FINAL DESTINATION
The 90's was a great decade for teen horror and responsible for re-discovering a love for slashers and meta-horror like the 90's SCREAM franchise and URBAN LEGEND. The last few films of the early 2000s that kept this momentum going was FINAL DESTINATION (and its sequels).
For me, they have an irresistible charm, a mix of dark humour, unexpected twists, and iconic casts from my teenage TV obsessions (I'm looking at you DAWSON'S CREEK's Kerr Smith!)
On the surface, the films are supernatural thrillers built around elaborate death sequences, but beneath that, they carry a self-aware tone that makes them fun, clever, and surprisingly rewatchable.
One of the biggest reasons I enjoy the franchise is its sense of humour. They never take themselves too seriously, even when dealing with grim subject matter. There’s always a nod to the audience, an understanding that the disasters aren’t just horrifying - they’re outrageous. They are rarely predictable, and this adds to the fun.
Each film embraces its formula while also finding a new way to flip it. Just when you think you know who’s next or how the chain reaction will unfold, the films subvert your expectations. The premonitions, the rules of “Death’s design,” and the way the characters scramble to break the pattern, creates a puzzle-like structure that keeps me engaged and guessing till the end. Some of the best moments come when I’m convinced I’ve predicted exactly what will happen, only for the film to steer us into an entirely different direction. Those surprises turn what could be a repetitive franchise into something consistently inventive.
There's also the simplicity of making the deaths look like elaborate accidents. There's no masked killer, no obvious threat, just 'minor inconveniences' leading to disastrous consequences. Many of the deaths are also so memorable that even 25 years later, we all know never to drive behind a truck carrying logs! (Certainly put me off sunbeds too!)
FINAL DESTINATION, for me, is comfort entertainment. Its gnarly death scenes, the chaos of fate and dealing with your decisions, mixed with just the right amount of dark laughter... and the only thing to do is buckle up and enjoy the ride.
Helen Nicholson