Final Destination Reviews and Ratings


  • TheQueenOfAwesomeness
    November 22, 2009
    TheQueenOfAwesomeness
    thriller starring Devon Sawa, Ali Larter, Seann William Scott and Kerr Smith. directed by James Wong.

    after having a vision of where the plane that he and his fellow classmates are on crashes, Alex Browning (Sawa) freaks and gets thrown off of the plane, along with a group of hi...( read more)s classmates. they're shocked, feel guilty for living and of course, think Alex had something to do with it. their suspicions only continue to grow as the survivors begin to die in freak accidents. is it Alex? or is it death come to collect?

    I still love this film as much as I did when I first saw it ten years ago... if not even more! one of my absolute favorite "scary" flicks. by far the best in the Final Destination series. they really should have just stopped while they were ahead. they will never achieve the awesomeness that they found with this original cast and script.

    two words: Devon Sawa. RAWR.

    love it! ♥
  • xxemokid666xx
    November 22, 2009
    xxemokid666xx
    LOVED IT!!! TOTALLY AWESOME!!!
  • sebastian771
    November 20, 2009
    sebastian771
    the best of the series
  • totalefreiheit
    November 17, 2009
    totalefreiheit
    Muy buena teoria. Interesante trama.
  • OlliffeObscurity
    November 15, 2009
    OlliffeObscurity
    It didn't make me jump! But a good film.
  • prico609
    November 10, 2009
    prico609
    great movie... non stop action..
  • jonathanswinter
    November 5, 2009
    jonathanswinter
    This movie proves you can't cheat death.
  • stilettokillerz
    November 3, 2009
    stilettokillerz
    Not scary, not entertaining at all, fail.
  • whispersofecstacy
    November 2, 2009
    whispersofecstacy
    makes you leap out of your seatr.
  • malcolmjovidennis
    October 31, 2009
    malcolmjovidennis
    When final destination came out it was an original concept, I understand its an acquired taste and it wont work for everyone (especially the Asian market). But I really went along with it, like many great movies it had me thinking a lot after I had seen it and not just about the ...( read more)shock horror death scenes but at the concept. Its interesting stuff and watching it again is even better as you appreciate the little subtle hints in it. Overall a great movie.
  • calumprice1
    October 30, 2009
    calumprice1
    Inventive, effectively eerie spine-chiller is a step up in the teen horror genre. Teenager Sawa has a horrific vision of his plane crashing just moments before its departure on a class field trip. He and several others exit the plane only to discover that it does in fact crash, b...( read more)ut things take a shocking turn when the remaining survivors soon begin to die in the most mysterious ways. Story is intriguing, the suspense flows well throughout, and there are enough violent deaths to satisfy the target audience. The ending is a bit of a disappointment and should have been planned out better, but overall this is one of the better films of the genre.
  • dukeakasmudge
    October 29, 2009
    dukeakasmudge
    Forget the rest-This Final Destination was the best
  • ed
    October 29, 2009
    ed
    Entertaining if you're willing to accept its dumbness.
  • thisguyoverhere
    October 24, 2009
    thisguyoverhere
    Final Destination is a fun game to find exciting, inventive deaths. When it works, everyone is a winner! (except those who die...)

    This Guy Over Here picks this as one of the Best Horror Films of the 2000s
  • elzayatsara1
    October 24, 2009
    elzayatsara1
    that was really scary... but liked it u can't help it
  • moomoo5704
    October 21, 2009
    moomoo5704
    A very intense movie
  • PvtCaboose91
    October 19, 2009
    PvtCaboose91
    "You already cheated death by walking off the plane. Now you gotta out when and how it'll come back at you. Play your hunch, Alex. If you think you can get away from it. But beware the risk of cheating the plan, disrespecting the design... could initiate a horrifying fury that...( read more) would terrorize even the Grim Reaper - and you don't even want to fuck with that MacDaddy."


