Don't Count on the 'Final' Part

Rating: 8/10 (19 February 2011)

In an agethe late 1990s and early 2000sof the horror revamp (thanks, Scream) comes one of the most clever and original horror/slashers to date: Final Destination. In fact, it was so smart, it was a slasher without a slasher and the main enemy/culprit that you won't see.
Nowadays, the character of "Death" has been mocked pretty heavily, thanks mostly to Family Guy, but here, it's not so nice. Sly, but fair. Invisible, but present.
A high school class is headed for 10 days to Paris, only "nobody" Alex (Sawa) has a pretty descript vision of their plane not making it a few hundred yards, let alone across the world. Awaking, and he really does, his outburst causes some of his peers and one teacher to deplane only to watch his premonition come true before their eyes. And, the FBI gets involved, thinking Alex has something to do with the explosion.
Picture it: the year was 2000. The date of release: 3/17/00. Just think if this movie would've been delayed another year and a half. Or even then, if it would be released at all.
Anyhoo, each of the survivors are naturally freaked, and when they "mysteriously" die one by one, Alex relies on his newly found intuition to solve the reasons of the deaths while heavily relying on Clear Rivers (Larter) – love that name, by the way – and Bludworth (Tony Todd of Candyman fame– the perfect choice for the undertaker.)
Apparently, there's a pattern, a new one, that is, since Alex stepped in Death's way. Is that a role you'd like to take? Or would you be able to double dip in saving the survivor's lives?
The movie, though a little hokey at times, is nearly brilliant for what it is. I remember shouting out, when it first came out, "FINALLY," an intelligent horror movie. A thinker. And with a great cast. I would soon grow to love (yeah, I mean LOVE) Ali Larter, although the rest of the cast did what they needed to accomplish. Even Seann "Stifler" William Scott down played his typical over-the-top performance – but not by too much.
The movie was equally shot well, had well-thought out "death-by-accident" scenes and a good soundtrack/score. It's not too deep, but its fun and quick and tight – what all horror movies should be. Also, it was refreshing to see that the absence of sex, nudity and excessive amount of gore can still drive/sell a "teen" horror movie.
Highly recommended, if you haven't already partaken in Death's plan.