Some Intricately Bonkers Deaths and A Cast of Characters Who Actually Care About Each Other Makes “Bloodlines” Surprisingly Dope
We haven’t had a “Final Destination” movie in a cool decade and a half, and probably a good move, as torture/death porn definitely seemed to go out of style at the end of the 00s.
That gap gives “Bloodlines” a reboot vibe, which can pay off in spades if handled well. And the filmmakers behind “Bloodlines” handle it shockingly well.
It’s pretty rare where the 6th movie of a franchise is the best (shit, has that ever happened) but that is, bafflingly, what we have here. And that’s because the folks behind “Bloodlines” do two things that nobody who’s made a “Final Destination” movie ever did.
Thing One - Unlike past FD movies, where the surviving group of people trying to evade a very creative Death is just a group of shitty teenagers, this one actually is a family at the heart of the movie. So the characters actually give a shit about each other, and while the dialogue and some of the dramatic scenes are a little clunky, the familial bonds and chemistry actually ring true for the most part, and that manages to create a legit level of emotional engagement in the characters, which is a tough ask for a horror movie.
Thing Two - The FD franchise is renowned for creative kills, but “Bloodlines” plays like a demented version of the board game Mousetrap, with kills that are so creative and deliberately designed it’s absolutely insane. The trailers ruin one great one, so if you haven’t seen them recently, don’t watch it again. But there’s still a few more pretty elaborate set pieces here that are pretty jaw dropping.
So bottom line, I guess, is if you’re going to reboot a 25 year old slasher franchise, look no further than “Bloodlines.” It’s a disgusting and great time.