    By the year 2000, the slasher genre seemed to have utterly run out of steam given the disappointing final instalment in the Scream trilogy. Final Destination, however, ably proves that there's still life and originality left in the ailing sub-genre. Not a genuine classic by any means, and it's essentially B-Grade horror schlock infused with genre conventions and endowed with A-Grade production values, but this first chapter in what promises to be another never-ending horror saga is superior to your usual horror outing. Blending intriguing supernatural elements with spine-chilling moments and general gory carnage, Final Destination is an extremely entertaining, inventive Friday nighter. Stylishly filmed and tautly directed, this flick deals with a variety of fairly heavy topics which are discussed candidly by teenage characters (in accurately written "teen-speak" as opposed to highly intellectualised dialogue even Harvard scholars wouldn't use), all the while developing into a darkly foreboding, eerie suspenser.


    The main story is built on a simple question: what if you cheated Death, but the Grim Reaper still demanded his due?

    Alex Browning (Sawa) is a senior French high school student about to embark on a class trip to Paris with his fellow peers. At the airport prior to departure, everything seems a little off. Upon boarding the plane, Alex suddenly has a vision that the plane will explode after takeoff. His vision is so vivid and intensely real that it provokes a violent reaction. This causes a disturbance, and Alex is consequently booted off the plane along with a few other students as well as a teacher. They're furious with Alex's behaviour...but this emotion quickly changes when they witness the plane promptly exploding moments later, killing all on board. However, the seven who stepped off the plane have cheated Death, and Death wants to balance the ledger. Alex and his friends begin to be methodically hunted down by the forces of the Grim Reaper who's intent on collecting the souls of those who cheated him.


    "In death there are no accidents, no coincidences, no mishaps, and no escapes."


    After this set-up is established, the film indeed turns into a slasher movie, albeit a more thoughtful one than usual. Nobody takes their clothes off, and the usual invincible knife-wielding monster is replaced with the never-seen granddaddy killer of them all, the Grim Reaper. Final Destination doesn't use Death as a killer with superhuman abilities who must be overthrown by the protagonists...it's a truly unstoppable supernatural force instead. However, Final Destination succumbs to far too many genre clichés. The FBI agents are, of course, completely useless in the proceedings, and the adults are equally hapless. Also thrown in is an all-knowing mortician who babbles on for two minutes about "Death's design" (portrayed by none other than Tony Todd of the Candyman fame). The protagonists occasionally do boneheaded things (some characters practically walk into their death as opposed to being alert), and they usually act antagonistic towards one another for forced "tension". On top of this, the standard chase finale is silly, and it lacks intensity from time to time.


    The mediation on fate found within the concept of Final Destination would most likely seem more appropriate for a foreign art film as opposed to a teen slasher flick. These provocative questions about premonitions and destiny are employed merely as a hook. The point of the film has nothing to do with the survivors coping with guilt and uncertainty (a potentially fascinating premise). It instead has other things on its mind: concocting graphic bloodbaths, and proving that death cannot be cheated. Final Destination is certainly serviceable as a teen slasher flick...but it's too clichéd, and the premonition aspect is barely touched on. Interestingly, the story was originally the concept for an abandoned X-Files episode.


    At least the kill sequences are imaginative and enjoyably gory; evoking the spirit of Rube Goldberg. X-Files alum James Wong directs with style and flair, usually judging the timing of the shocks flawlessly (one particularly nasty road accident will leave audiences gasping with surprise), and in the opening 20 minutes he delivers one of the most devastating air disaster sequences ever committed to celluloid. However, Wong occasionally falters when the death sequences are elaborately built up. This is a fault of both those that choreographed these sequences as well as Wong's handling of the material. The kills are constantly far too elaborate to be believed, and the foreshadowing fails in building sufficient suspense. A "less is more" approach could possibly have proved more effective here. To the credit of everyone involved, though, the "don't go in there" syndrome never kicks in when a character is due to die.


    "We're all on the same list."


    It comes as no surprise that the "teenage" portion of the cast look more like adults in their mid-to-late twenties as opposed to 18-year-olds. As Alex Browning, Devon Sawa is appealing and subtle. Despite not looking like a teen at all, Sawa offers a certain believability that's beneficial during the film's key moments (after his initial premonition, he looks genuinely terrified). As Clear (the object of Alex's affection), Ali Larter is extremely effective. Ali is undeniably beautiful, but Final Destination never exploits the females of the cast, therein lying one of the best creative decisions of the entire film.

