Peter Charney’s review published on Letterboxd:
Hooptober 11 #19 of 31
Final Destination 5 brings the franchise back to its fundamentals: premonitions, freak accidents, and the relentless fight against fate. Although it shares some of the stylistic blandness of the fourth movie, this installment is far better crafted, featuring stronger writing and a genuine effort to create emotional connections between the characters and the audience. Although seasoned viewers may stay a step ahead of the characters, the film's deliberate pacing adds value as it explores Death’s rules, and a new loophole introduces an intriguing moral layer we haven't seen before. Tony Todd’s return further enhances the film's atmosphere, reestablishing Death as a true antagonist shrouded in mystery. The final franchise wrap-around is very clever!
Overall, I enjoyed this franchise far more than I expected. Its moments of brilliance lie in turning everyday activities into sources of tremendous paranoia. The unique premise sets it apart from most major horror series, even if the death traps' cause-and-effect spectacle sometimes overshadows the depth or development of its characters. If I had to rank the films, it would be: 1 > 3 > 5 > 2 > 4. I'd gladly welcome another entry that takes the concept in a fresh tonal and aesthetic direction. Thanks for following along with my marathon! Let’s see how anxious I am about leaving my apartment tomorrow…
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