- Starring
- Devon Sawa, Ali Larter, Kerr Smith
- Writers
- Glen Morgan, James Wong, Jeffrey Reddick
- Director
- James Wong
- Rating
- 18A (Canada), R (United States)
- Running Time
- 98 minutes
Overall Score
Rating Summary
Final Destination is the first installment in one of the most beloved and iconic horror franchises of the past few decades. It’s easy to see why it spawned a franchise and several sequels because not only does it have a great original premise, but it still holds up extremely well over 20 years after its initial release. The film follows Alex Browning (Sawa) as he and his classmates are getting ready to attend a school trip to Europe. While boarding the plane, Alex has a premonition in which he sees the plane crash and everybody on the flight dying a horrifying death. When attempting to warn everyone on board about their fates, he and a few other classmates caught in the crossfire are thrown off the plane and watch as it explodes in the air. Shortly after, the survivors begin dying one by one in freak accidents as they start to suspect death is after them and try to figure out how to survive.
The Final Destination films have always stood out from other horror franchises because their primary antagonist isn’t a physical being but rather death itself and throughout the entire franchise, audiences never actually see death in any shape or form outside of a few obscured CGI shadows. This especially makes this first film feel so unique when most horror films at the time involved either ghosts, haunted houses or a masked killer. Unlike the sequels favoring cheap thrills and mindless entertainment, the original has an overwhelming sense of dread and an eerie tone that could be felt in every scene which makes for a watch that is all the more chilling. The film takes itself quite seriously which is one of its biggest strengths, making it stand out as a more mature story than most if not all of the sequels.
The two biggest things this franchise is known for is the opening crash sequence and the deaths themselves both of which don’t disappoint here. The opening plane sequence gets the film off to a strong start and while it isn’t the best opening in the franchise, it’s still an effective one and sets up an ominous feeling that lasts throughout. The deaths are much more restrained and far less gory than what’s to come in future installments but they’re still very memorable and each pack quite the punch. They are all elaborately staged, full of red herrings and the deaths come when viewers are least expecting them, particularly one involving a bus. This is far from the goriest film ever made but it still has many disturbing moments and quick flashes of brutal violence that’ll satisfy audiences only looking for that.
None of the acting is anything to write home about but all of the actors get the job done and do exactly what they need to. Sawa easily gives the best performance in the film and is actually really good as the lead. He sells Browning’s terror and confusion regarding the tragic situation he’s found himself at the center of while still making for a relatable and likeable protagonist to follow for 90+ minutes. Larter as Clear Rivers is another standout and even if he isn’t given much to do, it’s still cool seeing Sean William Scott in an early role as Billy Hitchcock. The cast all have strong chemistry together and sell their relationships with each other within just a few scenes. Despite having very minimal screen time, Tony Todd makes every second he’s on-screen count and turns in another chilling performance as Bludworth. It was nice to see him included in this franchise as he’s always been one of the main highlights.
In the end, Final Destination might fall just short of greatness due to its mostly forgettable characters, some script issues, and its sometimes-frustrating execution of a great concept but it nonetheless offers a promising start for what would become one of the more influential horror franchises of the 2000’s. Some of its sequels might be bigger and a lot more fun to watch but the original is still a rock-solid start and delivers what is arguably still the best in the franchise. It’s surprising how much critics blasted this one upon release when it’s much smarter and way better made than most of the other horror films coming out around that time.
still courtesy of New Line Cinema
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