Final Destination – Film Review

Alex Browning is embarking on a trip to Paris. Alex experiences a premonition — he sees the plane explode moments after leaving the ground. Alex insists that everyone get off the plane and seven people including Alex, are forced to disembark. All watch as the plane actually explodes in a fireball. He and the other survivors have briefly cheated death, but will not be able to evade their fate for very long. One by one, these fugitives from fate fall victim to the grim reaper.

Final Destination is a horror film that stands out from the traditional supernatural horror genre due to its unique and inventive premise. Released in 2000, the film introduced a fresh perspective on death and fate, exploring the concept of cheating death’s design. While the film possesses a genuinely intriguing concept and delivers some effective scares, it also falls victim to certain clichés and uneven execution that prevent it from achieving its full potential.

The film revolves around Alex Browning (played by Devon Sawa), a high school student who has a premonition of a catastrophic plane crash right before his flight takes off. He and a group of passengers are then removed from the plane due to his outburst, saving their lives. However, as Alex’s premonitions start to come true in grisly accidents, it becomes apparent that death is trying to correct the imbalance caused by their escape.

The concept of death as an unseen force with an intricate design is undeniably captivating. This central theme offers a fresh take on the horror genre, highlighting the inevitability of mortality and the eerie notion that death can never truly be cheated. The creative deaths that ensue are a testament to the filmmakers’ imagination, with sequences that blend suspense and gruesome imagery effectively.

While the concept sets the stage for a captivating narrative, the film struggles with pacing and uneven execution. The initial premonition and plane crash sequence are brilliantly executed, establishing a high level of tension and intrigue. However, as the film progresses, the pacing becomes sporadic, alternating between intense sequences and slower character development moments.

The characters themselves, while fitting into classic horror archetypes, are not particularly well-developed. Their reactions to the supernatural events and their dynamics within the group often come across as clichéd and predictable. The dialogue occasionally feels forced, and the performances, while competent, don’t always manage to elevate the material beyond its limitations.

Final Destination successfully builds tension through its creative and intricate death scenarios. The characters’ paranoia and growing realization that they’re being hunted by an invisible force contribute to the film’s suspense. Each death sequence is meticulously crafted to play on common fears, such as the fear of accidents and uncontrollable circumstances.

However, while some death scenes are genuinely terrifying and memorable, others fall flat due to poor execution or overly elaborate setups. These moments underscore the film’s inconsistency, as it struggles to maintain a consistently high level of tension throughout its runtime.

For a film of its time, Final Destination boasts commendable practical effects and inventive death sequences. The filmmakers employ clever camera angles and editing to create suspense, and the deaths themselves are visually impressive in their practicality. The tension escalates as the characters are placed in seemingly innocuous environments that become death traps. However, some of the CGI effects have aged poorly, which detracts from the overall visual experience.

The film’s atmosphere is amplified by a well-composed score that effectively enhances suspenseful moments. The music aligns with the escalating tension, heightening the viewer’s sense of unease. The sound design also plays a crucial role in building tension, with subtle cues that indicate impending danger. This cohesion between sound and visuals contributes to the film’s effectiveness in delivering scares.

Final Destination is an intriguing and unique addition to the horror genre, centered around the concept of cheating death’s design. While the film captivates with its inventive premise and some genuinely terrifying moments, it falls short in terms of character development, pacing, and execution. The uneven quality of the death sequences, the occasional reliance on clichés, and the dated CGI effects prevent the film from reaching its full potential.