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Final Destination

Starring: Devon Sawa, Ali Larter
Director: James Wong
Genre: Horror
Year: 2000
Rating: 2 / 5

Reviewed by Guest Scribe Avon

In a genre dominated by the 3 B's (body count, bloodshed, and breasts), Final Destination offers a smart, fast-paced alternative to the current low brain wattage Scream knockoffs that currently dominate this market.

The movie begins with Alex Browning (Devon Sawa) encountering a series of seeming coincidences prior to his class trip to France. The pinnacle of this collection of events is his horrific first-person vision of the plane he is on being blown out of the sky, incinerating him and his fellow students. As the elements in his dream slowly drop in to become reality, Alex decides that maybe a later flight would suit him. Several of his classmates and one teacher follow suit for various reasons - only to be the sole survivors when Alex's prophetic vision is realized.

However, Death is apparently not one to be easily slighted and decides to get medieval on the "fortunate" survivors, meting out his own brand of vigilante justice by dealing them deaths of a painful variety. What ensues is a chess match between Death and Alex to see whether Alex can again divine death's plan and save his friends and himself before Death has righted the natural order of things and planted them all six feet under.

(I'd like to make two side notes here: First, for anyone who has seen Krull, it's basically the same as how the Cyclops are doomed to horrific deaths if they try to avoid their fates. Second, for anyone who has seen End of Days, Satan should get some tips from Death on how to unleash "tortures unknown by mortal men" as Alex's friends suffer a few exceptionally painful last minutes of life.)

Devon Sawa delivers a strong performance in the role of Alex, playing the average kid plagued with a prophetic burden. He gives the audience a compelling reason to not root for Death to just eliminate these whiny high school kids. He is supported admirably by Ali Larter, who creates a likable person out of Clear Rivers, the stock character of the high school outcast who becomes the protagonists' strongest supporter. The other characters are essentially fodder, although we are treated to a special appearance of the "Wise Old Sage" character, this time in the form of an undertaker.

All things considered, this film is not going to make anyone's Top Ten list - its several intriguing plot elements are counteracted by a few little plots holes and a couple of missed opportunities on what could have been intriguing twists. However, all in all, it's definitely something that will get you thinking, and it is well worth a rental.

Cast:

Certification: Rated R for violence and language.
Running Time: 97 minutes.

Additional Info: Internet Movie Database
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