Final Destination 2 poster & wallpaper

A.J. Cook, Ali Larter, Cam Cronin

When Kimberly has a violent premonition of a highway pileup she blocks the freeway, keeping a few others meant to die, safe...Or are they? The survivors mysteriously start dying and it's up to Kimberl...( read more  read more... )y to stop it before she's next.

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70% liked it

423,834 ratings

Critics

47% liked it

106 critics

R, 1 hr. 40 min.

Directed by: David R. Ellis

Release Date: January 31, 2003

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DVD Release Date: July 22, 2003

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Flixster Reviews (16,906)

  • PvtCaboose91
    October 19, 2009
    PvtCaboose91
    "Look, I know this sounds crazy but... you guys all heard about Flight 180, right? The kid who got off the plane? Well, it happened a year ago, today. My premonition was just like his."


    According to the Hollywood rulebook, a commercially viable motion picture should be

    ...( read more) succeeded by a sequel in order to capitalise on this success. The original Final Destination - a cult horror film about the Grim Reaper finishing his ghoulish work after a group of teens cheat death - contained no visible killer, as well as a tonne of creative, gory death sequences. The bearers of this franchise, realising a wallet-stuffing film series could be on the horizon (ala Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street), consequently green-lit this inevitable follow-up. Virtually none of the main characters from the first film lived to appear in the second, but this isn't a problem...the filmmakers merely needed to create a new batch of victims.


    Less of a sequel, more of a retread...2003's Final Destination 2 adheres to the template of the original to the letter, replaying all the riffs and rhymes of its predecessor, from the wonderfully orchestrated deaths to the in-jokes (a few character surnames are again those of horror movie icons, such as Tim Carpenter and Kimberly Corman). This sequel to the 2000 horror sleeper actually works, however, emerging as a slick and downright enjoyable entry to the world of blockbuster cinema.


    On the first anniversary of the Flight 180 tragedy (that transpired in the first Final Destination, for those unaware), a group of teenagers are driving to Daytona for Spring Break. Driving along Route 23, everything seems rather off (like the beginning of the first film). Kimberly Corman (Cook) then experiences a vivid vision of an apocalyptic pile-up. Petrified by her intensely real vision (or was it a premonition?), Kimberly uses her car to block traffic, which prevents the queue of motorists from being involved in this catastrophic road accident. Lo and behold, the pile-up actually occurs. By blocking traffic, Kim has caused another "rift" in Death's design. As the survivors come to terms with their lucky escape, Death begins to methodically pick them off and complete his work... In desperation, Kim turns to the sole survivor of the Flight 180 tragedy: Clear Rivers (Larter).


    Those familiar with the original Final Destination will recognise this set-up. Final Destination 2, as previously stated, is extraordinarily derivative. The central concept - a string of precise, domino effect deaths - is starting to look tired. The unoriginal screenplay is additionally beset with hokey dialogue as well as being anorexic in the plot department. Unfortunately, as well, the characters are without adequate development. It's therefore quite difficult to genuinely feel for the characters (with the obvious exception of the three protagonists, purely because they're allotted the most screen-time) when they're stalked and dispatched by the Grim Reaper. The characters also arrive at conclusions about things far too quickly, the premonitions occur conveniently (eventually the sheer number of premonitions is ludicrous), and there are some pretty sappy moments throughout the flick.


    On a positive note, Final Destination 2 surpasses its predecessor in one aspect - the kill sequences. The original Final Destination featured intricate, Rube Goldberg-esque deaths. For some of these sequences, the elaborate disposition made them truly preposterous. Several minutes were dedicated to building up the imminent death...and as a consequence, the actual death lost it shock value as it was no longer a surprise. Final Destination 2, on the other hand, offers far less complicated killings. In this sequel the whole domino effect technique is retained, but it's under normal circumstances that things go haywire, resulting in eventual deaths. Yes, these kill sequences are generally built up (the hospital, for instance), yet director David R. Ellis is a superior suspense-builder, and the eventual death remains unpredictable which in turn makes them more shocking. Once again, the filmmakers make no attempt to personify Death. Instead, the Grim Reaper remains a supernatural force capable of manipulating anything and everything. There's also a mind-blowing twist; tying the characters into the events of the original movie.


