A “Final Destination” revisit - “Final Destination” and “Final Destination 2”

The “Final Destination” series is a horror franchise that actually includes six movies (including the new movie “Bloodlines”), ten novel adaptations and even two comic books. And did you know that the first movie was based on an un-produced script for an “X-Files” episode?

So, to get ready for the next installment, “Final Destination: Bloodlines” (which I have planned for the May 28th edition), I thought this would be the perfect time to revisit the franchise - starting with the one that started it all, the 2000 movie “Final Destination.”

Alex Browning is embarking on a school trip to Paris. Alex experiences a premonition - he sees the plane explode moments after leaving the ground. He insists that everyone get off the plane and seven people including Alex, are forced to disembark.

All watch as the plane actually explodes in a fireball. He and the other survivors have briefly cheated death, but will not be able to evade their fate for very long. One by one, these fugitives from fate fall victim to the grim reaper.

The 2000 movie still holds up rather well, even after two decades. Now, even though it can get a little corny here and there, the first two movies are still a fun watch.

After all these years, “Final Destination” still has a rather unique premise and the deaths and scares that the movie is known for are still rather creative.

The opening sequence of the plane premonition is still pretty iconic and thrilling. And, even though bits of the first movie can get predictable for first time viewers, the movie can still deliver a rather tense atmosphere.

In the 2003 sequel, “Final Destination 2,” Kimberly has a premonition of a horrible highway accident killing multiple people - including her and her friends. She blocks the cars behind her on the ramp from joining traffic - and as a police trooper arrives, the accident actually happens.

Now, Death is stalking this group of mistaken survivors - and one by one they are dying as they were supposed to on the highway.

Just like the 2000 movie, “Final Destination 2” delivers some tense thrills and compelling death scenes. And, which is now a tradition for the franchise, the opening premonition sequence is also just as iconic as the first movie. This movie’s premonition sequence will make you a little leery about driving behind log trucks.

While the 2003 sequel can be a fun watch and can really keep you on the very edge of your seat, the movie also begins to incorporate comedic moments to the franchise. The comedic moments can be a little over the top at times, but this sequel actually delivers a nice balance between the humor and the thrills.

Another part of the first two movies that adds to the mystery and intrigue is the mysterious character - William Bludworth the mortician, portrayed by late actor Tony Todd (who died from stomach cancer this past November). The character is really iconic to the franchise as he’s sort of the lore-keeper of Death’s rules, conveying information about Death’s designs to the characters and the audience. And it looks like we get to see this character one last time in the new movie!

You can currently stream the entire “Final Destination” series on the Max streaming service and you can watch “Final Destination: Bloodlines” at the Dietrich Theater! And, you can catch the rest of my “Final Destination” revisit, along with my review for “Final Destination: Bloodlines,” in the May 28th edition!

FINAL DESTINATION (2000) TIDBITS

• The story was originally going to be the concept for an episode of The X-Files (1993), which was inspired by Sole Survivor (1984). In this movie, a woman who was the sole survivor of a plane crash starts to be haunted by dead people that Death uses temporarily as vessels trying to kill her to correct its plan, and killing everyone who suspect it.

• Much of the news footage shown is actual footage from the July 1996 explosion and crash of TWA Flight 800 off East Moriches, Long Island, New York.

• In the first draft of the script, the survivors that get off the plane were seven strangers; due to teen slashers' popularity at the time, the survivors were changed to a high school class.

• The numerous appearances of "180" in the film refer to the film's original title of "Flight 180". New Line decided to rename the film to "Final Destination" through fear of confusion of other films like Air Force One (1997) or Con Air (1997).

• Most characters in the film are named after filmmakers or stars from black and white horror films: Terry Chaney was named after Lon Chaney; Tod Waggner, after director George Waggner; Alex Browning, after director Tod Browning; Larry Murnau, after director F.W. Murnau who directed Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922); Agent Schreck, after Max Schreck, who starred in Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922); Blake Dreyer, after Carl Theodor Dreyer, who directed Vampyr (1932); Howard Siegel, after director Don Siegel, who directed Dirty Harry (1971); Billy Hitchcock, after Alfred Hitchcock; and Valerie Lewton after horror film producer Val Lewton.

• The number 180 would be repeated or hinted in all the sequels, turning in trademark of the franchise.

• Considering his extensive knowledge of Death's design and how it works, many "Final Destination" fans have theorized that William Bludworth is the human personification of Death, or at least some kind of representative for Death. However, both Tony Todd himself and "Final Destination"'s producers have denied that being true. So, for the purposes of this theory, Bludworth is a human being with no known connection to Death itself.

• The original plan was to have Death as a much more obvious entity in the film as it was in Tod's death (with Tod seeing a shadow in the mirror and the water running back into the toilet to "cover its tracks"). After Tod's death it was decided to have the deaths look like rare accidents. This way to kill the Flight 180 survivors pays tribute to The Omen (1976): in it, also rare accidents happen around Robert Thorn and his son Damien.

  
  

  FINAL DESTINATION 2 (2003) TIDBITS

• Real logs were tested for the crash sequence, but they "didn't bounce enough", therefore, the logs are CGI in this film.

• The accident on the highway was based on multiple accident on Interstate 75 in Ringgold, Georgia, on March 14, 2002, where were involved about 125 vehicles crashed and smashed into each other because a fog cut visibility to less than a car length. The accident killed at least four people and it injured at least 39 people, backing up traffic for miles.

• In Final Destination (2000), several characters have names that pay homage to various horror film directors. In this film, Kimberly Corman's name pays homage to horror director Roger Corman, while Nora and Tim Carpenter are named after John Carpenter.

• Writers Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber came to write this film after Benderspink Entertainment read their script for The Butterfly Effect (2004). The writers agreed to write Final Destination 2 if the studio would let them direct The Butterfly Effect.

• (at around 27 mins) Originally, Devon Sawa was to reprise his role of Alex Browning in this film, but a dispute concerning his contract with New Line Cinema could not be settled. In this film, a newspaper clipping reveals that his character, Alex, was killed off by a falling brick to the head. Clear Rivers also mentions this to Kimberly in the asylum visit, although omitting the details.