What Do The Critics Say?

"The special effects are excellent, particularly during the jaw-dropping bridge collapse sequence, while the 3D is used brilliantly throughout, most notably in a scene involving a ship's mast.Inventive, superbly acted and featuring some terrific special effects work, this is a hugely entertaining, suitably grisly thriller that's much, much better than that 5 might lead you to expect." Matthew Turner VIEW LONDON "Fans of this franchise know precisely what to expect, and the film delivers it with wit and flair. This being a 3D movie, there are loads of sharp objects flying directly out of the screen. This, incredibly, is the fifth 'Final Destination' movie, and we might not be finished yet." Peter Bradshaw GUARDIAN (UK) "Delivers new, even more gruesome ways for innocent and mostly young people to die. The premise, as per all the films in this franchise, has a group of characters escaping a fatal accident only to find themselves struck down one by one in the order they would have perished. I am a huge fan of the way this franchise has stayed pure and true to its original idea." Jason Di Rosso MOVIETIME "Like Final Destination 4, Final Destination 5 is in terrific-looking 3D (and really, how can the Final team resist, what with all the spurting blood and flying body parts?), and is generally technically slick, briskly paced and painless to watch, assuming you’re not the sort to squirm miserably at the sight of anatomical mayhem. Final Destination 5 is pure formula in action." Maitland McDonagh FILM JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

"Graphically gruesome and inevitably fatal, the Final Destination horror movie series nevertheless remains creatively alive. Like its death-dispensing predecessors, Final Destination 5 finds many imaginative ways to knock off its marked for death characters. Delivering the deftly choreographed calamity that's carried the series thus far, Final Destination 5 doesn't cheat the series' followers." John Wirt ADVOCATE "Although the exposition scenes distract from the grisly business of throwing sharp things show-stoppingly screenwards, writer Eric Heisserer and director Stephen Quale’s witty kills are such a blast you may wish they hadn’t wrapped the series up so neatly." Matt Glasby TOTAL FILM "As sick and sorry as some of the outcomes prove to be, there can be no denying there is often some wild imagination and genuine inspiration in play. Original blood-spattered blueprint is as it ever was." Leigh Paatsch HERALD SUN "The Final Destination series mischievously plays on the fear that all smothering Mothers instill in their nervous children, fortifying the anxiety they’ve pulsed through the womb, that a heightened awareness of, mostly, illusionary dangers is necessary to survive. Each instalment isn’t a movie as such, but a sadistic guessing game. You have to admire the glee with which each young life is snuffed out." Ed Whitfield THE OOH TRAY

