Starring: Bobby Campo, Krista Allen, Andrew Fiscella, Shantel VanSanten, Mykelti Williamson, Haley Webb, Nick Zano
Director: David R Ellis
Genre: Horror
Cert: 15
Released: 2009

Will someone make it stop?

Seemingly not.  2006’s “Final Destination 3” was to be the last in the horror series only for the advent of 3D to prompt director David R Ellis to bring it back.  The definite article in the title indicates that part four was again planned as the final outing but news has emerged that number five is on its way.

So what do we get for our money?  Much the same as we’ve seen on three previous occasions is the answer.  A group of young, attractive people are taking in some action at the local speedway arena when Nick (Campo) has a premonition of a fatal accident that will take the lives of him, his friends and many fellow spectators. Panicking, he convinces his friends that they need to get out and in the commotion a number of other people follow them.  The accident occurs and they survive while dozens die.  But – as is the central theme of the entire series – Death’s design is written in stone and the Grim Reaper (as such) will continue to pursue those who cheated death.

I had little praise for the first movie almost a decade ago but it’s fair to say that the second and third instalments were better without being memorable in any way (outside of a brilliant elevator-related death scene in number two).

And I have to say I’m undecided over “The Final Destination”.  I’m undecided as to whether the series has run out of steam and jaded me or if it’s just a dreadful film.

Perhaps the scriptwriters and director lost their focus because of the 3D angle (a gimmick that leads to some oddly-shot scenes) or perhaps they are just lazy.  There’s no attempt to introduce new plot devices or add any depth to the narrative that they explored insufficiently in the first movie.  And this might be slightly subjective but it does seem that the gore quotient has been upped significantly in this episode; usually an indicator that fresh ideas are thin on the ground.

I have no idea whether the cast have any talent or not as they ham it up within the limited boundaries of their stereotypical characters.  It’s a very predictable non-event and, above all, extremely boring.