Final Destination
Grade: B-
Cast: Devon Sawa, Ali Larter, Kerr Smith, and Seann William Scott
Rated R for violence and language


It's been said that the recent trend of teen/horror movies have been on a downward spiral. While I believe this statement is true (I only liked two of them last year: "Cruel Intentions" and "10 Things I Hate About You"), every year there is one film like this that grabs your attention and never lets it go (like the previously mentioned ones). This film, my friends, would be one of those. "Final Destination" may not be a gift from the film gods, it may not be the end all be all of films today, but the experience is an enjoyable one. As some might say, it's a guilty pleasure.

"Final Destination" has all the atmosphere of a Tim Burton movie, and all the depth of, say, "She's All That." But there are two things that put it ahead of the teen, craptacular extravaganza that Hollywood has been throwing in out faces lately: its attention to detail and a brain. Well, maybe not a whole brain, but moreso than "Big Daddy" and "The Skulls" put together...that's not saying much though. At least it has a solid, interesting idea at its core.

The film tells the story of Alex. He's a lonely boy with no real friends. He's getting ready to go on his senior class trip to Paris. Everyone has boarded the plane and gotten comfortable, and prepared themselves for the flight when Alex has a premonition. This look into the future shows the plane crashing (in a scene that will make you jump with terror and never make you want to ride on plane again). So, he alerts everyone in a pretty rash manner which results in five kids and a teacher being kicked off the plane.

Moments later, as the six of them sit in the airport watching the plane take flight, it explodes. There's an investigation, and everyone is sent home. Once home, Alex gets news that his friend has died in a horrible shower/hanging incident. One by one, the survivers turn to corpses, and Alex begins to realize what's going on. By getting off the plane, the six of them cheated death. Now, death is out to avenge its name, and it's going to kill them one by one.

One thing the film does right is making death an invisible being. They didn't have the Gordon's Fisherman (ala "I know What You Did Last Summer"), it wasn't a guy in a mask (ala "Scream"), and it wasn't some big computer generated...thing (ala "The Haunting"). It's just there. It's a being. It's something the characters feel. They know something is horribly wrong when the toilet suddenly spings a leak, or their mug suddenly cracks.

Now, all of this sounds great on paper. But, it's even better on the screen. The filmmakers have created a wonderful atmosphere of tension, terror, and genuine fear. The film is shot in everyday locations that might not seem scary, but when these filmmakers put their cameras, lights, and action on it, it's enough to make you jump out of your chair. A highlight of this would be when the plane crashes. It's probably one of the single-most terrifying things I've seen on film. It's scary because you know it can happen and has happened at any given time. Also watch for a gripping scene in the woods.

The acting isn't anything spectacularly good or bad. It's just right. The cast doesn't over-do it. They're sufficient. Of course they haven't assembled the greatest group of actors to play the parts, but we'll just leave well enough alone.

For most of it's running time, the film defies convention (if not just making them better), but it faulters in it's lame conclusion. Go see it for a good time if not for any other reason. If you're only looking for something to do on a rainy day or if you just want to have fun, you won't be disappointed. Take it from me, I didn't even want to see it, now I want to see it again.


--Brian Jones, 2000/2002