FINAL DESTINATION 5

US, 2011, 92 minutes. Colour.
Nicholas D' Agosto, Emma Bell, Miles Fisher, Ellen Wroe, Jacqueline Mac Innes Wood, P.J. Byrne, Arlen Escarpeta, David Koechner, Courtney B. Vance, Tony Todd.
Directed by Steven Quale.

Yes, the formula is the same: someone has a premonition/dream where disaster strikes and friends die one after the other; after he wakes up, the real disaster strikes and, though they all survive this one, they are later picked off one by one in the freakiest of accidents. And should one survive out of order, it really doesn’t matter. Death has you on the list. A variant this time - if an expectant victim kills someone, they then get the time that their target would still have had they survived.

Preposterous? Of course, but with this kind of horror thriller, it doesn’t really matter, does it?

The eight potential victims are ciphers rather than characters, though they are given some details of a back story. They are played reasonably enough, soap opera style. Nicholas D ’Agosto is the sympathetic Sam who has the premonition.

It’s the special effects that are the main attraction. It can be said that the bridge destruction which opens the film is quite spectacular, even more than spectacular. The makers must have decided that it was so effective that they repeat quite a lot of it for the real collapse after the premonition. In a ghoulishly fatalistic way, the other deaths have their special effects and shock moments: a gymnast steps on a tack with awful consequence; a sleazy type’s massage goes awry as does a laser eye treatment.

There are a few dramatic variations with some murders, though the film ends with an ironic twist on gaining the extra time for life from a victim. As the film moves to its conclusion, we realise (if we are familiar with the series) that we are back in 2000 with the opening of the very first film.

A horror concoction, with macabre touches, in a series that has proved more durable than might have been thought a decade ago.

1. The series? The formula? The variations? The use of 3D? The target audience? The film’s appeal?

2. Death, horror, the inevitability of death, the thesis of people dying in order, the fact that death would not want the order interrupted? Somebody else killing another – and gaining their lifespan?

3. The characters as victims, as characters, their interactions?

4. The special effects, the effects for the tragedy on the bridge, the gymnasium, the massage, the hook in the factory, the laser eye treatment, the boss and his death? Peter and the shooting? The finale with the plane?

5. The irony of the ending – and arriving back at the original final destination? The postscript with Nathan and his gaining Roy’s lifespan, and Roy having a tumour?

6. Sam, the background of the retreat for the employees, his cooking skills, his providing the breakfast, Peter and the interactions, Peter as the boss, their friendship? The possibility of Sam’s going to Paris for the internship? His relationship with Molly, her wanting to break up? Peter, his relationship with Candice? Nathan, the work in the factory, Roy and the union, his clashes? Olivia and her being smart? Isaac and his being particularly obnoxious, sexist, intrusive? Thick-skinned? His phone calls? The delineation of quick characters, their behaviour?

7. In the bus, the boss and his reactions, Sam and his sleeping, his dream and premonition, the bridge, the order of people dying? The special effects and the detail of the bridge collapse?

8. Waking up, getting the people to escape from the bus? The real bridge collapse?

9. Agent Jim Block? His investigations, suspicions, holding Sam and Peter, his relationship with Dennis, Dennis and his phone calls, hypotheses? The end, surveillance, Peter and the shooting?

10. Sam and the fact that he had the premonition, his concern, Molly being saved? The build-up to the series of deaths, arguing who was next? In the restaurant, cooking, Peter’s arrival, the clash, the shooting? His decision to go to Paris? Molly to come with him? His experience of the cook, (**??) the customers sending things back, the support of his boss?

11. The gymnasium, Peter present, Candice and her exercise, the tack – and the consequences?

12. Isaac, going for the massage, the irony of the receptionist, setting him up with the old Korean woman? His death?

13. Olivia, her glasses, the treatment for the eye, the doctor called out, the accident? Her death?

14. Roy, the confrontation with Nathan, the hook and his death?

15. Peter, going berserk, his death?

16. Sam, Molly, escaping, on the plane, the going back to final destination and the explosion on the plane?

17. The final irony with Nathan, his lease of life – and Roy having the tumour?

18. The effect of this kind of horror film? Reflections on death?