The Final Destination (R, 2009)

common sense media says

Horror franchise's leap to 3D is gorier than ever.


parents & educators say
  • 75% say violence is an issue
  • 69% say language is an issue

More on The Final Destination

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about the recent rise in 3D films. Is this a new way to return to the excitement of going to the theater in the age of fancy home theaters, or just a gimmick that's being exploited?
  • How does the 3D affect the impact of the movie's gory, grisly murder scenes and other violence?
  • What's your opinon of the nature of fate, chance, and bad luck? What, if anything, can be done to avoid the random chance of death that fills life's every corner?

What's the story?

What's the story?
As in previous Final Destination films, THE FINAL DESTINATION begins with a vision, as Nick (Bobby Campo) joins his friends at an auto race and has a premonition of a horrible disaster that kills his friends and others. Snapping back to the present, Nick freaks out and gets his friends and some of the surrounding people to leave, meaning that they're saved when a crash does end up sending flaming debris flying into the stands. Spared, the group reflects on their good fortune -- and then start dying, one by one. Death, it seems, has a to-do list. ...

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Even with 3D making for a unique viewing experience, the fact is that The Final Destination is a fairly dull affair. And the gloss of spilled blood can't make up for the dreary tedium of the film's central pitch: If death is coming, and unavoidable, then watching these films mostly involves waiting for people to die, with no hope of their salvation. The actors are all adequate -- although one-time Oscar nominee Mykelti Williamson is far better than this material.

Director David R. Ellis knows what the fans of this series expect, and he doesn't fail to deliver the bloody accidents and deadly blows of the franchise. But he doesn't deliver anything else -- character development that would make us care about the people being killed, for instance, or twists in the narrative other than wondering when the next victim will die and how ... which is intermittently amusing, but not a foundation for a film, especially one we've seen three times before. At the very least, the 3D gimmick makes The Final Destination pop a little more than a conventional part four, but even the guts and gore leaping off the screen can't make up for the way The Final Destination's story just lies there. 

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Warner Bros.
Director: David R. Ellis
Cast: Bobby Campo, Nick Zano, Shantel VanSasten
Genre: Horror
Run time: 82 minutes
Theatrical release: August 28, 2009
DVD release: January 5, 2010
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: strong violent/gruesome accidents, language and a scene of sexuality
Watch our review

This review was written by James Rocchi
 
 

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Based on 16 parent & educator reviews:
  • 75% say violence is an issue
  • 69% say language is an issue
  • 44% say sexual content is an issue
  • 38% say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking
lilmissfrankie
kid, 12 years old
 
A must see for kindergartners!
I watch this with my 5 year old sister all the time!!!! Quite educational, we learned so much about the liquid known as blood that keeps you alive!

thecooldude1
teen, 16 years old
 
It was a very good movie i watched it and it was awesome for teenagers BUT NOT for younger pre teens it was over the top gory and violent and very bloody images and this one scene this womans bare breasts are showing this movie is violent,gory,and sexual do not let young kids or per teens see this.

PenWaffle
teen, 13 years old
 
ITS NOT THAT BAD
i think common sense was a little mental on this one because it wasnt that bad. there is a lot of blood but its not that scary and its fine for 13+ so they went a little to far on this one!

gabe h
teen, 16 years old
 
hate it bad movie

cheedarcheez
teen, 16 years old
 
freaky deaths
This is pretty violent and ironic at times. not really gory though.

littlemonster98
teen, 13 years old
 
NOT APPROPRIATE AT ALL!!!
NOT FOR ANY KIDS AT ALL!!! SOOOOOOOO INAPPROPRIATE

 
NOT FOR KIDS
This movie is full of gruesome and violent accidents. there is some foul language and drugs to look out. If you get this film for like 6-10 dollars it can be worth of that. I enjoyed film alltough my gf was grinning about the escalator scene, it was disturbing. Other deaths were like "meh" not that bad.

bradley4846
teen, 17 years old
 
This isnt an amazing movie, but if ur a fan of the first 3, u will enjoy it. Its really not that bloody, but yes it is really really violent. There is one sex scene (topless), but it is really not that bad. if uves seen first 3 see this

B-KMastah
teen, 15 years old
 

nduns
adult
 
Why has this franchise not died like its characters?
No, seriously, are people so easily amused by the sight of death that they can somehow ignore the lack of a good story that comes from these movies? The first one was descent, but every movie after it just sucked. The deaths are very unrealistic, but since they happen during everyday past times, half the people watching might very well become paranoid as this movie basically shoves "everything will kill you" in your face. Now let's talk about the deaths: It seems in every FD movie, they get less and less imaginative, and this time around is no acception. The only death I actually enjoyed watching the right at the end where they show an x-ray shot of the skeletons cracking. That was pretty cool. However, everything else was just kinda lame. I mean, flying tires blowing up body parts? A car motor flattening someone? A rock going through a girl's eye? Another drunk driver running over someone? (I dare you to tell me those truck drivers aren't drunk, because no one should be that careless!) What, did the director just... run out of ideas? Oh yeah, a car running through a restaurant window, VERY ORIGINAL, MOVIE! Final Destination sucks. The first one was okay but every other movie sucks.

 

Boti95
teen, 16 years old
 
For adults only!
This movie is extremely greusome. The deaths are way off. This one chick gets her smashed into mush. A girls legs get stuck in the escalaters. and much much more.

9hemmatip
teen, 14 years old
 
Not as bad as they say!
This is such a good movie! Not that bloody. I could handle it just fine. So, mature 12 yr olds!

 
Action over horror
Plain out dumb!Way out of the regular theme.A woman's chest and face is crushed by a tire,a mans innards are sucked in a suction pump and a woman is too lazy to get upo off the escalator so she is grinded by it.Just stupid!GORYYYYYYYYY!plus a lot of disturbing scenes.over the top gore.

MissBlackShadow
teen, 16 years old
 
Just a boring bloodbath.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not a squemish person. I watch things like Sweeney Todd and not blink an eyelid. However, whilst I enjoy a good bloodbath as much as the next person, I really don't like mindless violence without a storyline. This film is Exhibit A of that. Anyone can think of creative ways to kill someone, it takes brains to think up a plot, which is exactly what this film is lacking. For yobs who just want to see peoples' internal organs being ripped out, this is the perfect film, but for the thinkers who actually want some plot; not so good.

Zachc1126
teen, 17 years old
 
Maybe not the best.
I seen the movie and I loved it (but my parents made me cover my eyes on the sex scene). Many Death scenes including Hunt's guts being ripped through the drain (which is unrealistic) and The mom and the rock. Everyone tried their hardest to save their friends. They even keep trying, but in the end, it doesn't matter. but it was very good. I think younger kids shouldn't watch it and it is off limits till 12 but i think 15+ is a recommended age.

Adelphie
kid, 13 years old
 
Pure Blood and GORE
FD has no story its just violence and ppl dying. I went to see it and i thought it was horrible :(

Goku 10
teen, 13 years old
 
If you seen the other 3 this is no different.
Even in 3-D this is still the same as the other 3 sure it made me jump some times but if you've seen number 2 it's fine.

MovieLover4Life
kid, 12 years old
 
Ok
I saw it. It was OK. Exept some VERY "kissy"/yucky parts. (Which I had to skip that part with my eyes closed). Otherwise, it was good.

slasher23
teen, 16 years old
 
very violent.sexual content brief nudity.strong language.some drug use.

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