Final Destination: Bloodlines

Like most of the victims in the funny, inventive, gory and hugely enjoyable new sequel FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES, I never saw it coming.

Sure, some of the original five films were fun and it was always a clever premise. "If you cheat death, he's coming for you".

But after a 14 year break, I never expected anything this good. It's perfectly executed, hilarious horror from its jaw dropping start to the best final minutes of the series.

We open decades ago, with a young couple Iris (Brec Bassinger) and Paul (Max Lloyd-Jones) attending the 1960's opening night of the Skyview Restaurant. Think of the Space Needle, but waaaaay taller, dripping with retro Rat Pack vibes. Iris has a secret to tell and Paul has major plans for the evening, all of which get derailed by one of the best chain reaction, Rube Goldberg, massive catastrophes ever created in horror.

What an absolute blast watching all the mechanics click together in the opening twenty minutes. Ten minutes in, I knew I was in for a treat.

Directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein are self described Final Destination super fans and it shows in their clever and creative innovation that splatters every frame of the film.

The payoff of their opening scene is a relentless, horrifying, funny and smart massive disaster that leaves your jaw dropped.

Is it real, or is it just the recurring nightmare of college student Stefani Reyes (Kaitlyn Santa Juana)? She's haunted by it anytime she drifts into sleep, driving her to return home and search for answers on what it all means.

There is no way that I'm going to spoil any of the countless surprises along her path to discovery, but the great news is that her search pulls a lot of funny and crazy characters into her path.

Richard Harmon is perfectly cast as Erik, the wise cracking, no filter family member who always manages to say the most inappropriate and hilarious thing at the right moment.

Owen Patrick Joyner steals the movie as Bobby Campbell, the family member with a peanut allergy and a real aversion to being next in line for Death.

Juana is terrific as Stefani, dragging us all along on her quest for the truth into some very dark and twisted places. Is she crazy? Is she kick ass? Yep.

This series has always been rooted in its hook. If you manage to escape death, it's going to find you and settle the score. The best films in the series soared on the creativity of death's methods.

BLOODLINES absolutely sings on that front.

Stefani seems to have the ability to see death coming. Watch out for that! Oh watch out for that! Her warnings seem like the rants of a crazy person until one of them turns out to be hilariously accurate. I'm never watching trash pick up again without remembering to stay away from the truck.

The entire family barbecue sequence is a lesson in foreshadowing and comedy horror, with buckets of blood waiting to be sprayed.

Just when you think it can't get any better, the late Tony Todd (Candyman) shows up, reprising and fleshing out his role as William Bludworth in the series. Witnessing the roots of the character and listening to Todd's unique voice guiding our characters through their fate is a highlight of the film. Todd filmed this scene shortly before his actual death, giving his words even more power. What a perfect exit.

The hospital scene is hilarious, crazy inventive and an absolute blast. DAMN those vending machines!

I'm a sucker for great endings on film.

This one's a doozy. The final two minutes left me smiling from ear to ear.

Who knew we needed a part 6?

FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES is a shocker. A gruesome, blood spraying visual horror feast that's funny and smart. By far the best film in the series, it gets an A.

"That was close...you all right?"