The Final Destination series is a popular horror franchise. It has five films, but it has made many viewers and fans more cautious when driving or visiting dangerous places (like the dentist). While it may not be the most talked-about franchise, it has definitely inspired and scared fans, becoming iconic in their memories.
The series shows the idea of death following people who escape their fates. Death does not take it lightly; it aims to reclaim innocent lives in horrible ways.
Even though it does not aim to be scary, Final Destination has shown that when it takes itself seriously, it can be quite frightening. The films do not feature monsters or creatures hiding in the dark, but they do have death looming close by.
This approach hits closer to home. The scenes that seem like accidents are actually attacks of death on innocent people. What makes Final Destination frightening is that the deaths are more common and realistic than one might think.
It could be getting hit by a car or falling off a rollercoaster that scares viewers more than any supernatural horror. The fear is real because these events can happen to anyone at any time. Being overly cautious is not a bad thing in today’s world.
Let’s take a closer look at the scariest Final Destination films that keep traumatizing generations of fans.
5. ‘Final Destination 5’ (2011) Directed by Steven Quale
In Final Destination 5, the story begins during a corporate retreat. Sam Lawton (Nicholas D’Agosto) suddenly has a vision that the North Bay Bridge will collapse because of strong winds. In his vision, everyone on the bus dies, except for Sam’s ex-girlfriend, Molly Harper (Emma Bell).
After this vision, Sam panics. He pulls Molly off the bridge, and this action encourages most of the other passengers to get off as well. Just as Sam predicted, the bridge collapses.
The survivors from this disaster include Nathan Sears (Arlen Escarpeta), Peter Friedkin (Miles Fisher), Candice Hooper (Ellen Wroe), Dennis Lapman (David Koechner), Olivia Castle (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood), and Isaac Palmer (P. J. Byrne).
After escaping the bridge, Sam and Molly try to save the remaining survivors from their impending deaths. However, they find little success.
Eventually, Nathan learns that the survivors can steal each other’s lifespans if they can get one of them killed. Peter sees this as an opportunity. After losing his girlfriend Candice, he becomes unstable and plots to kill Molly to take her lifespan.
While Final Destination 5 brings some new scares, such as death by LASIK surgery and acupuncture, many fans consider it one of the weaker films in the franchise.
One problem with this film is that it has many misleading scenes that do not build fear. These red herrings do not create a sense of dread but instead prolong the inevitable. While the misdirection is interesting at first, it often serves as filler.
A good example of this is during Candice’s death scene. While she is performing on the asymmetric bars, there are several moments that lead viewers to think she will die in different ways. At first, she performs on a balance beam that has a nail sticking up. Candice comes close to stepping on it several times, but she avoids it.
However, while she is on the asymmetric bars, another gymnast steps on the nail, which causes her to fall and kick up dust into the air. This dust blocks Candice’s view, causing her to slip and break her spine. The other red herrings in this scene include an exposed electrical wire and loose handlebars.
But none of these play a part in Candice’s death. The delay in her death only takes away from the suspense, especially since this happens with many other characters throughout the film. The film often tries to trick the viewers, creating an experience that is not very scary.
4. ‘The Final Destination’ (2009)Directed by David R. Ellis
In The Final Destination, also known as Final Destination 4, Nick O’Bannon (Bobby Campo) goes to an auto racing event with his girlfriend Lori Milligan (Shantel VanSanten) and friends Hunt Wynorski (Nick Zano) and Janet Cunningham (Haley Webb).
While sitting in the stands, Nick overhears conversations between other fans. A few moments later, he has a vision of a racecar crash that kills everyone. When he wakes from this vision, he hears the same conversations he heard before the crash.
He starts to panic, causing chaos among the fans. Because of this, security removes Nick, Lori, Hunt, Janet, and a few others, including George Lanter (Mykelti Williamson), Carter Daniels (Justin Welborn), Samantha Lane (Krista Allen), Andy Kewzer (Andrew Fiscella), and Nadia Monroy (Stephanie Honoré).
After they are taken away, the race track erupts in screams, and debris flies everywhere. Nadia is killed instantly, leaving the remaining survivors to face their own death countdown.
While The Final Destination is more frightening than Final Destination 5, it still does not deliver true horror. One major problem is that the CGI in this film is very poor. It feels cheesy and fake compared to the other films. This lack of realism takes away from the chance of being scared, as the silly effects reduce the tension in the execution scenes.
An example of the bad CGI can be seen in the opening scene. When debris flies off from a crashed car, a piece hits a couple and splits them in half. While this is an interesting idea, the CGI is so poorly done that the scene looks silly instead of scary.
The film was intended to be watched in 3D, which explains some of the silliness, but it does not change the fact that viewers might find themselves laughing instead of feeling fear.
Despite its lack of scares, The Final Destination does address some plot holes left by the first three films. George Lanter, one of the last survivors, decides to kill himself, but he cannot do so because he is not next on death’s list. Although this film is not the scariest, it is arguably the most innovative since the first one.
3. ‘Final Destination 2’ (2003) Directed by David R. Ellis
One year after the first film, a young college student named Kimberly Corman (A. J. Cook) is driving her friends to Daytona Beach, Florida. While waiting to turn onto the highway, she has a vision of a massive car crash that kills her, her friends, and several others on the road.
