MOVIE REVIEW: FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES

 

Plagued by a violent and recurring nightmare, a college student heads home to track down the one person who might be able to break the cycle of death and save her family from the grisly demise that inevitably awaits them all.

Director: Zach Lipovsky, Adam Stein

Cast: Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Teo Briones, Richard Harmon, Owen Patrick Joyner, Rya Kihlstedt, Anna Lore, Brec Bassinger, Tony Todd

Release Date: May 16, 2025

Genre: Horror

Rated R for strong violent/grisly accidents, and language.

Runtime: 1h 49m

Review:

Final Destination: Bloodlines breathes some new life into the dormant series thanks to directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein embracing the goofy, gory fun of the concept along with a series of cleverly designed death traps.  The Final Destination films have always had a sinister sense of humor which the better entries have used to great effect.  Lipovsky and Stein use a barebones family drama to give the film a bit of connective tissue and stakes which works in spots but noticeably lags in others, leaving you wishing for some tighter editing since the deaths are stars of the show.  The good news is that they prove more than capable of delivering some tense, funny and splatter-filled moments of mayhem that will leave you laughing more than anything else as they manage to make the most mundane items look lethal.  They smartly play with audience expectations by using a handful of well-placed misdirects to give the film an air of uncertainty.   They benefit from a cast who clearly understand what type of film they are making and fully embrace the absurdity of it all even as they recite their clunky dialogue.  Kaitlyn Santa Juana leads the main cast of meat puppets with a serviceable but forgettable turn.  Brec Bassinger fares better in the opening flashback sequence during the funhouse destruction of a new tower restaurant.  Richard Harmon and Owen Patrick Joyner have a fun brotherly chemistry together which the film takes full advantage of during their big set piece.  Tony Todd cameos as the sole recurring character in the series, William Bludworth, with the film giving him a rather touching sendoff both onscreen and off.  It all makes for a return to form for the Final Destination series with Bloodlines ranking in the top three with general ease.  

B-

MOVIE REVIEW: CANDYMAN

 

In present day, a decade after the last of the Cabrini towers were torn down, Anthony and his partner move into a loft in the now gentrified Cabrini. A chance encounter with an old-timer exposes Anthony to the true story behind Candyman. Anxious to use these macabre details in his studio as fresh grist for paintings, he unknowingly opens a door to a complex past that unravels his own sanity and unleashes a terrifying wave of violence.

Director: Nia DaCosta

Cast: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Teyonah Parris, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, and Colman Domingo. Vanessa Williams, Tony Todd, Virginia Madsen

Release Date: August 13, 2021

Genre: Horror, Thriller

Rated R for bloody horror violence, and language including some sexual references

Runtime: 1h 31min

Review:

Nia DaCosta’s spiritual sequel to the 90s cult favorite is visually impressive with a thematically timely message even if it’s overly didactic in its delivery.  The original film was the type of horror film that worked because its general premise was incredibly strong even if the actual execution was a lacking. This sequel has an art house feel to it which gives the overall story a stylish overhaul which makes for a beautiful film to look at.  The story itself suffers from its clunky social justice message and horror roots.  DaCosta is trying like crazy to make a stronger overall point by reworking the Candyman mythos but it doesn’t feel as organic as it should, instead there are multiple moments where the film feels the need to beat the message into your head.  At the same time she’s attempting to deliver a slasher film that leans on body horror a more than jump scares.  The cast is incredibly committed which makes the film an easy watch.   Yahya Abdul-Mateen II leads the film with relative ease even though his character commits every horror movie mistake you can think of.  He’s able to overcome the scripts deficiency and delivers a fascinating portrayal of a man decent into madness.   The supporting cast is just as strong with Teyonah Parris, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett and Colman Domingo all leaving a strong impression.  Tony Todd and Virginia Madsen both have roles in the film but your left thinking that the director and script could have made better use of Todd who is the embodiment of the character in the original films.  Even with its fault, Candyman delivers an entertaining refresh/reboot of the series that leaves the door open for future installments. 

B

MOVIE REVIEW: HELL FEST

On Halloween night, three young women and their respective boyfriends head to Hell Fest -- a ghoulish traveling carnival that features a labyrinth of rides, games and mazes. They soon face a bloody night of terror when a masked serial killer turns the horror theme park into his own personal playground.

Director: Gregory Plotkin

Cast: Amy Forsyth, Bex Taylor-Klaus, Reign Edwards, Tony Todd

Release Date: September 28, 2018

Genres: Horror

Rated R for horror violence, and language including some sexual references

Runtime: 1h 29min

Review:

Hell Fest is a bit of an enigma of a film.  It’s a fairly competent slasher film that’s as forgettable as its cast.  The central plot and setting is fun but it never seems to take advantage of it.  The sets make for some fun sequences but none of it is terribly memorable.  Instead we get a straight forward Halloween / Friday the 13^th clone that lacks any semblance of self awareness.  The cast is made up of terribly bland actors who serve as nothing more than cannon fodder for the killer.  There’s a bit of fun in figuring out who will get killed first but even that’s fairly predictable.  Hell Fest is the type of film that makes for decent Saturday afternoon watching on cable even though you’ll forget you saw it moments after it ends.

C