Friday Night Frightfest

This week on Friday Night Frightfest, we’re bringing our epic Final Destination marathon to an end! After dissecting the first four films, we’re now tackling what was thought to be the franchise’s conclusive chapter, Final Destination 5 (2011), and the highly anticipated return, Final Destination: Bloodlines (2025). Get ready for more death-defying escapes and incredibly intricate demises! Final Destination 5 (2011) Directed by Steven Quale, Final Destination 5 revitalized the franchise with its ingenious premise and breathtaking opening sequence involving a collapsing suspension bridge. This installment cleverly plays with the established lore by introducing a grim new twist: if a survivor takes the life of someone who was not meant to die in Death’s design, they can claim that person’s remaining lifespan. This added a desperate, moral dilemma to the usual frantic escapes, culminating in a shocking reveal that ties directly back to the original film. Final Destination: Bloodlines (2025) Directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein, Final Destination: Bloodlines marks the long-awaited return of the franchise. This film takes a fresh approach by focusing on a new family, whose matriarch had a premonition in 1968 that averted a deadly structural collapse, saving many lives. Now, decades later, Death is coming for her descendants, and they must figure out how to break a bloodline curse that has been passed down through generations. This entry promises to shake up the established formula with a multi-generational storyline and delve deeper into the lore of Death’s intricate plan. Join us as we discuss how Final Destination 5 brought a renewed sense of terror and cleverness to the series, and then dive into all the exciting details and potential new directions offered by Final Destination: Bloodlines. Spoilers start around 3:00.

This week on Friday Night Frightfest, the carnage continues! Following our deep dive into the origins of Death’s design, we’re plunging headfirst into the next two installments of the iconic franchise: Final Destination 3 (2006) and The Final Destination (2009). Get ready for more elaborate demises and desperate struggles against an unstoppable force! Final Destination 3 (2006) Directed once again by James Wong, Final Destination 3 kicks off with a terrifying roller coaster derailment. High school student Wendy Christensen experiences a vivid premonition and saves several classmates, only to find herself and the survivors targeted by Death’s relentless pursuit. This installment notably uses photographs taken at the scene of the premonition to hint at how each character will meet their grisly end, adding a new layer to the mystery and dread. The Final Destination (2009) Directed by David R. Ellis (returning from FD2), The Final Destination (often referred to as Final Destination 4 due to its release order) brings the franchise into the 3D era. This time, a vision of a horrific racetrack crash saves a group of spectators from certain doom. As always, Death is close behind, dispatching the survivors in increasingly gruesome and often darkly humorous ways. This film aimed for spectacle, leveraging the 3D technology for maximum visceral impact. Join us as we analyze how these two films expanded the franchise’s signature style. We’ll discuss the creativity (or lack thereof) of the death sequences and the evolving “rules” of Death’s plan. Tune in to relive the terror and question if anyone can truly outrun Death! Spoilers start around 5:13

This week on Friday Night Frightfest, we’re tempting fate and dodging elaborate death traps as we look at the beginnings of a beloved horror franchise! In anticipation of the highly anticipated new film, Final Destination: Bloodlines, we’re going back to where it all began, comparing the terrifying ingenuity of Final Destination (2000) and its thrilling sequel, Final Destination 2 (2003). Final Destination (2000) Directed by James Wong, the original Final Destination introduces us to Alex Browning, who has a premonition of a catastrophic plane crash and, along with a handful of others, manages to cheat death. But Death, as they soon learn, doesn’t like to be cheated. What follows is a relentlessly suspenseful and inventive series of “accidents” as Death comes to claim its due, showcasing Rube Goldberg-esque kills that became the franchise’s trademark. Final Destination 2 (2003) Directed by David R. Ellis, Final Destination 2 escalates the stakes with a truly unforgettable opening highway pile-up. Kimberly Corman has a vision of this horrific event and saves herself and several strangers. However, they soon discover they’ve merely placed themselves at the top of Death’s new list. This sequel famously expands on the rules of Death’s design and offers even more elaborate and shocking sequences of unfortunate demises. Join us as we discuss these first two films in the series. If you don’t have time to watch them yourself before seeing Final Destination: Bloodlines, this episode offers a good synopsis of the films. We discuss how they established the franchise’s unique blend of supernatural horror and inventive practical effects, and what makes each of these early entries so enduringly terrifying. Prepare for a grim reminder that you can’t escape your destiny! Spoilers Start around 4:27.

This week on Friday Night Frightfest, we’re revisiting an episode about the terrifying and sometimes darkly comedic world of time loops! With the recent release of the Until Dawn, we thought it was the perfect time to dust off this classic comparison between two fantastic films that trap their protagonists in a recurring nightmare: Happy Death Day (2017) and Source Code (2011). Happy Death Day (2017) Directed by Christopher Landon, Happy Death Day puts a slasher twist on the time loop concept. College student Tree Gelbman finds herself reliving the day of her murder over and over again. To break the loop, she must figure out who her killer is and stop them, all while navigating the increasingly bizarre and dangerous repetitions of her final day. It’s a clever blend of horror, comedy, and mystery with a charismatic lead performance. Source Code (2011) Directed by Duncan Jones, Source Code takes a more sci-fi thriller approach to the time loop. Captain Colter Stevens, a helicopter pilot, wakes up in the body of an unknown man on a commuter train moments before it explodes. He’s part of a top-secret program that allows him to inhabit the last few minutes of a person’s life to gather information and prevent future terrorist attacks. Each jump back offers new clues and increasingly complex moral dilemmas. Tune in for a repeat dose of temporal terror!

This week on Friday Night Frightfest, we’re exploring the deadly consequences of youthful indiscretions and the relentless pursuit of past sins. We’ll be comparing the American slasher sequel I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998) and the German horror flick Party Hard, Die Young (2018). I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998) Directed by Danny Cannon, this sequel to the 1997 hit follows Julie James and her friends as they take a seemingly relaxing vacation to a remote island resort. However, their past actions come back to haunt them when the vengeful fisherman returns, picking them off one by one in a tropical paradise turned deadly trap. Party Hard, Die Young (2018) Directed by Dominik Hartl, this German slasher film takes the familiar “teens in peril” trope to a vibrant and chaotic Croatian music festival. What starts as a wild party under the sun turns gruesome when a masked killer begins targeting the young revelers, turning their hedonistic escape into a fight for survival. Join us as we dissect these two tales of youthful terror and relentless pursuit. We’ll discuss how each film utilizes its unique setting to amplify the horror, the effectiveness of their respective killers, and how they explore the themes of guilt, consequence, and the inescapable nature of the past. Get ready for sun, sand, and a whole lot of bloodshed! Spoilers start around 8:25.