After her vision, she stops her car in the middle of the highway to protect her friends and those waiting behind her. However, a state trooper pulls her out of her vehicle to talk to her, and while they speak, the accident happens. Kimberly’s car is in danger, but the trooper saves her. Sadly, her friends do not make it.
The survivors from this crash include Kimberly, state trooper Thomas Burke (Michael Landes), Evan Lewis (David Paetkau), Nora Carpenter (Lynda Boyd), Tim Carpenter (James Kirk), Kat Jennings (Keegan Connor Tracy), Rory Peters (Jonathan Cherry), Isabella Hudson (Justina Machado), and Eugene Dix (T. C. Carson).
As a sequel to the original Final Destination, Final Destination 2 follows in its predecessor’s footsteps, but not as successfully. While the CGI is not terrible, it is not the best. The horror element depends heavily on the realism of the executions.
For example, Final Destination 2 features an opening with a terrible car accident on the highway. While not everyone goes to NASCAR events or participates in gymnastics, almost everyone has driven on a highway at some point. Highways can feel very dangerous because the speed limits are often much higher, and larger vehicles are frequently on the road.
Although Final Destination 2 does not live up to the first film, it has instilled a new type of fear in fans who grew up watching these films. Ask anyone about Final Destination, and they will likely mention the scene with the truck carrying logs on the highway.
This scene has frightened an entire generation, making them more careful around large trucks transporting dangerous materials. This film holds a special place in the series as one of the most memorable entries.
2. ‘Final Destination’ (2000) Directed by James Wong
The first film in the franchise, Final Destination, is about Alex Browning (Devon Sawa), a high school student who boards a plane to Paris for a school trip. As his classmates get on the plane, Alex has a vision of the plane crashing, along with visions of everyone’s deaths.
As events play out, Alex begins to panic and fights with another classmate, Carter Horton (Kerr Smith). Because of the fight, security guards escort both Alex and Carter off the plane, along with others involved: Tod Waggner (Chad E. Donella), Terry Chaney (Amanda Detmer), Valerie Lewton (Kristen Cloke), Billy Hitchcock (Seann William Scott), and Clear Rivers (Ali Larter). Moments after they leave, the plane explodes.
Soon after, strange deaths start to happen, and Alex and Clear realize that everyone who survived the flight will die next. They work together to try to save the remaining survivors.
The first Final Destination film was genuinely frightening for its time. The idea that death will come to reclaim lives that were saved is a scary thought for everyone. It shows that fate cannot be escaped. The deaths in the first film feel believable and relatable, as if they could happen in real life.
For example, in one scene, Billy dies when he tries to save himself from getting crushed by a falling brick wall. The tension builds as he does everything he can to avoid death, but his efforts lead to his downfall instead. Another scene features Tod, who is killed by a freak accident involving his own alarm clock. These moments leave viewers shaken because they feel real.
Final Destination stands out as the best film in the series because it introduces the central idea of the franchise. Death is not just a one-time event; it is a force that will pursue individuals. As such, it has become a classic in horror history.
1. ‘Final Destination 3’ (2006) Directed by James Wong
The third film in the franchise, Final Destination 3, follows Wendy Christensen (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and her friends during a school trip to a local amusement park. While they are at the park, Wendy has a vision of a roller coaster malfunctioning and killing everyone on the ride.
In a panic, she grabs her friends and leaves the ride just before it takes off. Tragically, everyone on the roller coaster dies, and Wendy feels guilty for surviving.
As with previous films, the survivors include Wendy’s boyfriend Jason (Jesse Metcalfe), their friends Carrie (Gina Holden) and Kevin (Ryan Merriman), and a few other park attendees. As they begin to die one by one, Wendy realizes that they cannot escape death’s grasp.
The deaths in Final Destination 3 are creative and well-designed, but they do not have the same impact as the first film. The characters feel more like caricatures than actual people. This lack of relatability means viewers do not connect as deeply with their fates, and the horror begins to lose its edge.
Wendy’s character does have some depth, particularly as she grapples with her guilt for surviving. However, most of her friends serve as one-dimensional characters who are not very memorable.
Despite this, Final Destination 3 still manages to maintain the series’ hallmark. Death can come at any moment, and it can take on any form.
The most terrifying aspect of this film is how it captures the essence of youth. For many, visiting an amusement park is a joyous experience, but this film reminds viewers that danger can lurk in unexpected places.
Conclusion
The Final Destination series may not be the scariest horror franchise out there, but it has made a lasting impact on audiences worldwide. Its unique take on death and fate keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.
From the terrifying experiences of characters who attempt to escape their deaths to the very real fears of accidents that can happen in everyday life, the films resonate with fans in ways that other horror films do not.
Each entry in the series has its own strengths and weaknesses. While some films may feel like they have lost their way, they all offer a look into the way we think about death and fate. The Final Destination series has proven that even though we may try to avoid fate, it will always come back to claim us.
Fans of the series appreciate the creativity of the deaths, the unexpected twists, and the way it portrays the importance of being cautious. The Final Destination films are a reminder that life is precious and that we should enjoy every moment. After all, you never know when your number will be up.
So, whether you are a longtime fan or new to the franchise, the Final Destination films offer a thrilling ride through fear, fate, and the inevitability of death.
