Unlike its fresh-faced protagonists, Final Destination just won’t die. The resilient franchise has thus far managed to dodge Death’s scythe and seems unlikely to peg it any time soon with ‘Final Destination 5’ set to hit theatres this August 12th. Here’s the new trailer, no plot descriptions needed, you know the drill-
As a fan of good cinema and of originality, I can’t say I’m too excited about another Final Destination. As long as people keep going to see them though, they will keep being made. Despite my protestations I am partially responsible for this sequel, being one of the fools who paid to go and see the last one.
The films are made with a medium budget of around 20-50 million- which is possible partly due to them not having or needing known actors- and they have all grossed over 100 million. Granted, profits looked like they were slipping when ‘Final Destination 3’ only grossed a 117 million, but thanks to 3-D, the fourth film, titled ‘The Final Destination’ ( a clever trick to make us think it was the last one) , grossed nearer the $200 million mark. For studios, Final Destination is a dream formula, and a formula it is as well. How many other franchises can you think of that get away with rolling out sequel after sequel, all with identical plots? Sure, there is some enjoyment to be found in watching the ever more inventive ways in which Death chooses to dispatch his victims but where’s the realism? I still don’t get why he doesn’t just give them all congenital heart conditions after they have eluded fate. Maybe I’ve just unwittingly stumbled on the plot of Final Destination 6.
February 23, 2008, 11:23:31 PM