The Inside Story In "Final Destination 5", the fifth installment of the successful horror franchise, Death once again proves to be the ultimate stalker as it systematically hunts down a group of friends struggling to escape its relentless pursuit. Often we here of instances where people think they have cheated death and it makes great reading. Fact is, Death is the one thing we cannot escape. We are all doomed to die sooner or later. Director Steven Quale, who worked as second unit director for James Cameron on "Titanic", says, "In the previous 'Final Destination' films, it’s inevitable that they’re going to die, and the question is when and how: that’s the adrenaline rush. But in this movie, we’ve added a twist: a few may have found a way to survive." For producer Craig Perry ("American Pie"), the opportunity to come back for a fifth time offered a chance to not only meet the fan's expectations, but to rock them out of their seats. "We’re always looking at these films with an eye to taking it to the next level. One of the things we’ve learned from fans is that they want a gripping, terrifying story that is also an entertaining ride, so we really tried to ramp it up." Knowing that they wanted to shoot the film in 3D, producers Craig Perry ("American Pie 2")and Warren Zide ("Autopsy") brought Quale, an expert in the field, on board. "Steve has forgotten more about 3D than I’ll ever know," Perry suggests. "He has been doing this for twenty years with Jim Cameron, the grand master of not just 3D but of action movies. Also, Steve genuinely loves movies and has a real passion that, married with his technical expertise, made him pretty much the perfect candidate for what we were trying to do here." Quale felt that working on a film where the core premise was firmly established provided him with a creative challenge to enhance the bones of the franchise. "I did a marathon screening of all four 'Final Destination' movies back to back with the mind of a moviegoer, noting what I liked best about each. Then I began to think about what I was going to do once I was behind the camera." Screenwriter Eric Heisserer (the October 13th 2011 Sci-Fi thriller "The Thing" starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Joel Edgerton) says working on "Final Destination 5" was a writer’s dream job, since setting up the hook of the films story isn’t needed. "The 'Final Destination' conceit is one of those rare situations where, thanks to the previous four movies, I didn’t need to spend a lot of time on exposition to make sure the audience would get it. It was my intent from the start to write an engaging supernatural thriller that also happens to be a 'Final Destination' movie. Like fans, I wanted some heinous kill sequences, but I also wanted to expand the mythology of the world by introducing a moral dilemma for the characters, which forces them to wrestle with the question of what, or who, they value most." With the series’ signature chain reaction-style kills always at the centre of anticipation for audiences, the scenes have to be bigger and better each time. This presented a fun challenge for the Heisserer. In addition to the death scenes, the producers and Quale were adamant that the story and character development take equal precedence, recognizing the value that comes from engaging the audience so they care about the characters, which then makes watching their demise that much more of a visceral, horrifying event. Quale explained: "We set out to make a visually stunning film with dynamic action sequences, beginning with the bridge. But I also think the characters are people the audience will want to follow. Their storylines really help drive this movie, so we spent a lot of time looking for the right actors for each part. We got very lucky with this group." Perry ("American Pie 3 a.k.a The Wedding & "Cappuccino") notes: "I think we found a great balance with this film. With the bridge collapse, we’ve got the biggest opening sequence we’ve ever had. Then there’s the sheer suspense of not only what will happen to each of these characters but, more importantly, how it will happen, which is really what sets 'Final Destination' movies apart." "Final Destination 5" centres around Sam, a young professional in the midst of a career crisis: sticking with a job at a paper factory that pays the rent, or following his passion to become a chef and moving to Paris. Nicholas D'Agosto ("Fired Up!") was cast as the lead character Sam. "What I love about this franchise is that it leaves this big question open for the audience: 'Who or what is the entity that delivers this vision to these characters so that they can stave off Death just long enough for it to come and get them?' I think it’s a fun question that fans can engage in and certainly something I won't try to answer: even though I have my own ideas about it." As Death casts its net around Sam’s nearest and dearest, no one is excused from its macabre plan; except maybe the love of his life. Emma Bell (who played Rachel Fein in TV'S "The Bedford Diaries"), was cast as Sam’s girlfriend, Molly. She's a sweet girl who’s deeply in love with her boyfriend but feeling that their life paths are moving in two different directions. "She lives in a small town and she’s very comfortable with that. I don’t think she ever really dreamed of moving to a city, or wanted to be part of something more. She’s in love with Sam, but she knows that he dreams bigger than she ever could, and isn’t sure how to balance her love for him without holding him back from pursuing his goals. Molly knows that, given the choice, Sam would pick her over going to Paris. But she doesn’t want to put him in that situation, so she makes that choice for him." Peter, Sam’s best friend and supervisor at work is played by Miles Fisher ("Gods and Generals"). "Here’s someone who is a pretty straightforward, one plus one equals two kind of guy," Fisher attests. "When Death starts coming after him and his friends, he struggles to find some kind of logical explanation, because the way he thinks doesn’t allow for anything else." Peter’s girlfriend, Candice, is played by Ellen Wroe, a young actress who is also a former gymnast, which was exactly what the filmmakers were looking for. In fact, it was through the activity that Wroe got her first exposure to the films. "When I was competing, we’d have sleepovers every Saturday night, and we’d watch scary movies, including the 'Final Destination' movies. I would be scared out of my mind and have my eyes covered, but afterwards we’d watch them all over again." Because it had been seven years since she practiced the sport, stunt coordinator J.J. Makaro ("K-19: The Widowmaker") had two stunt doubles lined up and learning the gymnastic elements for a scene in which Candice goes through a series of complicated routines. But, as Makaro explains, doubles weren’t necessary. "Ellen was a huge surprise. I was fully prepared for her to need a stuntwoman for the more complicated parts of the routine, but Ellen went straight to the gym and started working out. Every time we thought we were getting to a place where we could help her, she came back and wowed us." One character without much of a work ethic is Isaac, that one guy in every office who always seems to irritate everyone, and to completely turn off the ladies, despite his constant attempts at the reverse. New to the horror genre, actor P.J. Byrne ("Be Kind Rewind") was eager to jump on board in the role. His immediate thought was, "When am I ever going to have a chance to die like that again onscreen, let alone in 3D? That’s what really got me fired." If Isaac shirks most of his responsibilities, his coworker at the Presage paper plant, Nathan, takes his to heart. Nathan, played by Arlen Escarpeta, is a hard-working employee who has to balance being part of the management staff with overseeing things on the factory floor, not always an easy mix. Another coworker at Presage is Olivia, played by Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (Steffy Forrester in TV'S "The Bold and the Beautiful'), she is a rock 'n' roll beauty whose good looks, mixed with edgy confidence, are a winning combination save for one thing: her poor eyesight. The boss at Presage, is Dennis. He's portrayed by comedic actor David Koechner ("Get Smart" & "Paul"), who is known by his fans for the wild character he plays on TV, at another fictional paper company, the U.S. version of "The Office". "I’m kind of a scaredy-cat, so I wasn’t really sure what I was getting into. Then they showed me a compilation reel of all the deaths throughout all of the movies, and I thought they were hysterical." Perry notes, "David Koechner is one of the funniest people I’ve ever met, and he’s a terrific comedic actor. He injected humor and energy to the movie, while bringing a surprising dramatic undercurrent that really gives his character more weight and credibility." Perhaps the most credible character in the film is the super-serious Agent Block, the FBI investigator looking into the deaths. He is played by Courtney B Vance who was cast as Agent O'Hara, in the 2009 Rod Lurie film, "Nothing But the Truth". For Vance, it was an opportunity to explore a genre that is new to his long list of acting credits. "Horror films scare me, but when I found out Steve Quale was going to direct, I thought: 'I’ve never done anything like this, and I know I’m going to be in great hands;' so I had to give it a try." circling in the background of each crime scene is the mysterious Bludworth, played by the series iconic Tony Todd, who provided the voice of Fallen in Michael Bay's 2009 film, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen". "Tony is such an imposing man," D’Agosto ("From Prada to Nada") says. "He can give you one look that totally shuts you down, but working with him is so much fun. You couldn’t find a nicer and more personable man." Genre fans lit up when they heard Todd was appearing in the latest installment. "After a brief absence, Tony is back and we are thrilled," says Perry of the franchise’s only three film veteran. "Everyone who loves these movies will also be happy to hear that Tony doesn’t just appear in a brief cameo, he’s in multiple scenes. And he delivers in every one. The fans are going to love it." Todd ("Platoon", "Candyman" & "The Man from Earth") provided a sneak peek at his recurring role. "Who is Bludworth? You tell me. Maybe he’s a representative or a sales agent of some sort. He has his own secrets that he can’t reveal. But I guess there’s a reason he keeps showing up." "Final Destination 5" rolled into production at the beginning of September 2010 in Vancouver, British Columbia, the same location where the first three movies were shot, the first over ten years before. Perry recalls: "It felt like a high school reunions. One of the tremendous benefits of coming back to Vancouver is that there’s a wealth of great crew here who have worked on the previous films. These movies are really hard to pull off. They require an awful lot of technical know-how, and having people who have gone through the experience once or twice before makes it a lot easier. In fact, it made it the easiest shoot of the franchise." What's It All About?

