Story and tone

From May 15, a new battle for survival with Death is coming to cinema screens in the sixth installment of the cult horror film Final Destination.

Student Stephanie Reyes keeps seeing the same scene from the 1960s. The grand opening of a luxurious restaurant at the top of a tall tower, when a terrible disaster occurs and all the guests perish. Among them is Stephanie’s grandmother, Iris, who has lived a secluded life for a long time.

To find out the reason for her strange vision, the girl goes to visit the “crazy” pensioner. She does not yet suspect that Death has already sharpened its blades for her and her family.

Visual imagination Final Destination

Without exception, the creators of Final Destination are clearly people who believe in the postulate “if you’re going to die, die with music.” Adam Stein and Zach Lipowski follow suit: Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire plays before the restaurant burns.

Music and sound

Music plays a noticeable role in setting the tone of the film, often appearing just before the most dramatic and deadly moments. The use of Johnny Cash’s iconic track Ring of Fire not only adds irony to the scene but also foreshadows the disaster that unfolds moments later.

Sound design also enhances the tension typical of the Final Destination franchise. The subtle creaks, metallic clanks, and everyday noises that precede fatal accidents gradually build a sense of dread. Even the quietest moments feel suspicious, as if every object in the environment might suddenly become part of Death’s elaborate plan. This careful use of sound helps maintain suspense and reminds the audience that danger can appear at any second.

Themes Final Destination

If the creators of the 2003 sequel were afraid to kill off a minor character who was originally supposed to die on screen and were forced to add a few years to his age in order to ultimately kill off a 15-year-old boy with a double-glazed window, the current filmmakers seem to be challenging them.

If the unfortunate heroes of the previous series were not only inattentive but also literally threw themselves into danger, then the local grandmother barricaded herself and learned to recognize the presence of the grim reaper and his evil intentions. “Bitch, I see you!” she exclaims confidently.

To the viewer, this may sound like the authors’ absolute understanding that using a hackneyed concept for the sixth time is perhaps a bit too much.

But in doing so, they urge us to take what is shown as lightly as possible, saying, “Come on, folks, let’s just indulge in escapism and have a good time at the movies.”

Final verdict

The filmmakers repeat the same mistake: they forget to tell even a minimally meaningful story between deaths and give the characters at least some individual traits. However, they do it so easily, effortlessly, and sometimes even cheerfully that the next coffin in the frame does not evoke thoughts of inevitability.

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