Final Destination

Horror movies are loved – and hated – by many. It’s not really the ideal type of movie for most. It’s meant to leave you in suspense, maybe shocked, and it can even trigger some pretty vivid nightmares depending on what you watch.

There’s many different types of horror movies. You have the classic slasher films, like the “Halloween” and the “Scream” franchise, paranormal ones, such as “The Conjuring” and the “Insidious” movies, and even psychological horror movies, such as “Us” and “Longlegs.”

The list can go on and on, and it’s been a known fact that over the years, filmmakers and directors alike have tried to bring something new to light, with the same goal at the end – leaving the audience feeling that eerie aura.

The “Final Destination” movies blur the lines between these genres. It doesn’t really fit into a specific one, because what’s so unique about it is that the villain isn’t a specific person or group, it’s meant to be Death personified. 

“I like that these movies aren’t about ghosts or a serial killer. It’s about everyday events gone wrong, which is interesting to see because it’s not something you may worry about before you actually see the movies,” said Serenity Harris, a homeschooled junior.

“The new movie has been overdue for a few years now so I hope it lives up to the other ones,” added Harris.

The first movie came out in 2000, grossing over $112 million worldwide against a $23 million budget, per Box Office Mojo. It spawned 5 sequels, and the 6th one is set to come out May 16, titled “Final Destination Bloodlines,” a nod to the recurring theme of the curse of death being passed down through generations.

“A good horror movie means you have to build up a sense of anticipation in the viewer for almost half of the film. The longer they can hold you once the villain or the problem is revealed, the better,” said Brian Will, the Department Chair for Language and Literature here at Taft. 

“Horror that’s more about suspense is top of the notch. It’s more realistic. I feel like the shock factor is cheap, you need to be able to put the characters in deep-set fear,” added Will. He also teaches Film, but he hasn’t seen any of the FD movies.

The entire point of the FD movies is to help realize that death is inevitable, because it hides in our ordinary, day-to-day scenarios. Of course, some scenarios are exaggerated for the movies (the LASIK eye surgery death scene in the 5th movie), but for the most part, the scenarios are relatable to most people.

Whatever happens to the characters in the movies can happen to actual people, and it leaves the audience paranoid, never wanting to step outside ever again. It makes us question how terribly – and quickly – our lives can end, just in the matter of a few seconds.

“I’ve watched all the Final Destination movies in order so I’m very excited to see what they will do with the new sequels. I heard that it might go more in depth about the concept of the deaths,” said Lindsey Jakubczak, a junior at Taft.

“What I like about the movies overall is how creative the deaths are – I enjoy how they use the butterfly effect, how one tiny choice can create chaos,” added Jakubczak.

It’s really up to the viewer, especially in the case of being a newbie to horror flicks as compared to an avid watcher, to experiment and see what genres cater to you. The Final Destination movies are not everyone’s cup of tea. But it’s always good to see a continuation of a movie franchise, especially in this day and age.