The Final Destination (2009)

While it was not a great or perfect film (particularly in the dialogue, ending and some of the acting), the first 'Final Destination' was entertaining and effective (especially with its terrific opening plane sequence and the creative deaths) with a fascinating idea done well.The bigger and bolder 'Final Destination 2' had its flaws but was just as good and perhaps the best of the four sequels. 'Final Destination 3' is just as big and bold, as well as gorier, and is also as good. The fourth instalment 'The Final Destination' is the worst of the series, and highly suggestive of the gimmick's novelty wearing off and running out of ideas. The second and third films were hardly original, but had scenes and deaths that were scary and fun and looked like they were made on a professional level.Neither can be said for 'The Final Destination'. Only the suspenseful car wash scene and the pretty ingenious opening credits work. All the other scary scenes/deaths are cheaply rendered, anaemic in atmosphere and bring more unintentional humour than tension or suspense. The gratuitously stomach-churning gore content cheapens them further. The film looks cheap too, especially in the special effects which are laughably amateurish and the less than slick editing. David R. Ellis returns from the second film and what made his direction work there doesn't come through here.It is hard to connect with the content when the characterisation, writing and acting are not up to par. With the sole exception of that for Mykelti Williamson, whose role is not big, none of the characters are developed well and are even more shallow, bland and annoying than in the previous three films. Apart from Williamson and Krista Allen, the acting is poor. Bobby Campo, lacking charisma, and Shantel VanSanten and Haley Webb forgetting to emote are the dishonourable mentions.The previous 'Final Destination' films had some black or ironic humour and some tension, 'The Final Destination' has neither, which makes the dull down-time between the deaths, silliness and contrivances far less forgivable, on top of the lack of character development and scares. The film is also too short and too rushed in places, the opening scene did nothing for me and the ending is the most illogical and stupidest of the series.Only saving graces are two decent performances (Williamson and Allen), two good scenes (the car wash and opening credits) and the eerie music score. The 3D is pretty good too if pointless.Everything else however contributes towards a disappointing mess of a film. 3/10 Bethany Cox

Fourth entry in this series (advertised as the "last" one at the time) keeps the old formula going, with young Nick (Bobby Campo) given a premonition of horrific deaths to come. He and his friends are at a speedway, where, of course, horrible things do happen. And since these people and others are able to temporarily dodge Death, it will come looking for them again, in the typically elaborately orchestrated series of over the top set pieces.There's no way that these movies could possibly be taken seriously, not by this point. And the filmmakers (David R. Ellis, who directed the second movie, also directs this one) seem to know it all too well, often turning their entry into a cartoonish festival of death, destruction, and digital gore. It's so stupid at times that it's uproarious, and is not for people seeking a legitimately GOOD horror movie. You only need apply if all you want is to see people die in various disgusting ways.Not that "The Final Destination" is completely lacking in humanity, or any interest at all, but even its more serious portions just come off as somewhat laughable. Death is so eager to claim these chosen few that it keeps cheating one person who repeatedly attempts suicide.The movie is loud, slick, and crammed with CGI / 3D effects.Our cast isn't particularly appealing, even if the ladies (Haley Webb, Shantel VanSanten, Krista Allen as a hottie mom who stuffs tampons in her kids' ears) are strikingly attractive. Mykelti Williamson is wasted as a security guard mourning his late family.The best, most intense sequence involves a car wash. Otherwise, don't better with FD4 unless you're just looking for brainless fun.Six out of 10.

This movie is predictable in every scene. The first Final Destination movie is better. And that was an awful movie. Final Destination 2 is a better movie and that was awful. Final Destination 3 is a great film. It is one of the scariest movies ever made. And this one is just pooh pooh. This movie is badly written and boring. It has good actors in it but it is just boring. Do not wast your time. And do not wast your money. Do not see this awful movie. This movie is pooh pooh. It is overrated. It is no 5.2 that is just hype. This no a scary movie at all. People who get scared of this movie are easy to scary. This is just pooh.

This is the fourth installment in the Final Destination franchise. Nick (Bobby Campo), Lori (Shantel VanSanten), Hunt (Nick Zano) and Janet (Haley Webb) are attending a stockcar race at McKinley Speedway. Nick has a premonition of an impending disaster. He causes a commotion with a racist hick and the quartet leaves along with the hick, a car mechanic and security guard George (Mykelti Williamson). Samantha (Krista Allen) and her family are also able escape. Then the group starts dying one by one as the premonitions keep coming for Nick.The franchise continues with the same concept and structure. The CG is cheaper. I like the group for the most part. The franchise has really honed in on the fake out deaths. They're the best part. It's fun to expect a death but then get surprised. The problem is that the same old same old is not enough. A sequel doesn't have to be just another copy.