Final Destination Bloodlines: Biggest Deaths Explained!

Caution: Major plot points for Final Destination 5 (Bloodlines) are coming up! The filmmakers and cast associated with the latest installment of this horror series have shared insights into how they crafted its intricate storyline. Set around the Campbell family, college student Stefani experiences eerie visions of a catastrophic tower accident from 1968. Upon further investigation, she discovers that her grandmother once had a premonition about this disaster and saved numerous lives, but in doing so, evaded Death’s grasp. Consequently, the family has been targeted again by Death to settle the score.

Just like previous versions, the cast of “Final Destination: Bloodlines” meet their untimely ends in a series of gruesome accidents. These include getting mangled in a garbage truck, being crushed by an MRI machine, and impaled by a weather vane. Near the end of the movie, it appears that Stefani drowns in one such accident, seemingly breaking Death’s chain and saving her and her brother. However, it is later revealed that she merely lost consciousness, keeping the chain active, which ultimately leads to their deaths when logs from a derailed train crush them.

To celebrate the premiere of the movie “Final Destination Bloodlines“, ScreenRant conducted interviews with Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Teo Briones, Richard Harmon, Owen Patrick Joyner, Rya Kihlstedt, Anna Lore, and directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein. They all spoke about their favorite death scenes in the movie, addressing why the surprising ending might not upset viewers. The directors also discussed unveiling Tony Todd’s character William Bludworth’s backstory, how the Skyview incident connects the series, and almost reintroducing a significant character from the past.

Most Of The Cast Agree 1 Final Destination Bloodlines Kill Is The Best

“I Like The Deaths That Are A Little Funny.”

In the latest installment of the series, Final Destination: Bloodlines , a new batch of characters meet grisly, innovative deaths at the hands of Death. Among these chilling demises, many members of the cast believe that the death of Richard Harmon’s character, Erik, stands out as the most impressive. Contrary to expectations hinted in the trailers, Erik meets his end not in a tattoo parlor but rather inside an MRI machine due to his numerous piercings. As he is crushed, Joyner notes that this scene is both “brutal” and “terrifying“, and watching it left him feeling as if the fate were his own.

Briones and Lore concurred that the demise of Kihlstedt’s character Darlene, where she is tragically struck by a lamp post and split in two, was an intriguing spectacle to behold. For Briones, he admired the fact that her death partially stemmed from her selfless attempt to “protect her son“, while Lore commended not only the “impressive makeup” employed for the death scene, but also expressed envy towards Kihlstedt for the swiftness of her demise compared to her own. Moreover, Lore was intrigued because the script for Darlene’s death in the movie was altered at the last minute.

According to Lore, they made some adjustments to the script. Specifically, they altered the ending. Originally, she died earlier in the film, but her death was moved to a later scene. And he jokingly asked, “Were you planning to extend my role in the movie instead?” [Laughs]

Kihlstedt found everyone’s stories about her passing touching, but she particularly favored the “slightly comical deaths,” using Bobby Joyner’s as an example. In this case, a vending machine’s spring pierced him in the head. Despite finding it “terrifying and distressing,” she vividly remembered the image of him crawling on the ground, which she described as “devastating.” However, she still appreciated the “humorous aspect” of his scenes and similar instances.

Notably, Joyner highlights the ending of Final Destination Bloodlines as his preferred death scenes, where characters Charlie (played by Briones) and Stefani (portrayed by Juana) meet their demise. This continues the series’ trademark of unexpected twists and ties up loose ends neatly. Harmon concurs that these deaths pay tribute to the memorable log truck crash in Final Destination 2, with Joyner praising the creative team as “brilliant”. Lore adds that, due to the audience growing attached to these characters, the only way their deaths will be accepted is if it’s a “joke” or punchline.

The Sequel’s Use Of Songs For The Deaths Was A Unique Creative Process

The Directors Were Surprised They Got To Keep 1 Song

Instead of using a single song consistently throughout its duration as previous Final Destination films have done to emphasize the impending death from the opening premonitions, the movie Bloodlines selects various songs that are thematically connected to the death scenes. When asked about their decision to use specific tracks for the film, the directing team admitted that the design of the deaths and the selection of music were both “concurrently developed” during the production process.

Lipovsky stated, “There are moments when a song seems perfect for a particular scene, and we instantly know it should be there – such as ‘Ring of Fire.’ In other cases, we identify scenes where a song might fit well, but we decide to figure out the exact choice later as the sequence develops.

A song that wasn’t originally from the duo was Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)”. Sabrina Pitre, the editor for Bloodlines, suggested this tune with the idea of “wouldn’t it be amusing?“. The directors found it a brilliant suggestion, but thought it would not endure because, as Stein mentioned, it’s quite costly. However, to their amazement, “no one ever removed it” from the movie, and it remained in the final version.

