Directed by James Wong, this flick is a rollercoaster ride of death, destiny, and more clichés than you can shake a stick at.
Let’s start with the cast. We’ve got Devon Sawa as Alex Browning, the brooding teenager with a knack for predicting disasters and a face that’s as expressive as a brick wall. Then there’s Ali Larter as Clear Rivers, the obligatory love interest with a name so on-the-nose it might as well be a weather forecast. And who could forget Kerr Smith as Carter Horton, the resident jerk with a heart of gold (or maybe just fool’s gold).
But let’s be real — the real stars of “Final Destination” aren’t the actors, but Death itself. That’s right, Death with a capital D, a cosmic force hell-bent on wiping out a group of teenagers who cheated their fate in a freak accident. Talk about holding a grudge. Now, don’t get me wrong, the concept is intriguing enough — a bunch of kids dodging death’s machinations one by one — but the execution? Well, let’s just say it’s about as subtle as a sledgehammer to the face.
Now, let’s talk about the plot. A group of high school students narrowly avoiding a plane crash, only to find themselves being picked off one by one in a series of increasingly elaborate accidents? Check. A race against time to outsmart Death itself and cheat fate once again? Double check. It’s like “Final Destination” took a page out of “The Twilight Zone” playbook and then promptly tripped over its own shoelaces.
But what truly sets “Final Destination” apart from your average teen horror flick is its commitment to absurdity. I mean, come on, a killer oscillating fan? A rogue bus with a mind of its own? It’s like Death itself has a sick sense of humor, and we’re all just along for the ride. And let’s not forget the over-the-top death scenes, each one more ludicrous than the last. From impalements to explosions to decapitations, this movie’s got more gore than a butcher’s shop on Halloween.
Definitely a massive shoutout to Tony Todd, who is the sinister mortician (or is he Death? WooOoOoOoOooOo…) who seems to just savouring every minute of acting like the intentionally vague, mysterious figure who knows more than they’re letting on. The glee you can sense when he’s on screen is infectious.
Of course, no review of “Final Destination” would be complete without mentioning its stellar soundtrack. Okay, that’s a lie. The soundtrack is about as forgettable as the movie itself, but hey, at least it’s not actively terrible, right?
Now, let’s address the elephant in the room: the acting. Look, I’m not saying the cast is bad per se, but let’s just say they’re not exactly winning any Oscars anytime soon. Devon Sawa spends most of the movie looking like he’s trying to remember if he left the stove on, while Ali Larter’s idea of emoting is staring off into the distance with a blank expression. And as for Kerr Smith, he’s more wooden than a forest full of pine trees.
Final Destination is a great flick to switch off your brain to and simply enjoy. So if you’re in the mood for some mindless entertainment and don’t mind leaving your brain at the door, go ahead and give it a watch. Just don’t expect anything groundbreaking.