Final Destination: Bloodlines – Movie Review (4/5)

FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES is the horror sequel we’ve been waiting for. This reboot delivers on every level and aspect. I can’t wait for what comes next. Read our full Final Destination: Bloodlines movie review here!

FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES is out in theaters now, and the horror franchise reboot is everything I wanted. It delivers on a solid story that begins in the past but plays out in the present. And the death scenes are as creative and violent as ever!

Watching this sequel made me want to rewatch the entire back catalogue of Final Destination movies. I realize not all of them were great, but this 2025 installment is on par with the very first one. If you’re a fan of the horror franchise, you have a real treat in store!

Continue reading our Final Destination: Bloodlines movie review below. Find it in theaters from May 16, 2025.

See a penny… do not pick it up!

In this latest chapter of the extremely successful horror franchise, we go way back in the opening scene. And yes, for Final Destination: Bloodlines, the opening scene is at least as wild as we’ve come to expect from previous movies.

It all begins many years ago. In fact, it goes generations back, and this scene will tie directly into the “Bloodlines” element of the title.

The college student, Stefani, has been tormented by the same nightmare for two months. Every night, she dreams about her grandmother Iris, who experiences a tragedy that takes so very many lives (the poster reveals where this takes place), and ultimately, she dies.

Stefani (Kaitlyn Santa Juana) wakes up screaming every time Iris dies at the end. Of course, as any fan of the Final Destination franchise will know, this nightmare isn’t pure fantasy. Also, a penny plays a role in the nightmare, just like a penny will play a role throughout the movie.

In other words, if you see a penny, do not pick it up. It will not bring you luck. Quite the opposite. Not that the penny itself is cursed. It just seems to always be around when things result in the violent, creative, and extremely bloody death of someone.

Can Stefani stop her nightmare by tracking down the origin? Well, you’ll have to watch Final Destination: Bloodlines to find out. And whatever the end result, you know many people will die in this movie.

And, oh yes, there will be blood.

And guts.

Also, body parts will be flying through the air.

Enjoy the Callbacks and Easter Eggs

As is often the case with these long-running horror movie franchises that get revived with sequels and reboots, Final Destination: Bloodlines also pays tribute to the movies that came before.

You need to pay close attention to everything from character names, street signs, and newspaper articles. Also, we all know to stay away from trucks carrying lumber, which also comes into play.

Watching this 2025 sequel made me remember exactly why this horror franchise has been so successful. Also, as has often been the case with previous movies, the cast is full of actors you may recognize, but not A-listers. I love this.

Sure, horror fans will recognize Richard Harmon (Lowlifes) and several of the other actors in smaller and bigger parts as well. This includes Gabrielle Rose (The Night Agent), Brec Bassinger (Stargirl, The Man in the White Van), and (of course!) Tony Todd.

Overall, however, you’ll see many actors known mostly from TV series. All are clearly capable of carrying feature films, which they prove here!

And I love that about the horror genre; The story and wild effects are the backbone while the actors bring it all to life. Often, we see actors who are still making a name for themselves.

In Final Destination: Bloodlines, you can enjoy Teo Briones (Ratched, Chucky), Owen Patrick Joyner, Anna Lore (Hysteria!, They/Them), and Max Lloyd-Jones (Woman of the Hour).

Watch Final Destination: Bloodlines in theaters now!

Final Destination: Bloodines is directed by Adam Stein & Zach Lipovsky. The duo previously directed the 2018 movie Freaks, which I also highly recommend checking out. I absolutely hope they’ll make another movie in this franchise as well.

The screenplay comes from Guy Busick (Abigail, Ready or Not, Scream) & Lori Evans Taylor (Cellar Door), while the story is by Jon Watts (Clown) and Guy Busick & Lori Evans Taylor. And, of course, it’s still all based on characters created by Jeffrey Reddick.

Make sure you stay in the theater during the first part of the end credits. Not only because the story continues (or recaps, if you will), but also to catch the dedication to Tony Todd.

Final Destination: Bloodlines is out in theaters on May 16, 2025.

Details

Director: Zach Lipovsky, Adam B. Stein
Writers: Lori Evans Taylor, Guy Busick
Cast: Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Teo Briones, Richard Harmon, Owen Patrick Joyner, Rya Kihlstedt, Anna Lore, Brec Bassinger, Tony Todd

Images © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.