    In the capable hands of first-time director Ellis, Final Destination 2 effectively elicits thrills at every turn. Ellis directs with flamboyance and assurance, utilising his experience as a second unit director to craft this slick horror/thriller. His compositions are inventive, slick and spectacular, hitting the ground running by kicking into high gear with a superbly-staged freeway pile-up (a true action tour de force). This jaw-dropping, chaotic motorway sequence has appeared on several "best car crash/accident" lists, and even acclaimed director Quentin Tarantino was quoted as calling it a "magnificent car action piece". For the death sequences the stunts are incredible, the special effects are marvellous, the CGI is seamless and the make-up department...had a proverbial field day. Exertions in all departments come together, conjuring up nail-biting tension. The competent filmmaking almost counterbalances the feebler moments.


    The cast is once again comprised of young actors in their mid-twenties trying to pass themselves off as teenagers. And once again, the cast don't even bear a slight resemblance to actual teens.
    Ali Larter reprises her role of Clear Rivers from the original film who's recruited to find a way to cheat Death's design for good. Like the first film, this actress is a saving grace. Her acting is solid, and she's very appealing.
    In the new cast there's the extremely charming & beautiful A.J. Cook as the premonition-seeing Kimberly, and Michael Landes as a charismatic but generic police officer on Death's list. These two share adequate chemistry, but their eventual romance seems contrived and clichéd. Of the new cast, only Landes, Cook and T.C. Carson (as an uptight black man) bring any depth to their characters. The rest of the cast are quite cardboard, and they lack diversity. A more diverse congregation of actors, and perhaps a better-written group of characters would've made Final Destination 2 a real winner.
    CineSchlockers will snap to attention nearly an hour into the movie when Tony Todd (of the Candyman fame) returns to reprise his role from the 2000 original. Todd is memorable as he delivers cryptic prognostications about Death's doings, generating a brilliantly dark mood.


    For all its flaws, Final Destination 2 is a slick-looking and well-paced horror sequel. This violent, brutal genre schlock knows precisely what its target audience wants...and delivers it with cleverness and playful exuberance. Granted, the ending is silly, the novelty factor has diminished, there's little substance and plot is at an all-time low...but we don't seek logic or deep characterisations in a horror flick - we want to see people being killed on the most inventive and disgusting scale imaginable. On these terms, Final Destination 2 succeeds. Frankly, this sequel is about as good as its predecessor - equally as flawed, yet equally as enjoyable.


    Followed by Final Destination 3 in 2006.
  • SirPant
    September 23, 2009
    SirPant
    Less intelligent but more gruesome, it?s my favourite of the franchise so far with very original deaths, and let?s face it, that?s what the film is all about! Whoo Hoo!
  • phubbs1
    September 2, 2009
    phubbs1
    All of the FD films are kinda cool not great but just neat hehe the eerie fact that a force like 'death' could be killing off people who cheat him is a wonderful idea and gets you thinking too. But I have come to judge the FD films (1-3) on the opening death sequence really, the ...( read more)rest of the film is merely the usual string of accidental deaths in more weird and wonderful ways haha its all the same but we know that and can forgive it.

    As for this one the opening sequence is great, a truly amazing set up, hardly original of course just to have a pile up, but its done very well and makes you wince on many occasion :)
    Its lasts for a decent amount of time, sets up all the character perfectly and looks pretty realistic, from then on you just have the usual death coaster formula haha

