‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’ scene teases deadly twist
Viral trailer racks up 178 million views as fans brace for the franchise’s gruesome return in 2025.
Owen Patrick Joyner braces against a stubborn vending machine in Final Destination: Bloodlines, hinting at the franchise’s next unexpected and chilling death trap
Pooja Pillai is an entertainment journalist with Asian Media Group, where she covers cinema, pop culture, internet trends, and the politics of representation. Her work spans interviews, cultural features, and social commentary across digital platforms.
She began her reporting career as a news anchor, scripting and presenting stories for a regional newsroom. With a background in journalism and media studies, she has since built a body of work exploring how entertainment intersects with social and cultural shifts, particularly through a South Indian lens.
She brings both newsroom rigour and narrative curiosity to her work, and believes the best stories don’t just inform — they reveal what we didn’t know we needed to hear.
A fresh still from Final Destination: Bloodlines, the sixth chapter in the cult horror series, shows actor Owen Patrick Joyner caught in a tense moment with what seems like a stubborn vending machine. But fans of the franchise know better and that this isn’t just a snack break gone wrong.
After more than a decade in limbo, the Final Destination franchise is making its big-screen return on May 16, 2025, just in time to mark 25 years since the original film terrified audiences. And yes, it’s coming to IMAX too.
The latest film follows Stefanie, a college student haunted by a recurring nightmare. Fearing something far more sinister than dreams, she heads home to uncover her family’s past and stop a chain of brutal, unavoidable deaths. The film is rated R for intense violence and disturbing imagery, staying true to the series' gruesome tradition.
Owen Patrick Joyner’s character faces off with a jammed vending machine in a tense moment from Final Destination: BloodlinesYoutube
Owen Patrick Joyner isn’t the only familiar face. The cast also features Brec Bassinger (Stargirl), Teo Briones (Chucky), Kaitlyn Santa Juana (The Flash), Richard Harmon (The 100), Anna Lore (Doom Patrol), and horror veteran Tony Todd, returning for what’s being billed as his final big screen role.
Behind the scenes, Spider-Man director Jon Watts helped develop the story, with Guy Busick (Scream 5 & 6) and Lori Evans Taylor (The Cellar Door) penning the screenplay. Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein, known for the cult sci-fi film Freaks, are directing.
The vending machine moment may seem small, but it’s already stirring up buzz. Collider, who shared the still, hints that this everyday object could join the long list of innocent-looking items like escalators, bathtubs, or gym equipment that become deadly in the Final Destination universe.
In real life, vending machines have actually caused at least 37 deaths and over 100 injuries since 1978, often from tipping or rocking incidents. That eerie stat only makes the scene more chilling.
The teaser trailer racked up nearly 179 million views in just one day, becoming the second most-watched horror trailer ever, just behind It.
Final Destination: Bloodlines promises more of what fans love: unexpected deaths, tension-filled set-ups, and a constant game of second-guessing reality. The countdown to Death’s next move has officially begun.
Critics praise Gulzar’s opening narration as the series’ emotional anchor.
Several reviewers find the animation ambitious but uneven.
Many reviews note secondary voice performances lack range compared with the narration.
Reviewers differ on pacing and storytelling focus: some call it tight, others say it feels stitched.
Viewers and critics recommend watching for the scale and music, not for flawless character work.
This Kurukshetra review is a round-up of what critics and early viewers are saying about Netflix’s new animated retelling, and one name keeps coming up: Gulzar. Across reviews, the opening narration is almost universally singled out as the strongest element, while opinions split sharply on animation quality, voice casting and whether the series’ narrow battlefield focus pays off.
Netflix’s animated Kurukshetra draws praise for its ambition but criticism for uneven voice performances Instagram/netflix_in
What do reviewers say about Kurukshetra and Gulzar’s role?
Multiple reviews call Gulzar’s baritone the series’ single greatest asset. Critics write that his lines give scenes emotional gravity. They said the narration "grounds" the show and often rescues moments that might otherwise feel flat. A few outlets even suggested his voice elevates sequences beyond the animation’s limits.
Do critics think Kurukshetra gets the animation right?
The answer is mixed. Several reviewers applaud the scale, chariot set pieces, wide battle frames and the sheer ambition. Others point out inconsistencies, like faces that do not always register emotion and occasional stiffness in character movement. Many reviews used the same phrasing: “impressive in scope, uneven in detail.”
How do reviewers view the voice cast beyond Gulzar?
This is where opinions cluster on the negative side. A number of critics say secondary voiceovers feel one-note and do not match the gravitas Gulzar brings. A handful of reviews praised specific performances, but the dominant note was: solid, not stellar.
Pacing and focus. Some reviewers appreciated the choice to limit the story to battlefield days and called it focused and brisk. Others felt certain backstories were teased, leaving them wanting more, and described the structure as stitched together. So, pick your critic: some loved the discipline, others wanted a fuller sweep.
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