Final Destination 2

Starring: Ali Larter, A.J. Cook, Michael Landis
Directed by: David R. Ellis
Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Thriller, Mystery
Box Office: $
2003

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: After a young woman (A.J. Cook) witnesses a premonition of a deadly traffic pileup on the highway, she blocks traffic, preventing the deaths from occurring. Now, Death once again descends to fix his plans- and the survivors must once again battle to stay alive.

Review:
Tim: Maybe I'm just a sucker, but so far, I like both Final Destination movies. I like the idea of Death as the main villain- not a tangible bad guy, but an unstoppable force intent on delivering on his plans. I think this makes for an interesting twist on the typical horror movie. This sequel continues the strengths of the first film, giving us more intricate and scary deaths.

I thought the cast was good, which is mostly new. I am a big fan of continuity in movie franchises- what else is a series of movies if not a continuation of those characters' stories? Ali Larter is really the sole link to the first film, but her presence does link both films very well. I like how this movie really did play off the events of the first film, even if they were only loosely connected. I did somewhat miss the presence of Devon Sawa. He wasn't exactly brilliant in the original, but he was the film's hero. Surprisingly, this didn't effect me nearly as much as it would have, because Ali Larter does a great job taking over those reigns. And really, the major hero of this film is A.J. Cook, who does a fine job in the lead role. I also liked the casting of Michael Landes, whom I really did enjoy in this film. The cast doesn't compare to the original, but its not that far behind.

This movie continued with a good mystery, as our heroes try to figure out Death's plan and how to escape his icy clutches. Some of the sequences- for examples, the introduction highway pileup- are fairly amazing to watch. I love the attention to detail here, and I was awed as I watched the destruction unfold. There is also some good slight of hand and some interesting twists which keep the movie enthralling. The film's conclusion is a bit weak, but does enough to satisfy the audience.

Final Destination 2 is not a great movie, but it does enough right to be considered enjoyable. This movie and its predecessor are not flawless films, but they are watchable, different, and refreshing. I enjoyed this movie and was able to overlook some of its miscues. Regardless of what others might think of this movie, I found it entertaining and fun.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Final Destination, Final Destination 3