Horror Movie Review: Final Destination Bloodlines (2025)

Here we go again…

While it does have inventive moments and does try to break away from some of the established formula, there is no denying that Final Destination Bloodlines is, at its core, another Final Destination film. Which will please many people who are feeling nostalgic for some fun, thoughtless, cartoony violence and gore.

That’s not a jab at those people, far from it, as I am one of them, most of the time. However, in this instance, I find myself unable to unchain my brain in the same way. I’ve enjoyed plenty of entries in this franchise, but it was tired as hell when it seemingly ended in 2011.

Bringing it back wasn’t the worst idea, provided it actually tried to do something different. To tell a different story, to focus on characters, and to make the horror mean something again. In some ways Final Destination Bloodlines does do this, but in most ways, it’s nothing more than a disappointment.

Directed by Zach Lipousky and Adam Stein from a screenplay by Guy Busick and Lori Evans Taylor. The sixth instalment of the film franchise stars Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Teo Briones, Richard Harmon, Owen Patrick Joyner, Rya Kihlstedt, Anna Lore, Gabrielle Rose, and Tony Todd. The latter of which is in a short, but poignant scene as he was very ill (stomach cancer) at the time and passed away in November 2024. Sure, it retcons his character significantly, but in this case, it’s easy to shrug and say who cares. It was nice to just see him one more time.

So, the story of Final Destination Bloodlines surrounds a family, a bloodline if you will, that has been marked for death. All because Iris Campbell saved lives, many lives, including her own (she was also pregnant at the time) when she had a premonition. This premonition makes up the opening of the film and is immediately divisive. The premise, while far-fetched, is good and it builds tension nicely, especially as it comes from a more realistic place (an accident created by a rushed job). However, once it properly kicks off, it devolves into silliness on par with a cartoon, especially with some really dodgy looking CGI. Although that is commonplace throughout the movie.

Now, there is an argument that Final Destination films have never been scary, but at least the first couple had some semblance of realism.

So, Iris survives and because of that, she goes on to have kids, a son and a daughter. Except Death isn’t going to just let this one go (it’s at its pettiest here), so over a period, carefully and systematically, kills off everyone who survived. Including their descendants, who should never have been born.

Iris figure’s it out though, working out Death’s grand plan, but her obsession over it isolates her from her family. That is until her granddaughter, Stefani, comes looking for her. Why? She’s been dreaming of Iris’ premonition for two months and need answers. Don’t ask why she’s waited this long; it’s the sort of questions this film wants you to ignore.

We all know what is going on though, Death has turned its attention to Stefani and all those around her. Cousins, an uncle, her brother… if you are part of the bloodline, Death is coming for you.

Cue mayhem! Elaborate mayhem as only a decent Final Destination film can do. Yes, I am calling this a decent Final Destination film. Not a great Final Destination film though, it has a few too many issues for that. Some of which are galling. Least of all its disjointed character focus that makes it feel like a different film about halfway through.

Suddenly, it’s a comedy with a double act, who really come into their own both as actors and characters (some of the best bits of the film come from the hospital section). However,  both end up massively overshadow the lead, Kaitlyn Santa Juan, who is enjoyable enough, but very forgettable. No issues with acting, she and everyone else, is good.

Who cares though right? Nobody comes to a Final Destination film for characters! For starters, aren’t we all sick of saying that? Why not have good characters as well? Especially as the deaths of Final Destination Bloodlines aren’t amazing. Outside of one, the MRI death, that I quite enjoyed. The problem? Cartoony, right up to the end where nostalgia is paid off in full.

Satisfying? Not really, outside of what a Final Destination movie is, and it all comes back to that. This is another Final Destination film and you’re either going to love that or feel wholly indifferent to it. Personally, I just wanted something more and while what we got isn’t bad, it’s mostly unremarkable. Here’s hoping the next one (and there will be a next one) has a bit more imagination, but I doubt it.