After a teenager has a terrifying vision of him and his friends dying in a plane crash, he prevents the accident only to have Death hunt them down, one by one.
Credits: TheMovieDb.
Film Cast:
- Alex Browning: Devon Sawa
- Clear Rivers: Ali Larter
- Carter Horton: Kerr Smith
- Valerie Lewton: Kristen Cloke
- Billy Hitchcock: Seann William Scott
- Tod Waggner: Chad Donella
- Terry Chaney: Amanda Detmer
- William Bludworth: Tony Todd
- Agent Weine: Daniel Roebuck
- Agent Schreck: Roger Guenveur Smith
- George Waggner: Brendan Fehr
- Larry Murnau: Forbes Angus
- Christa Marsh: Lisa Marie Caruk
- Blake Dreyer: Christine Chatelain
- Ken Browning: Robert Wisden
- Barbara Browning: Barbara Tyson
- Howard Seigel: Fred Keating
- Mrs. Waggner: P. Lynn Johnson
- Mr. Waggner: Larry Gilman
- Hare Krishna: Guy Fauchon
- Flight Attendant: Randy Stone
- Co-Pilot: Mark Holden
- TV News Anchor: Marrett Green
- Minister: John Hainsworth
- Student Singer: Pete Atherton
- Ticket Clerk: Nicole Robert
- Reporter: Kristina Matisic
- Lou Gehrig’s Man (uncredited): Troy Yorke
- Guitar Player in Final Paris Scene (uncredited): Alessandro Juliani
Film Crew:
- Associate Producer: Chris Bender
- Casting: John Papsidera
- First Assistant Camera: John Seale
- Supervising Sound Editor: Scott Martin Gershin
- Casting Associate: Heike Brandstatter
- Second Unit Director: Thomas J. Wright
- Foley Editor: Dino Dimuro
- Production Executive: Dana Belcastro
- Sound Mixer: Eric Batut
- Music Arranger: Chris Boardman
- Producer: Craig Perry
- Producer: Warren Zide
- Executive In Charge Of Production: Carla Fry
- Makeup Department Head: Lisa Love
- Original Music Composer: Shirley Walker
- Costume Design: Jori Woodman
- Post Production Supervisor: Jay Vinitsky
- Set Designer: Geoff Wallace
- Art Direction: William Heslup
- Second Assistant Director: Roger Scott Russell
- Stunts: James Bamford
- Director: James Wong
- Director of Photography: Robert McLachlan
- Screenplay: Jeffrey Reddick
- Executive Producer: Richard Brener
- Executive Producer: Brian Witten
- Editor: James Coblentz
- Producer: Glen Morgan
- Assistant Property Master: Gillian Goodman
- Set Decoration: Mary-Lou Storey
- Set Designer: John Alvarez
- Chief Lighting Technician: Stephen Jackson
- Boom Operator: Kelly Zombor
- ADR Recordist: Brian Basham
- ADR Mixer: Ron Bedrosian
- Foley Mixer: Nerses Gezalyan
- Foley Artist: James Moriana
- Foley Artist: Jeffrey Wilhoit
- Foley Recordist: Greg Zimmerman
- Production Design: John Willett
- Still Photographer: Shane Harvey
- Carpenter: Charlie Campbell
- Stunt Coordinator: J.J. Makaro
- Makeup Effects: Mike Fields
- Dialogue Editor: Christopher T. Welch
- Unit Production Manager: Mary Eilts
- Set Designer: Anneke Van Oort
- Payroll Accountant: Rich Brown
- Costume Set Supervisor: Debbie Geaghan
- Property Master: Graham Coutts
- Sound Effects Editor: Alan Rankin
- Sound Effects Editor: Paul Timothy Carden
- Sound Effects Editor: Tom Ozanich
- Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Melissa Sherwood Hofmann
- Dialogue Editor: Constance A. Kazmer
- Visual Effects Supervisor: Ray McIntyre Jr.