    As the movie's resident asshole, Kerr Smith stars as Carter Horton. Alongside him, Seann William Scott places forth a surprisingly decent and charismatic performance as one of those who survives the plane disaster. He's the sort of person who gets inadvertently caught up in awful situations. He's also the only student not to leave the plane voluntarily. The rest of the cast is competent at best, including the requisite adult role (Kristen Cloke).

    True fans of the horror genre will realise the characters are named after famous horror icons. For instance: Alex Browning (Dracula director Tod Browning), Larry Murnau (Nosferatu director F.W. Murnau), Agent Schreck (Nosferatu star Max Schreck), Agent Weine (Cabinet of Dr. Caligari director Robert Weine), Billy Hitchcock (Psycho and Rear Window director Alfred Hitchcock), as well as a few others.


    In a genre normally devoid of wit, intelligence and originality, Final Destination is a diamond in the rough. Director James Wong's horror movie has the ability to shock (although these moments lose their effectiveness after repeated viewings) and surprise - two qualities rarely found in modern horror flicks. It's ultimately let down, however, by excessive genre clichés and some bad judgements on the part of the filmmakers in relation to some of the death sequences. Instead of a dark horror flick, Final Destination is unfortunately more of a teen slasher. Enjoyable as the latter, but it may have been a superior experience as the former. In spite of a few irritating shortcomings, this is probably the most innovative addition to the genre for years.


    Followed by multiple sequels, beginning with Final Destination 2 in 2003.
  • knowlesey
    October 17, 2009
    knowlesey
    A solid effort and addition to the great Horror films that have come out of this century, and it's spawned some great sequels too so it's great to go back and see where it all started. A strong all-star cast and a very creative storyline made this an instant hit and it's hard not...( read more) to love it. Corny and cliche' maybe but still highly entertaining to watch. Ali Larter is a stand-out for me casting wise. Overall a great suspensful film that will make you think twice about life and death.
  • oyet2583
    October 16, 2009
    oyet2583
    you better watch this movie!
  • liz101rocks
    October 16, 2009
    liz101rocks
    Now I always look to see if the toilet is leaking..
  • annubis44
    October 15, 2009
    annubis44
    With an intriguing concept, Final Destination manages to grab the viewer from the very get go. However, as the story progresses, you realize that the filmmakers don't know where to go with their story and hollow characters. This leads to an unsatisfactory ending that, in fact, is...( read more)n't an ending at all. A great disappointment of a film, which elaborate set pieces simply don't make up for. In the end, the entire affair is a lost opportunity.
  • Liesebieke
    October 15, 2009
    Liesebieke
    When I first saw this movie in theatre I would have given it full stars because I was very impressed. That's why I bought it on VHS video. Now twelve years and three more watches later it deserves hardly four stars. It looks predictable although I didn't think so the first time. ...( read more)And some death scenes in this movie are just to ridiculous so that it makes the movie a bit unbelievable in contrast to Scream which was made three years earlier and was totally believable and equally creepy.
  • channingsbabe93
    October 14, 2009
    channingsbabe93
    you can't cheat death
  • SpunkyJamez
    October 9, 2009
    SpunkyJamez
    This has a great story and concept. The actors are good. Ali Larter and Devon Sawa were probably the best. I saw this after I saw the 3rd one, and the 3rd one has more extreme death scenes. The death scenes here were a bit more simple, but I liked the way they staged them. Not al...( read more)l the characters were very likeable. I didn't really buy some of them. One of my favourite things about this film was how they kept treating death as if it were an opponent. I thought that was smart and at one scene, theres even a sense of rivalry between death and the main character, Alex. This is a FUN horror film, not a scary one. It adds in a lot of thrills and suspense, and that's exactly what I want from a film like this.
  • dandooshnew
    October 8, 2009
    dandooshnew
    oh, that one was stupidddd... I actually laughted half of the movie...
  • vickytara
    October 8, 2009
    vickytara
    Wauw finaly something that is not overly bloody... But is also NOT boring!
  • spacecasefukface
    October 7, 2009
    spacecasefukface
    this movie creeped up a half star over the years due to the fact that it isn't all that bad and looks even better now that there has been 3 shitty sequels
  • nickyangel77
    October 6, 2009
    nickyangel77
    this is my favourite horror movie.
  • heroicwarrior76
    October 5, 2009
    heroicwarrior76
    Add a review (optional)...
  • flor15aguilar
    October 3, 2009
    flor15aguilar
    i think this is the best of the second one and third one, i dont see the last one.
  • FruscianteFan
    October 2, 2009
    FruscianteFan
    Obozavam ovu trilogiju!! Prezanimljivi nacini na koje umiru kasnije.Svida mi se sta nema krvi i urlanja -.- :D
    Radnja : 9/10
    Glumci : 6/10
  • angelcutie100
    September 26, 2009
    angelcutie100
    i soo love this movie
  • oscartorrado
    September 24, 2009
    oscartorrado
    Forget about the serial killers! Final Destination is a new twist to the typical horror teens. The movie combines the thriller with the gore to deliver one of the most original horror film in this decade.
  • SirPant
    September 23, 2009
    SirPant
    I liked it, a good teen horror without the usual clichés! It?s original and intelligent and has plenty of gore too! :o)
  • bigdaddydaryl
    September 22, 2009
    bigdaddydaryl
    I got around to seeing this movie,Its not that bad,I found it more funny then anything,Had a cool story to it.The death scenes were cool aswell.Now that I have seen the first in the series I must watch the rest now.
  • markoseppanen
    September 21, 2009
    markoseppanen
    Ok, on second thought I give this a chance...
  • mrenzalyn
    September 21, 2009
    mrenzalyn
    The Best..i really love it...!!
  • ElCochran90
    September 17, 2009
    ElCochran90
    Fun accidents and a creepy atmosphere! The concept is absolutely cool. Not just an average and typical teen horror film.

