The Final Destination

The 'Final Destination' films have always been strangely successful. Not sure whether it's the uncomplicated plotlines, the one or two hot bodies, or the gratuitous violence, but they always manage to pull in the crowds.

This despite the series creating a bit of a niche genre with its balance of action, gory mutilation scenes and classic teen humour: a more violent version of 'American Pie', or any other teen film for that matter.

The fourth instalment, titled 'The Final Destination', doesn't stray too far from this winning formula, with the only real difference its presentation in 3D.

It once again follows four friends in their quest to stay alive, trying to beat Death at his own game as he wipes them out one by one in a series of rather unfortunate events.

This time the unrelenting violence starts when Nick, played by one Bobby Campo, has a vision while at a Nascar race. He sees a horrible accident on the track and before successfully convincing his pals they should leave, his premonition becomes a reality. A car crashes into the crowds, naturally resulting in a spectator being crushed by the engine block — shown in gory detail. After a count of roughly five gruesome deaths, the friends rush out of the arena, to the parking lot.

Not leaving the audience much to time to take in what just happened, the 3D effects once again kick in as a tyre slowly bounces into focus — and takes someone's head clean off. Come on, what did you expect? This is a 'Final Destination' film.

The gorgeous Haley Webb and 'One Tree Hill' regular Shantel VanSanten, provide a slight respite but even the "one or two hot bodies" in their underwear must make way for the business of killing. Honestly, the film actually doesn't have much going for it besides the gory death scenes — 11 are packed into 82 minutes.

With each and every slaying captured in full in-your-face high definition 3D, the star of the film is really the effects. The acting is by no means Oscar-winning and although performances fall short of feeling stiff and rehearsed, they still give off a whiff of inexperienced youth.

And the soundtrack comes straight out of the 'Horror Movie Music Manual', which doesn't leave much to the imagination, becoming rather repetitive by the anti-climactic end that has litres of blood and guts but little else.

For your safety and those around you, just remember to never wear loose clothing while on an escalator. But then again, this whole review could have been a premonition, and you'll just have to go watch the film to see if it all comes true.