In Final Destination: Bloodlines, the dynamic shifts slightly from previous installments. Death is still out to claim lives, but the rules are different this time around. Tony Todd's character, Mortician William Bludworth, tells it all in a recently released TV spot.
The clip depicts Bludworth informing this generation of death defiers of new ways to outsmart the reaper. He notifies them that killing can extend their lives. Bludworth, of course, mentions that dying works too, and while that solution seems puzzling, perhaps he's alluding to a loophole—maybe flatlining and then being resuscitated breaks death's cycle.
It's important to mention that stealing time could lead to some infighting within the group. Horror movies like Saw have illustrated that in survival situations, people can quickly turn on one another. Should the situation arise where the group learns that they can survive by committing murder, at least one or two will succumb to the temptation.
Bear in mind that some of the movie's characters might be secretive about killing to survive. The fear of legal prosecution alone should be a deterrent. There's also the social implication of murdering innocents to consider; it's hard to justify murder.
Human intervention aside, death always gets the person it wants. Five movies filled with gruesome accidents are proof that you can't escape fate. In various instances, characters seemed to evade death, but a spill, a piece of furniture out of place, or an electrical cord that malfunctions, always seemed to trigger a fatal chain of events.
Bloodlines
What remains unknown is which bloodlines will be revisited. Few survivors escaped the reaper's clutches, and even those who did would occasionally meet offscreen deaths.
For instance, Devon Sawa's character, Alex Browning, the main protagonist from the first Final Destination, met an offscreen death himself. He appeared to dodge every attempt on his life, but ultimately couldn't evade a falling brick. A newspaper article from the sequel, Final Destination 2, revealed that Alex perished tragically after months in seclusion.
Fans should remain open to the prospect of movie magic factoring into Bloodlines. Retcons are all the rage nowadays, and it wouldn't be unheard of for writers to tinker with the canon. Maybe Alex didn't actually die—maybe he faked his death. Going off the grid would prevent anyone cursed by fate from tracking him down.
Ali Larter's character, Clear Rivers, for example, was safe in her little bubble until the second generation of kids came looking for help. Had they never shown up, Clear might have remained the sole survivor of Flight 180.
Whether Alex's death is canon or not, setting up a cameo would be great for marketing. Perhaps the narrative can reintroduce Sawa as a different character. He's portrayed various individuals in the Chucky franchise. Who's to say he can't do the same for Final Destination?
Final Destination: Bloodlines opens in theaters on May 16, 2025.