    54/100
  • johnmitchell77
    September 16, 2009
    johnmitchell77
    Can we cheat death? When our number is up, is that it, Goodnight, Vienna?
    That is the question at the crux of this movie, and it rather cleverly is asked of teenagers, who, it is well known, have a sense of immortality.
    The movie?s premise is one an intriguing one, where the an...( read more)tagonist or villain differs from those of other teen horrors. It is not a bogeyman, a psycho, or even a ghost. It is a seemingly inexorable force. Death.
    The killer-stalking-teens movie has been - if you?ll pardon the pun - done to death, but this one is sufficiently original to be singled out for recognition, and works as well as it does, due, in large part, to the fact that the kids are forced to confront their finiteness and ruminate on it.
    You?d be forgiven for thinking that there isn?t a ounce of humour in this, given my description, but it is quite funny; not in a knowing, kind of tipping-the-wink way of, say, the Scream movies, but in a darker, more weirder way.
    So, Final Destination is smart and funny, with an originality that you cannot ignore, as the writers, James Wong, Glen Morgan and Jeffrey Reddick, weave inventive ways to kill off characters, and the talented cast make you care about their deaths and hope they escape their fate.
    This is a must-have for any horror fan
  • MarcosFog
    September 16, 2009
    MarcosFog
    Muy entretenida te mantiene atrapado hasta el final.
  • frogfairie
    September 14, 2009
    frogfairie
    took me years to finally watch this but glad i did. intense airplane scene & good build up on each of the death scenes.
  • kallajehanne
    September 13, 2009
    kallajehanne
    it was scary babe.. :)
  • Ramosmelissa23
    September 13, 2009
    Ramosmelissa23
    this one is good, the rest is not
  • joyanzon1
    September 12, 2009
    joyanzon1
    Add a review (optional)...
  • zakaryasx
    September 7, 2009
    zakaryasx
    A VERY UNIQUE MOVIE WITH A VERY ORIGINAL WAY OF KILLING OFF THE CHARACTERS BUT IT NEVER DESERVED SEQUELS
  • Weapon117
    September 7, 2009
    Weapon117
    "In death there are no accidents, no coincidences, no mishaps, and no escapes." - William Bludworth

    An original supernatural thriller with a well crafted atmosphere.