- Script Supervisor: Lara Fox
- Visual Effects Producer: Ariel Velasco-Shaw
- Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Brad Sherman
- Visual Effects Coordinator: Charlene Eberle Douglas
- Camera Operator: Casey Hotchkiss
- Still Photographer: Chris Helcermanas-Benge
- Construction Coordinator: Derick McLeod
- Wigmaker: Stacey Butterworth
- ADR Editor: Michelle Pazer
- Gaffer: John Adams
- Visual Effects Editor: Heather J. Morrison
- Dialogue Editor: Dan Hegeman
- Sound Effects Editor: Hector C. Gika
- Sound Effects Editor: Peter Zinda
- Unit Publicist: Gloria Davies
- Stunt Driver: Scott Nicholson
- Camera Operator: Ron Goodman
- Storyboard Artist: Marc Messenger
- Music Editor: Thomas Milano
- First Assistant Sound Editor: Thomas O’Neil Younkman
- Production Accountant: Karen Eisenstadt
- Lead Painter: Stephen Coutu
- Transportation Coordinator: David R. Anderson
- Sound Effects Editor: Scott Wolf
- Sound Effects Editor: Scott Sanders
- First Assistant Editor: Logan Breit
- Foley Editor: Philip A. Hess
- Key Hair Stylist: Thom MacIntyre
- Art Department Coordinator: Andrew Emde
- Assistant Art Director: Bill McMahon
- Greensman: Judy Siver
- Greensman: Dave Tennant
- Set Decoration Buyer: Joey Jow
- Supervising Sound Editor: Dave McMoyler
- Special Effects Coordinator: Terry Sonderhoff
- Gaffer: Terry Calhoun
- Camera Operator: Ron Precious
- Camera Operator: Michael Wrinch
- Rigging Gaffer: Frank Halpenny
- Set Costumer: Marnie Ander
- Set Costumer: Andre Brouwer
- Picture Car Coordinator: Don Bell
- Location Manager: Peter Pantages
- Location Manager: Bill Burns
- Hair Assistant: Paul Edwards
- Co-Producer: Art Schaefer
- Assistant Costume Designer: Kevin Knight
- Additional Music: Randy Kerber
- Standby Painter: Mark N. Tompkins
- Color Timer: Stephen R. Sheridan
- Visual Effects: James Marbas
- Security: Terence Chase
- Assistant Editor: Carolle Alain
- Systems Administrators & Support: Roy Erickson
- Orchestrator: Bruce Babcock
- Third Assistant Director: Brent Crowell
- ADR Mixer: Tony Gort
- Production Controller: Paul Prokop
- Production Supervisor: Mark J. Levenstein
- Special Effects Technician: Mike Splatt
- Sound Assistant: Karen Schell
- Lighting Technician: Cam Esau
- Negative Cutter: Gary Burritt
- Camera Trainee: Tyler Woeste
- General Manager: Ray Scalice
- Lead Set Dresser: Laurie Edmundson
- First Assistant Production Coordinator: Jody Chow
- Head Greensman: Michael J. Siver
- Digital Color Timer: Mike Sowa
- Key Grip: Fraser Boyle
- Original Music Composer: Adam Hamilton
- Construction Foreman: Vance Conway
- Location Scout: Terry Brooks
- Grip: Dave Brown
- Set Dressing Artist: Kasia Dzieciolowska
- Chef: Will Baum
- Craft Service: Maureen Young
- Digital Effects Supervisor: Jon Tanimoto
- Driver: L. Michael Eddy
- Post Production Assistant: Jeanie Won
- Production Office Assistant: Julia Minnie
- Scenic Artist: Jason Claridge
- Stand In: Benjamin Glenday
- Video Assist Operator: Bud Lafaut
- First Assistant Director: Jack Hardy
- Rigging Grip: William N.J. Barber
- Production Coordinator: Karla McIntyre
- 3D Artist: Jim Gorman
- Storyboard: Burpo
- Graphic Designer: Sally Hudson
- Accountant: Ginger Joyce
- Extras Casting Coordinator: Lisa Ratke
- Generator Operator: Gilbert Jamault
- Post Production Coordinator: Matt Evans
- Casting Assistant: Andy Fraser
- Art Department Production Assistant: Johanna Mazur
- Attorney: Adam R. Mehr
- Paint Coordinator: Herminio Kam
- Assistant Makeup Artist: Rachel Griffin
- Costumer: Kathryn McPhie
- Construction Buyer: Pam McLeod
- Title Designer: Carla Swanson
- Special Effects Assistant: Bill Pankiw
- Stunt Double: Richard Brooks
- Best Boy Grip: Ivor Pedersen
- Dolly Grip: Glen Forrieter
- Second Assistant Camera: Ariane Behrend
- Assistant Location Manager: Trevor Fieldhouse
- Location Production Assistant: Lynda Mills
- Accounting Trainee: Leona Maddeaux
- Assistant Accountant: Lee Jenkinson
- Assistant Production Coordinator: Phaedra Eccleston
- Extras Casting Assistant: Lonnie Mackenzie
- Production Assistant: Brian V. Siador
- Second Assistant Production Coordinator: Holly Amber Proulx
- Stunts: Yuka Kobayashi
Movie Reviews:
- John Chard: I’ll see you soon!
