to the wise: don't try to watch The Final Destination if anyone, anywhere in your house is trying to get some sleep. Grinding escalator gears, roaring racecar engines, collapsing stadiums, gurgling screams, hurling debris, underwater deathtraps, thundering car wash jets... Warner's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is loud and aggressive, going for the sonic jugular every time the opportunity presents itself. Explosions are blessed with hearty LFE support, flames effortlessly roll from channel to channel, and the soundfield is busy and immersive. The rear speakers get a serious workout, attacking whenever chaos erupts on screen. Granted, quieter scenes are terribly front-heavy -- no doubt the result of the film's original sound design -- but they give Death's complex kills and brazen assaults more oomph as a result. Dialogue is perfectly intelligible and well prioritized, effects are clean and stable, and the sticky stuff splashes and slathers convincingly. While the studio's lossless mix certainly won't win any awards for nuance or subtlety, it suits the tone and tenacity of the film, relying on technical prowess when little else seems reliable. Some oh-so-minor normalization issues will give cranky audiophiles brief fits, but the overall track is a meaty, memorable, and satisfying one. Enjoy.

The Final Destination 3D Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Like the previously released 2D edition, The Final Destination 3D comes up short with just 45-minutes of special features. Maybe it's just me, but a Maximum Movie Mode, a Picture-in-Picture video commentary, or even an in-depth look at the series as a whole would have been a nice touch. At least all of the content is presented in high definition, I suppose.

• Body Count: The Deaths of The Final Destination (HD, 22 minutes): The filmmakers and actors dissect seven death scenes, including bits from the film's opening crash, the burning of a particularly unsavory character, a theater explosion, a bloody escalator mishap, an underwater squirmer, and a fence impalement.
• Racecar Crash and Mall Explosion (HD, 11 minutes): View the storyboards, pre-viz animatics, and visual effects plates that helped create two of the film's more complicated, most chaotic sequences.
• Deleted Scenes (HD, 7 minutes): The nine scenes in this collection have little to offer, save alternate versions of several deaths. Meh.
• Alternate Endings (HD, 4 minutes): Two alternate endings (sans completed special effects) are included as well, but both fall terribly flat.

The Final Destination 3D Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Final Destination doesn't advance the Final Destination mythos at all, nor does it best previous installments. Truth be told, it's the weakest entry to date. But there's still enough chunky genre fun and sloppy surprises to make it worth watching. And, in many ways, it's even better in 3D. Not by any technical means, mind you, but that extra bit of dimensionality makes everything that much more entertaining. Thankfully, the 3D Blu-ray edition doesn't disappoint (so long as you're willing to forgive its lack of substantial special features). Its 3D and 2D video transfers are quite striking, the 3D experience is a bloody blast (and a proficient one at that), and its DTS-HD Master Audio track will wake the kiddies if you're not careful. My scores for the two releases may be the same, but Warner's 2011 3D release has an edge over its 2009 2D counterpart.