    Alex Browning and his high school class are going on a trip to Paris, France aboard Volée Air Flight ...( read more)180. Alex sits next to his close friend, Tod Waggner, and tries to remain calm as the plane takes off. Things don?t go smoothly as the aircraft rocks back and forth before eventually exploding. But none of this has happened?yet. Alex was just having a dream but within the next few seconds, all the things that led up to the lane crash are happening again. Alex is convinced he just had a premonition and that the plane is going to explode. He tries to get off it and gets in a fight with Carter Horton who is deeply annoyed that Alex believes the plane is going to explode. Both Alex and Carter are taken off the plane. Carter?s girlfriend, Terry Chaney, follows him along with teacher Ms. Valerie Lewton, Clear Rivers, Tod Waggner, who wants to stay with his friend, and William "Billy" Hitchcock who is in the wrong place at the wrong time. They all sit in the lobby, watching the plane take off and being very angry at Alex. Within moments of the plane being in the air, the aircraft explodes, killing everybody on board. Alex was right but all of the survivors are not sure whether to believe Alex may have cause the disaster or has some sort of precognitive power. As they try to get on with their lives after the funeral service, a series of bizarre events unfold, leading to the deaths of some of the survivors. Alex discovers a pattern with the deaths and believes that Death itself, or the Grim Reaper, is coming after them to take their lives and determine their final destination.

    This highlight film of the Final Destination series is directed by James Wong and written by Glen Morgan, James Wong, and Jeffrey Reddick. The script for this film was originally written as a speculative script for The X-Files and it couldn?t be more true since this movie has that authentic X-Files feel going for it. It features a young cast that don?t feel like degraded, sex hungry teenagers. Death is hinted and felt cold-heartedly in this supernatural thriller that has the odd scare to keep the viewer on their toes. Final Destination wasn?t a critical success but certainly was a financial one by taking in $112,880,294 at the box office with a budget of $23 million.

    The lead character, Alexander Chance "Alex" Browning, is played by Devon Sawa whose premonition of Flight 180 is what saves both the lives of his classmates and himself. He starts to realize that Death can be at every corner and knows that his time may be soon. He knows he can?t stop Death forever but plans on surviving Death?s Flight 180 plan. Trying to help Alex defeat Death is Clear Rivers (Ali Larter), who isn?t close to Alex or any of the other survivors prior to the disaster but that changes afterwards. They try to convince Carter Horton (Kerr Smith) that his time may be soon at hand and also try to save the lives of William "Billy" Hitchcock (Seann William Scott), Ms. Valerie Lewton (Kristen Cloke), Terry Chaney (Amanda Detmer), and Tod Waggner (Chad Donella). Their actions are questioned and watched closely by FBI agents Schreck (played by Roger Guenveur Smith) and Weine (played by Daniel Roebuck) who have been keeping an eye on Alex ever since the day Flight 180 never made it destination. Alex and Clear also get a clear description of Death from a mortician named William Bludworth (Tony Todd). Bludworth is a man who knows more about Death than anybody else and says that it will not stop until all of its victims are six feet under. He also knows that Alex and the others don?t have long to live and says to Alex and Clear that he will see them soon. The acting here is done right by this young cast in this supernatural film. Devon Sawa won the Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor for his role in this film and Ali Larter is excellent in her role. Who would have thought that the young Ali Larter in Final Destination would go on to kick ass in Heroes? And having Tony Todd as the creepy mortician is awesome and the man is an icon of the Final Destination series.

    The kills, special effects, blood and guts, etc. are all handled well with a budget of $23 million. It is interesting to see how the entity of Death creeps in the shadows, setting a course of events to kill someone in such a way to either make it look like they took their own lives, were killed by someone else, or are the victim of an unfortunate accident. This film raises question as to how someone would behave if the knew the Grim Reaper was coming after them and how would you go about living life in the safest way possible to postpone your hour of fate.

    This film should definitely be checked out by all fans of the series, horror fans, and X-Files lovers.

    "You may not realize it, but we'reall just a mouse that a cat has byits tail. Every single move wemake, from the mundane to themonumental... the red light we stopat, or run; the people we have sexwith, or won't with us; the airplanewe ride, or walk out of... is all apart of Death's sadistic designleading to the grave." - William Bludworth
  • OsoKrispii21
    September 6, 2009
    OsoKrispii21
    This movie scared the you-know -what out of me. But it was good
  • EdwardGump
    September 5, 2009
    EdwardGump
    these movies are disgusting and good

Summary

Final Destination Summary