Sam Lawton (Nicholas D’Agosto) has a bad feeling about the bridge his bus is crossing. After a vision of it collapsing, killing friends and coworkers alike, he freaks out and exits. In doing so he saves their lives as well, but death doesn’t like being cheated in the Final Destination franchise.
In the days following the accident, a creepy coroner informs the friends that they are all doomed to die unless they can find replacements for death to claim. Before long death comes knocking, taking the heroes down through a series accidents. This leaves the survivors itching to pull triggers.
Make no mistake about it, Final Destination 5 is little more than a collection of guts. The 3D presentation of which is mostly well executed (except for the scenes requiring the most extreme of projectiles). This can be credited directly to director Steven Quale. Quale worked on James Cameron’s megahit Avatar and brings his understanding of 3D to the table. As 3D pictures go, Finale Destination 5 looks great. Character stand out from the background correctly, and a diagonal perspective of action fits beautifully.
Characters in this film are simply living in a state of being pre-dead. They are cardboard waiting to get thrown from a window, incinerated, or skewered. Of actors on hand, it’s easy to prefer Jacqueline MacInnes Wood and Miles Fisher, who channel Megan Fox and Tom Cruise respectively.
The problem with the film is a lack of inspiration. Was this really needed? There isn’t any way to progress when each new film starts back at step 1 with a new batch or twenty-somethings figuring out what the audience already knows. I fail to see the creativity in setting this all in motion through premonitions for five consecutive films.
Final Destination 5 brings the franchise full circle in an event that I didn’t exactly see coming. Take that as your twist, throw in the antics of death, and you have a respectable addition to a still mediocre franchise. **


















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