DVD Reviews

Final Destination 4

• Rating:
• Director: David R. Ellis
• Starring: Bobby Campo, Shantel VanSanten, Nick Zano, Haley Webb
• Details: US/TBC 15A

Mercifully being marketed as "The Final Destination", helmer of the second film, David R. Ellis returns to the franchise to decapitate some more ridiculously attractive teens. The law of diminishing returns firmly applies in terms of quality here, as the acting, direction and script are all amateurish at best. You can tell why unknowns were cast, as not even a supporting player in 90210 would be caught dead in this rubbish - no pun intended. For those paying the extra few quid to see it in 3D, go see The Hurt Locker instead and upgrade your popcorn to a large. The first film gave us a mildly inventive story of a bunch of teens buying the farm after escaping a plane crash; the second after a multi-car pileup; and the third when a rollercoaster comes off the rails. Where the hell do you go from there? You guessed it - Nascar race track. It's an excuse to throw in some stereotypical hillbillies and whatnot, as everyone likes seeing stereotypical hillbillies get their comeuppance. Naturally, one of the gang has an "episode" and is engulfed with visions of the untimely demise of his pals, and some folk who get lines so they can be killed later on. Then they're killed later on. I'm under no illusions here; I didn't expect Let The Right One In. The first movie was the joltly little thriller that could, and it did, for the most part. There is just a complete and utter lack of real effort on the part of the writer and director. Sometimes, as with the original, the death sequences will take place in a Wallace and Gromit, not-so-happy-accident way; when a series of coincidences result in someone reaching the pearly gates limbless. Here, that happens occasionally, and then, out of nowhere, screws will turn themselves loose, and the suspension of disbelief is mandatory. Hey, even that's fine, but when the dialogue is this stupid and the characters so horribly clichéd, it becomes too much to take. Most folk will plant their arses on seats hoping to be thrilled, but will instead leave feeling ripped off. Even the death sequences feel half-arsed, which is the bread and butter for this series. Just plain awful, it's as simple as that. Paying to see this with some of the quality productions begging for your attention at your local cinema should be punishable by nipple pinching.

Review by Mike Sheridan