‘Final Destination Bloodlines’ Review: Death’s New Design Is Gruesomely Fun

After over a decade in the shadows, the Final Destination franchise bursts back onto screens with Final Destination Bloodlines, the sixth entry in the long-running series of over the top kills, gore and near-miss nightmares. Directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein inject fresh energy into a concept that has always danced on the edge of absurdity and anxiety. It’s a grisly comeback that reminds an entire generation why we still side-eye nail guns, dodge signs, and steer clear of logging trucks on the highway.

This isn’t just another retread of premonitions and panic. Bloodlines taps into the franchise’s twisted roots while digging a little deeper into the family tree. At the center is Stefani (Kaitlyn Santa Juana), a college student haunted by horrifying visions that feel like more than just dreams. When she learns her family has a long-buried connection to one of Death’s unfinished designs, the past and present collide in a blood-soaked race against fate.

Let’s not mince words: this is one of the most brutal entries in the franchise. The deaths aren’t just over-the-top—they’re deeply disturbing in the best way possible. One sequence in a hospital is a masterclass in building tension and then tearing through it with some of the most savage violence seen on the big screen. It’s stomach-churning, creative, and unapologetically cruel, to the point there were audible gasps from the audience. So fans of the series will feel right at home.

But for all the clever setups and nastiness, there are a few issues and while it may seem like nitpicking, the overreliance on CGI feels like a real missed opportunity. With the potential that practical effects has, you can’t help but imagine how much harder some of the kills could’ve hit if it leaned into them more. The obvious CGI robbed certain moments of their impact.

Despite that, there’s one element that cuts through everything else: Tony Todd. His final performance as William Bludworth isn’t just another cameo—it’s a quiet thunderclap. Todd, who sadly passed away in November 2024, appears visibly frail on screen, his scenes carry a gravity and emotion I was not expecting, his monologue is haunting. It doesn’t feel scripted, it felt more like his final thoughts, it was moving and it really caught me off guard.

Final Destination Bloodlines doesn’t rewrite the rules but it absolutely jolts the franchise back to life.

Elsewhere, the cast delivers exactly what the film needs. Kaitlyn Santa Juana holds her own as the franchise’s latest tortured lead, as she grapples with the weight of ancestral curses and family infighting. The family dynamic brings a fresh twist to the franchise—yes, they argue like any family, but now it’s over who’s next on Death’s hit list.

The multigenerational backstory adds weight, making it more personal with the fear hitting a little closer to home. But it’s Richard Harmon’s Erik who is the standout of the ensemble; he blends horror and dark humor with ease. His one scene in a tattoo parlor builds so much tension, anxiety, and anticipation in the audience as his surroundings twist with the threat of death or mutilation. It’s a memorable moment and he delivers it brilliantly.

Final Destination Bloodlines doesn’t rewrite the rules but it absolutely jolts the franchise back to life. It knows what its audience wants giving longtime fans something new to chew on but without ditching the franchise’s grisly roots. And make no mistake—the deaths are as over-the-top, twisted, and gloriously unhinged as ever.

Final Destination Bloodlines hits theaters worldwide on May 16, with previews starting May 14.

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