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The Final Destination (2009)

Director: David R Ellis

Time Out rating

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16 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

There will come a time in the not-too-distant future when the appeal of 3D will fade, when the time-honoured values of story, dialogue and character will once again be prized above giant pointy objects zooming perilously into the delighted faces of a screaming audience. But until that day arrives there’s absolutely no reason not to enjoy ‘The Final Destination’, a film which doesn’t just pride itself on the spikiest, shiniest collection of audience-intimidating implements yet seen (nails, knives, scissors, screwdrivers) but adds a whole host of hitherto unimagined threats from flaming cars, rogue ceiling fans and even a killer car wash.

The plot is familiar from previous instalments in the ‘Final Destination’ series: forgettable well-sculpted do-gooder receives visions of impending disaster (in this case a nasty Nascar pileup) and hustles his chums out of danger. This causes the non-corporeal spirit of random death to become mightily peeved and come gunning for each of them in a variety of inventive and increasingly budget-taxing ways.

There’s not a great deal to defend in ‘The Final Destination': the characters are flimsy and interchangeable, the actors portraying them bland and inoffensive. The script serves as merely a framework for a repetitive series of shock deaths, each of which is clearly signposted well in advance. But that’s half the fun: giggling as the shadow of a loaded crane looms menacingly overhead or a bottle of slippery hair oil tips silently across a well-polished floor. Some of the more gratuitously nasty scenes do leave a sour taste – in particular, a gruesome reference to Chuck Palahniuk’s infamous swimming pool horror story ‘Guts’ – and the film’s 15 certificate is surprisingly generous. But this is harmless, inventive fun, a rollercoaster ride on the 3D bandwagon, before the wheels fall off.

Author: Tom Huddleston

Time Out London Issue 2036, 26 August – 1 September

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User reviews of this film

shannon said...

Posted on Mar 31 2011 14:49 i think the final destination was really good but some parts just looked so fake but it was horrific and i cant wait to watch the other ones that i havent watched yet :)

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sara said...

Posted on Oct 19 2009 16:47 TOTAL BAWZ!!! Loved the first three but this one was ridiculous. The only positive was how quick it finished!

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domi said...

Posted on Oct 03 2009 17:52 Good movie,lot of action, not bring,a little bit illogical but still worth watching,...

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roger rabbit said...

Posted on Sep 26 2009 21:10 Amazing i had £20 in my pocket before going in , within 1min i had £1.45 . Beat that David Blaine & that was 3d & most shocking thing i witnessed .

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Lucy said...

Posted on Sep 23 2009 16:13 I think it was amazing except the ending
was rubbish it was like the the people who wrote
it couldent be botherd 2 write anymore
and it wasnt that scary but appart
from that it was totally wiked and
may go see it in 3d sounds good :D
(; <3 xx

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Matt said...

Posted on Sep 18 2009 12:37 3d shocks were fun but not incredible. The actors and actressess were bland and script slightly cringing last final destinations much better.

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Stacey said...

Posted on Sep 16 2009 13:11 Going to see it tonite, Cant wait!!

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Rach said...

Posted on Sep 15 2009 10:58 brilliant film in 3d.

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Nikki said...

Posted on Sep 12 2009 19:00 Nott seen itt yett goingg next week !

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Patrick said...

Posted on Sep 03 2009 21:47 Rubbish verry poor.

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Iain said...

Posted on Sep 03 2009 11:43 Not genius but miles better than it should be, helped a lot by the 3D. The franchise started well with an interesting idea combined with an immature lust for unconventional deaths but became rather tedious with 2 and 3 being more of the same. This reignites the idea and is easilly better than the middle two films and is actually fun to watch.

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Jade said...

Posted on Sep 02 2009 15:02 It is amazing in 3D. I went too see it andd when the screwdriver comes at you it you feel like its going too hit you in tha facee :D x not as good as the others the ending isnt that good either butt still goo and see it xx

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Scottie said...

Posted on Aug 30 2009 13:18 Went and seen this last night in 3D, Was a good film and really good in 3D, Thought things were going to hit and very real. Didn't like the ending tho and not as good as the other ones. If you have seen the rest, then still go see it

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Muge said...

Posted on Aug 30 2009 00:40 How muchh is itt when its on 3D at stockport cineworlds does any1 knows ?? :)) and cant wait to see itt x)

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danielle said...

Posted on Aug 29 2009 22:05 wow i saw it in 3D today, it is amazing in 3D i recommend you see it i atchully thought a screwdriver was going to hit me in the face!
not as good as the last ones but it was still amazing :)

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