Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.5

The Final Destination in 3-D Blu-ray Movie Review

More gore than you'll find at a climate change conference...

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown December 28, 2009

As a self-proclaimed horror junkie and snob, I tend to reject derivative series sequels as readily as I embrace newer, more inventive fare. But for some inexplicable reason, the Final Destination franchise -- now four profitable films strong -- continues to entertain me, even when tossing a batch of fresh faces into an increasingly familiar genre grinder. Far from great cinema, 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 is more of a 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 have a fifth outing), but where else can you see elaborate, Rube Goldberg deathtraps catch dozens of hapless victims unawares?

"Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?"

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 desperately attempt to thwart Death's plans, often 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 shot at winning. Inevitability rules the day without mercy, tucking everyone snuggly in their graves.

But therein lies the problem. Even four films in it's still entirely unclear why the series' main characters, Nick being the mythos' latest 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 the 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 some more pieces to the puzzle would have gone a long way toward making the fourth film a more 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 ludicrous) 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 their audience incessantly -- but more humorless filmmaking would have rendered the film woefully pretentious, especially in light of the material (I'm looking at you, 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. Yes, a false ending arrives too early and is shoddily delivered, and yes, several supporting actors (primarily Mykelti Williamson) utterly fail to provide the gravitas that would make their roles 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 checking out Death's latest game once you've sampled the series' strongest outing.

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

Longing to see gallons of garish gore spattered across your new television screen in sparkling high definition? Well then, dear readers, look no further than The Final Destination. Vibrant arterial sprays, bold splashes of crimson, and grisseled heaps of pulpy brain matter make their presence known in Warner's 1080p/VC-1 transfer, granting the hyper-processed image a fair bit of power. As it stands, the film's steady stream of blazing primaries and healthy skintones make the dark, gritty confines of most horror films seem positively passé. Bottomless blacks and sizzling contrast only help, lending visual depth and dimensionality to an otherwise two-dimensional kill-reel. Sure, special effects seem tacked on at times, but detail remains impressive throughout. Textures are crisp and refined, edges are exceedingly sharp, and delineation is surprisingly revealing. A few shots lack polish -- still others have been polished so much that the actors take on a glossy, wax-like appearance -- but the problem spots are few and far between. Artifacting, aliasing, crush, and unintended source noise are nowhere to be found, and ringing, though an issue here and there, is kept under control. If anything, some excessive artificial sharpening emerges as an occasional distraction. Not so much that it undermines the presentation, but just enough to make it worth mentioning. All things considered, The Final Destination looks about as good as a slick and sticky genre pic could. Death's minions will be most pleased.

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

With just 45-minutes of special features, The Final Destination comes up short. 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.

• 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.
• A Nightmare on Elm Street First Look (HD, 2 minutes): An all-too-brief introduction to the upcoming remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street, Freddy's makeup, his iconic glove, and the tone audiences should expect from the film.

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

Even though The Final Destination suffers from a chronic case of been-there-screamed-at-that familiarity, it still offers fans a decent, albeit shallow dose of what they're looking for. I do wish the filmmakers had finally pulled back the curtain on the series' mythology, providing some answers to questions that have dominated four films now, but it's good, gory fun all the same. Warner's Blu-ray edition is more fulfilling -- a strong video transfer and powerful DTS-HD Master Audio track add significant value to the release -- despite the fact that supplemental junkies will plow through the disc's special features in less than an hour. Ultimately, if you already enjoyed the film, a purchase is a no-brainer. However, if you haven't seen it yet, renting is probably the wisest course of action.