    A decent sequel that does just what the first set up, thats all it need do.
  • stopitgoaway
    August 28, 2009
    stopitgoaway
    I loved the first film. I thought it was clever and genuinely creepy and scary. I also loved this film, but for a completely different reason. This film is just pure fun - don't expect to be scared if the first one scared you. The secrets out, you know everyone is going to die - ...( read more)its the waiting to see HOW they're gonna die that's the fun part! For the whole film, i didn't hear one person in the audience scream, it was either laughing or clapping at how the writers had killed someone off in the most ludicrously inventive and hilarious ways! (When that boy got squashed by the plate glass window, the audience broke out into spontaeous applause such as I haven't heard since the end of Chicken run!) Although the pile-up at the begining is fairly disturbing, the rest is too OTT to disturb at all! Don't try to follow the plot, just enjoy the gore and excitement.
  • thmtsang
    February 14, 2009
    thmtsang
    This movie isn't as good as the first one. A girl has a premonition of a highway traffic accident, which stops her driving into it. As a result people who were supposed to die, cheat death. They recall the aeroplane story of the boy with the premonition and look for the final sur...( read more)vivor to try to help them. But one by one the group of people die in horrific accidents.
  • sebastian771
    November 20, 2009
    sebastian771
    a decent attempt at a sequal
  • Sebdinovitch
    November 6, 2009
    Sebdinovitch
    Wow.. this is good and unexpected !
  • sanjeevstar
    November 4, 2009
    sanjeevstar
    I am a big fan of Final Destination Series. This definitely doesnt dissappoint me. The plot of people escaping the death's design is exciting to watch. And the series of events which unfold after they try to escape death is breathtaking to say the least. Definitely worth a watch....( read more) An edge of the seat thriller which doesnt give you time to breath...Go for it!!!
  • malcolmjovidennis
    October 31, 2009
    malcolmjovidennis
    The sequel to the great final destination doesnt disappoint for story lovers and creative death scene lovers alike. This sequel brings some old stuff and it also brings a lot that is new, with a story that links smartly to the first and little sub plots this is one of the smarter...( read more) horror movies yet not any less gory.
  • wiccachik13
    October 30, 2009
    wiccachik13
    Disappointing. I expected more from Gruber and Bress, although they did come up with the Butterfly Effect... Perhaps that's saying something...

View All Final Destination 2 Reviews

Critic Reviews

January 31, 2003
Claudia Puig, USA Today

That there is an audience for a movie in which innocent people suffer hideous accidental deaths is troubling enough, but that a group of creative people chose to direct their energies on this repulsiv... full review

January 31, 2003
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

It's sick, stupid stuff, and intentionally so. full review

January 31, 2003
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Takes a good idea from the first film and pounds it into the ground, not to mention decapitating, electrocuting, skewering, blowing up, incinerating, drowning and gassing it. full review

January 30, 2003
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

Once you get past its supremely nonsensical title, Final Destination 2, a smooth and sharp slice of teen-gothic cheese, is kind of fun. full review

View more Final Destination 2 reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments

  • klenole
    May 15, 2009
    klenole
    YESS! I FOUND IT!!! YAAY!!!! FRIKKIN AWSOMENESS!!!
  • thedoctor2k7
    September 12, 2008
    thedoctor2k7
    a lot better then the first one
  • susanafra
    July 16, 2008
    susanafra
    Yes, you right.. the first Final Destination is much better than the second.. The Fist one is more scarry..
    The second is too push connection one with other role...
  • pavacri23
    February 23, 2008
    pavacri23
    i liked the 1st one better
  • roro126
    August 31, 2007
    roro126
    great fantastic movie i love it
  • tianiel05
    August 21, 2007
    tianiel05
    this movie is good, very much thrill,, watch it guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • KelseyWelsie
    July 5, 2007
    KelseyWelsie
    OMG but that cop was HOTT
  • KelseyWelsie
    July 2, 2007
    KelseyWelsie
    omg i LOVE these movies!!! <3
  • MarshmelloSugarRush
    June 9, 2007
    MarshmelloSugarRush
    i fink FD2 iz sooooo kwl! the FD series go down in my order of 'best films in the world' 1st is FD3 (soz) next is FD2 then its FD1 (not the same 'AAAAAAAHH!' as the other 2 had and the electric wire scene sometimes gets a bit borin ;-)
  • mamkun
    June 5, 2007
    mamkun
    I love it so much.It's much wonderful effect.
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Final Destination 2 Trivia

  • In which Final Destination film does Alex die?  Answer »
  • How much people survivored in Final Destination 2?  Answer »
  • Which of these three movies has the main character named "Kimberly"?  Answer »
  • In what film (from a trilogy) does a young boy die by getting squashed by a large pane of glass falling on him?  Answer »
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