Before taking off for Paris, Alex Browning has a vision that the plane is going to explode. Pannicking he gets off the plane and in the mêlée a teacher and a group of his class mates are forced off the flight, the plane goes on to explode in mid air, killing everyone on board. But pretty soon after the disaster strange accidents start to befall those who got off the plane, it seems that death is out to get them.
With the number of hugely disappointing teens in peril movies that were made post the success of Wes Craven’s hugely successful Scream, it’s refreshing to find one that was, well, refreshing. Not purporting to be anything other than a wickedly entertaining piece of horror based nonsense, Final Destination is inventive, funny and above all else, shock laden.
From the opening, and terrifying air crash sequence to the clever and gross way that our protagonists shake hands with the grim reaper, this film is gloriously proud of its horror intent. One peak at the surnames of the characters will tell you just how into their horror roots the makers are here, whilst not a homage movie as such, James Wong and his team clearly know what makes a modern horror picture work.
If you find yourself complaining about the writing then you clearly are missing the point of Final Destination’s existence, either that or you are in fact dead yourself! Four fun but vastly inferior sequels would follow, but really this is the one to watch, as good a 100 minutes of horror fun as you could wish to have. I dare you not to jump out your seat at least once! 9/10
- Wuchak: ***Innovative premise for a ‘Dead Teenager Movie,’ but the last act isn’t compelling***
This first “Final Destination” movie from 2000 was a rather innovative ‘Dead Teenager Movie’ in that the killer was Death itself, the Grim Reaper. A group of people escape a great tragedy due to a premonition of one of them and the rest of the movie involves the Grim Reaper systematically slaying those who cheated Death in various creative ways. The opening tragedy in this case is a plane crash; in the second film it’s a horrible highway pile-up; in the third it’s a roller-coaster mishap and so on.
I’ve seen (and own) the first four of the currently five-film franchise, but they all tell the same basic story with different characters and a different location and are all of the same high quality of technical filmmaking. Whether you prefer one or another depends on whether you like the cast and the death sequences (and the locations) because, other than these factors, they’re all basically the same.
This first one has a quality heroine or ‘final girl’ in Ali Larter. Amanda Detmer is also on hand as a fellow student while Kristen Cloke plays a freaked-out teacher. They coulda done better showcasing these women IMHO. On the opposite side of the gender spectrum there’s Devon Sawa, Kerr Smith, Seann William Scott and Chad Donella. Their importance to the story is in that order. Meanwhile Tony Todd makes his first of four appearances in the series as a mortician who curiously knows more than he should.
For me, what makes these movies kinda dull is the fact that it’s impossible to cheat Death. Sure, you can escape it here or there, but Death’s been in business for millennia and expertly knows what he’s doing. As such, everyone’s gonna die except maybe the ‘final girl,’ who will most certainly die in the sequel.
The script began as an X-Files teleplay and, indeed, the movie was made by two veterans of that series. And you can tell due to the basic feel of the movie and the inclusion of two government agents. I’d give “Final Destination” a higher grade because I love the concept, but this one curiously gets dull in the final act (despite all the ‘exciting’ things going on) and they coulda done more with the women.
The film runs 1 hour, 37 minutes and was shot in the Vancouver, British Columbia, area (although the events take place around New York City).
GRADE: B-