Among the few tunes Lipovsky and Stein had familiarized themselves with early on, they recognized that “Shout” by The Isley Brothers was crucial for our film, especially during the opening scene featuring the Skyview Restaurant Tower collapse in the movie. Later, Stein expressed regret to the band’s estate over how “Final Destination: Bloodlines” might tarnish the song’s reputation for future generations. However, he also admitted that a significant aspect of the 1959 classic indeed made it an ideal fit for our movie.

That transition from “Softly now” to “Loudly now” carries such an intense build-up of anticipation. The moment we conceived this concept, we were certain that tune had to be part of our film’s soundtrack.

Stein & Lipovsky “Discussed & Debated A Lot” How The Skyview Incident Would Bring The Franchise Full Circle

They Also Nearly Brought Back A Major Character

According to the film, the Skyview incident serves as the catalyst for the entire Final Destination series, with Death targeting all survivors and their lineage because they were never supposed to live. When asked if each primary character is related to the survivors, Stein and Lipovsky express that it’s a topic they contemplated and argued over extensively, finding the idea “deliciously intriguing.” Nevertheless, they clarified that this theory isn’t accurate, primarily due to the preservation of franchise continuity.

Stein clarified that since their characters’ parents had passed away before they died, this was a crucial aspect of the plot. Lipovsky added that in the earlier films, the audience hadn’t witnessed the parents’ deaths, and introducing such a detail could disrupt the established continuity. Consequently, they decided that any death occurring in their movie was confined to the Skyview incident alone. Stein also mentioned a scene where Iris’ notebook hinted at research on other movies, almost bringing back A.J. Cook’s character Kimberly Corman from Final Destination 2.

According to Lipovsky’s confirmation, there was a scene where it almost seemed like Kimberly might have reappeared. Stein clarified that in this particular scene, it was indeed confirmed canonically that Kimberly and Michael Landes’ character, Thomas, managed to evade death. Iris wanted to emulate their actions to protect her family. Despite not returning for Bloodlines, the co-director left open the possibility that she could make a comeback in the future.

Tony Todd’s Backstory Reveal Was Also His Way Of Saying Goodbye To Fans

“I Need To Be In This Movie.”

A recurring feature across the series has been Tony Todd’s portrayal of William Bludworth, a mysterious mortician who imparts enigmatic guidance to those marked for death. Although long suspected to be Death himself, it is revealed in ‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’ that he was instead a survivor from the Skyview tragedy. In the years following, he and a younger Iris were the last to perish in the premonition. Since then, they have shared their insights on how to cheat death, dispensing similar counsel to those seeking his assistance.

Stein openly acknowledged that it was a profound experience to be part of the creative group revealing Bludworth’s past, while simultaneously feeling “deeply privileged to collaborate with him“. To clarify, Todd played a significant role in devising this concept. As a character, Bludworth has always been enigmatic and underdeveloped in previous films, but now there was an intriguing chance to flesh out the character’s background. Stein elaborated by saying, “For so long, he’s been a mysterious figure in all the other movies, but until now, he hasn’t been fully realized as a person. This provided us with an exciting opportunity to delve into Bludworth’s past, understand why he might know so much about Death, explore his lifelong fascination with premonitions, and reveal the reasons behind his extensive knowledge.

The co-director emphasized that the team wanted to provide a fitting conclusion for Todd within the franchise, as they believed this would likely be his last “Final Destination” film. Stein admitted that Todd was ill during filming, but he insisted on staying involved in the sequel, asking the directors not to exclude him from the movie and expressing his need to be part of it. He also found it both emotional and joyful working with Todd during this time.

Lipovsky disclosed an additional layer to Todd’s scene in “Final Destination: Bloodlines.” He recollected instructing the actor to put aside the script momentarily and speak sincerely, leading to Bludworth advising the Reyes and Campbell family, “Life is a treasure. Cherish every second you have.” Lipovsky further noted that Todd was deeply immersed in his character during this scene, and he cherished each moment on set. Stein added that the actor was genuinely speaking from the heart to the audience.

The atmosphere brimmed with vitality and exuberance, leaving an impression on everyone present, and this spirit is clearly visible in that instant.

More About Final Destination Bloodlines

The latest installment in New Line Cinema’s gruesome successful franchise, titled “Final Destination Bloodlines,” delves back into the origin of Death’s twisted justice system. College student Stefanie, tormented by a recurring nightmare of violence, returns home to find the one individual who could potentially end the cycle and shield her family from the ghastly fate that seems destined to befall them all.

Take a look at our earlier interview featuring Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Teo Briones, Richard Harmon, Owen Patrick Joyner, Rya Kihlstedt, and Anna Lore on the topic of Final Destination Bloodlines!

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2025-05-17 21:21