FINAL DESTINATION 2

US, 2003, 90 minutes, Colour.
Ali Larter, A.J. Cook, Michael Landes.
Directed by David R. Ellis.

Final Destination was a popular disaster thriller, with a touch of horror. It was the story of somebody having a dream premonition of a plane about to crash. Survivors of the crash then begin to die mysteriously, all pursued by Death. Clearly, the basic plot was ready for a rerun. This time it is a car accident on the freeway. A.J. Cook as Kimberly Corman has a dream about a crash, there is a crash, she is able to help some people to survive – but, as with the original film, the various survivors begin to die in very grisly ways, despite the assistance of the young people to save them. It seems that Death must take its toll.

A.J. Cook and Ali Larter, from the original film, also star in this film. It was directed by David R. Ellis, director of Cellular and the amusing disaster concoction, Snakes on a Plane. There was a Final Destination 3.

1. The impact and success of the original film? The necessity for a sequel? The sequel equalling or surpassing the original? The atmosphere of mystery, visions about deaths, the deaths themselves? The sinister and eerie atmosphere of self-fulfilling prophesies?

2. The nature of the sequel, the repeat of the original plot in a different setting? The survivor and her putting herself in protective custody in the institution? Her being the link to the original? A different set-up, new problems but the same basic thrust?

3. The Florida settings, ordinary homes and highways, the highway becoming sinister, the dramatic staging of the crashes and deaths? The possibility and the horrific reality?

4. The anniversary of the original disaster, discussions, Kimberley and her friends? Her father cautious about her going on the journey? The delay on the side of the freeway? Her fantasies and dreams? The vision and its spectacular disaster? The focus on the detail of each of the characters and their deaths?

5. Burke, the role of the police, the discussions with Kimberley, saving her from the death on the freeway, her friends dying? His being with her as the deaths began to multiply?

6. The theoretical framework of the screenplay, the design of death, everybody having their right time to die, a credible theory, the role of fate, the theory of anyone cheating death but death catching up? Only new life being able to conquer the death design?

7. The various members of the group, their being gathered together, Burke's explanations, Kimberley's desperation? Their scepticism, negative reactions?

8. Kimberley and her dreams, the further deaths, her own death by drowning?

9. The various victims, their scepticism, their resistance? The build-up and staging of their deaths, the shattering glass, the boy at the dentist, the pigeons and his death, his mother? The sceptical man and his seeming to escape death and its suddenly coming upon him? The pregnant mother, the vision that her new life would be the answer to the problem?

10. Going to see Clear Rivers, the link with the first film, her fears, being persuaded to come out? The issue of new life and the death design? The visit to the morgue, the attendant and his explanation? Their anxiety in protecting the mother and the baby, the irony of the rush to the hospital, the crash, the group causing the crash? Kimberley and her final decision to drive into the water and drown so that she could save other lives? Her being resuscitated, the plan and its success? The finale with the picnic - and the young boy having escaped death, being killed?

11. The popularity of this kind of eerie horror film, its seeming plausibility, its appeal to younger audiences who may be still shaping their ideas about life, destiny and death?