Death once again proves to be the ultimate stalker as it systematically hunts down a group of friends struggling to escape its relentless pursuit. This time, Death is unleashed on several coworkers as they travell on a Rolland Coach Lines bus to attend a corporate retreat for what should be a quick overnight trip. As the charter bus makes its way toward the location, the route will take them over a massive suspension bridge that arches over a river, where raging waters surge two hundred feet below. Held up by roadworks, the group are about to face a terrifying experience that not all will survive. Their fates are seemingly sealed as the bridge tears itself apart. Sam, who has already seen the disaster in a vision, desperately tries to figure out a way to save them, with some degree of success: or so he thinks. But when your number is up, it seems you are only delaying the inevitible. Now death wants to claim each of them for his own, and he'll use any means possible to snuff the life out of these helpless survivors.

The Verdict "For many of us, Death is certainly no laughing matter. That's because we all know Death's inevitible. Unless, between the time I finish this review and you read it, some genius has found a miracle cure for dying. Let's face it: we all have to go some time. Thankfully in many cases, the exact time our life will be snuffed out isn't known to us. Now some may try and tell you they have cheated death: but have they really? Take for example, the main players in the fifth installment of the 'Final Destination' franchise. They've survived a terrifying ordeal, thanks to a vision one of them experienced, resulting in a 'get out of jail' pass. That should make them happy: shouldn't it? Of course. But it hasn't made Death happy. Death doesn't like to be cheated. Death must now ensure, that those who escaped his clutches first time around, don't do so again. Once you've seen "Final Destination 5" in glorious, bloody, 3D, I'm sure you'll agree with my simple assessment: those death is trying to reclaim, would have been better off dying in the bridge collapse. Fortunately for fans of the franchise, that ain't gunna happen. Death has something special in mind for those who are still alive, and it's a guilty pleasure watching how Death despatches each and every one of them. If you haven't seen a 'Final Destination' film, don't get your knickers in a knot, because each film has a stand alone storyline. Hire the others on DVD and laugh in the face of Death! 3D fun. 4 STARS." Who Is Playing Who?

Nicholas D'Agosto Emma Bell Miles Fisher Ellen Wroe Jacqueline Wood P.J. Byrne Arlen Escarpeta David Koechner Courtney Vance Tony Todd Brent Stait Roman Podhora Jasmin Dring Barclay Hope Mike Dopud Tanya Hubbard Frank Topol Tim Fellingham Blaine Anderson Dawn Chubai Ian Thompson Diana Pavlovská

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Sam Lawton Molly Harper Peter Friedkin Candice Hooper Olivia Castle Isaac Nathan Dennis Agent Jim Block William Bludworth Roy John Cho Dr Leonetti Chef Coach Federal Agent Rocker Crime Scene Tech Reporter Bus Driver Flight Attendant

The Production Team Directed by Steven Quale Written by Eric Heisserer Characters created by Jeffrey Reddick Produced by Craig Perry & Warren Zide Executive Producers Richard Brener/Sheila Hanahan/Erik Holmberg Original Music by Brian Tyler Cinematography by Brian Pearson Film Editing by Eric Sears Casting by Eyde Belasco Production Design by David Sandefur Art Direction by Sandi Tanaka Set Decoration by Melissa Olson Costume Design by Jori Woodman Run Time 92 minutes Rated MA15+ [AUST] Copyright ©2011 - Warner Bros Films - All Rights Reserved ©1999-2011 - The Movie Pages & Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved. Protected by Australian & International Copyright, Trademark Laws & Intellectual Property Rights.