Final Destination: Bloodlines (2025) review – Death is back and better than ever

Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today, we are checking out a brand new movie – Final Destination: Bloodlines (2025).

A Series That Died With a Whimper

Final Destination: Bloodlines might be the first genuinely fantastic 2025 release in a few months. Now, I am not going to say that Final Destination 5 was a bad film because I really don’t think that it was. The Final Destination, on the other hand, the less said about that pile of shite the better.

“I am happy to say that Final Destination: Bloodlines is a return to form and the much needed jolt of electricity to get the series’ heart beating and cheating death again.”

Final Destination 5 actually fixed a lot of the series’ ongoing issues and presented us with a more mature cast to root for rather than a group of unlikable teen prick-holes. The problem was, it came at a time when people were just a little bit tired of the format.

It felt as though every rock had been turned over and every possible trick that death could whip out had already been whipped out. People were bored of it; Final Destination was old news and the series died with a pitiful whimper.

Bloodlines is a return to form for Final Destination

I am happy to say that Final Destination: Bloodlines is a return to form and the much needed jolt of electricity to get the series’ heart beating and cheating death again. Everything that is so important to the series is here in spades. Comedy, hilarious splatter-horror deaths, gore, characters trying to uncover the mystery of death’s pursuit, and it all ties in brilliantly to the past films.

You know the formula, here. A young woman is haunted by dreams of her Grandmother being involved in a horrifying accident. When the dreams begin to impact her schoolwork, she begins to dig into her family’s history to uncover the truth about the nightmares.

Final Destination: Bloodlines is more of the same, in essence. The addition of director duo Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein has breathed new life into the tried and tested formula, though. They haven’t tried to reinvent the wheel, they have just doubled down on what makes this series so damn fun and entertaining. They are well aware of the importance of keeping things light and it pays dividends in a big way.

Extremely enjoyable, just as the series should be

Final Destination: Bloodlines is just a lot of fun and extremely enjoyable. The gore is turned up a little from some of the series’ previous entries and nobody is safe from death’s icy grip. Some of the kills are legitimately hilarious and it’s nice to see that there are still some fresh ways to dispatch of the film’s cast.

Whereas the original movies in the series would occasionally offer up a few false flags. Bloodlines goes to town with them. You never quite know when death is coming and in what form. It’s a constant game of “will it or won’t it” and that keeps you on the edge of your seat. When the claret does start flowing, it’s in an incredibly inventive manner that’s simply a ton of fun.

A star making turn from Lowlifes’ Richard Harmon punctuates a very obvious desire to make this film laugh-out-loud funny. A scene where he plays his “sad playlist” is legitimately hilarious. When Bloodlines isn’t making you wince from the near-death experiences it is making you chuckle from the witty script and pitch perfect performances.

There has also been a concerted effort to tie Final Destination: Bloodlines neatly in with the previous movies from the series. A trait which is easy to appreciate when so many other movies would go for the clean reboot with no connections at all.

A heartfelt send off to a horror legend

The late, great, Tony Todd returns as William Bludworth in a touching send off that may just bring a tear to the eyes of horror fans. He is here to put a neat little bow on the continuity and goes some way to explaining how this sequel links in to the movies that came before it.

“This was his last performance before his death… I really feel that we have been so lucky to have been gifted by his presence in the genre for decades.”

This was his last performance before his death. It was very nice to see that the directors gave him a few moments to speak directly to the fans that have been with him for so many years. I really feel that we have been so lucky to have been gifted by his presence in the genre for decades.

It’s impossible not to begin dissecting the links and sinews that connect the movie to its history as it unfurls. Though I wouldn’t necessarily recommend doing this as you may be disappointed that some of those connections don’t go a little deeper. Bloodlines is a movie that, clearly, wants to stand on its own while still paying tribute. The nods are still satisfying, nevertheless.

Pacing is another strongpoint, this is a movie that never drags its feet. The constant cycle of exposition regarding death’s design, near-death misses, actual kills, and comedy moments keeps you enthralled throughout. It never lets up and you are never left tapping your feet wondering when something will happen. That does lead me onto my next point, though.

There are a few minor issues

The pacing is so relentless that it is hard not to feel a little bit side swiped when the ending rolls around. It kind of comes out of nowhere and feels like there was an urgent need to wrap things up in a bow. It feels like there was so much meat left on the bone but the 110 minute runtime would suggest otherwise. Though, that’s just a testament to how well paced the movie is.

Speaking of the ending, it is going to divide people, for sure. There is a tiny little twist that has big implications for the characters. Being perfectly honest, some viewers are going to hate it. In a lot of ways, it is simply keeping to the spirit of the series. It bears mention, either way.

“I am not sure why CGI is getting worse and worse as time goes on… It’s not movie spoiling, or anything, but it would be remiss of me to not point it out.”

Another negative would be the CGI which is woefully bad and rather overused. I am not sure why CGI is getting worse and worse as time goes on. I’m also not sure why directors don’t seem to realise it and think of alternate ways to do things? It’s not movie spoiling, or anything, but it would be remiss of me to not point it out.

Our Scoring Philosophy: A Fair Fight

Horror is a genre that thrives thanks to indie film makers and low budget creators. At Knockout Horror, we firmly believe that every movie that we review deserves a fair fight. That's why we grade on a curve. Our star ratings are all about context, judging a film on what it achieves with the resources it has.

A 4-star rating for a scrappy indie horror made for $10,000 is a testament to its ingenuity and raw power. A 4-star rating for a $100 million blockbuster means it delivered on its epic promises. We don't compare them side-by-side; we celebrate success in every weight class, from the back-alley brawler to the heavyweight champion. Please keep this in mind when considering star ratings.

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