Final Destination 2 (2003)

"You'll gasp, you'll flinch, you'll cringe, but mostly you'll scream.  C.W. Nevius, San Francisco Chronicle
"...a clever display of cinematic virtuosity...  Kevin Thomas, L.A. Times
"...a gory sequel that's fast-paced, witty, reasonably smart and decently entertaining.   Brian Webster, Apollo Movie Guide

Editor's Note In FINAL DESTINATION 2, the basic notion of cheating mortality is further refined with an even more gripping plot provided by Eric Bress & J. Mackye Gruber, the duo behind the film BLUNT. Director David R. Ellis revels in film as an entertainment vehicle and the result is a no-holds-barred raucous good time. Ellis' background as a stuntman and stunt coordinator helps him build electric suspense through a chain of seemingly simple actions that in fact loaded and lethal. In the original, FINAL DESTINATION, a group of students avoided the tragic crash of Flight 180 when Alexander Browning had a premonition. Death, however, didn't like being outwitted, and one by one the survivors died in freak accidents. The sole survivor was Clear Rivers (Ali Larter) who voluntarily checked into a padded room at Stonybrook Institute. FINAL DESTINATION II takes place on Flight 180's one-year anniversary. Kimberly Corman (A.J. Cook) is joyriding with some friends on Route 23 when she "sees" herself, her friends, and other drivers involved in a massive multi-car pileup. The scene is so artfully executed, it physically hurts to watch. She and police officer Thomas Burke (Michael Landes) save a group of people who would have otherwise died in the crash. But, as ever, death approacheth, taking the likes of Evan (David Paetkau), the Trans Am-loving lottery winner who puts up a good fight but is ultimately impaled on a fire escape ladder; and Tim (James Kirk), who almost chokes to death at the dentist and is later flattened by a piece of industrial glass. Clear Rivers busts out of the psych ward to help the remaining survivors pool their efforts and read the signs of impending death before it claims their lives.

	A.J. Cook
	Ali Larter
	Jonathan Cherry
	Michael Landes
	Terrence Carson
	Gary Capo - Cinematographer
	David Ellis - Director
	Eric Sears - Editor
	Shirley Walker - Musical Score
	Craig Perry - Producer
	Michael Bolton - Production Designer
	Eric Bress - Screenplay
	Jeffrey Reddick - Writer

Los Angeles Times
"...It is a clever display of cinematic virtuosity..." 01/31/2003 p.C12

New York Times
"...A smooth and sharp slice of teen-gothic cheese....An apt -- perhaps even a therapeutic -- entertainment for these jumpy times..." 01/31/2003 p.E8

Variety
"...Shirley Walker's score displays a thorough understanding of horror jolts..." 02/03/2003 p.33

Sight and Sound
"...This follow-up gets the balance just right....There's a neatly mordant touch throughout..." 04/01/2003 p.37-8

Total Film
"...This goes for the jugular with an array of ultra-gruesome FX that turn death into a hilarious spectator sport..." 08/01/2003 p.110

Chicago Sun-Times 5 of 10
The thing about "FD2" is that the characters make the mistake of trying to figure things out. Their reasoning? If you were meant to die, then you owe death a life. But a new life can cancel out an old one. So if the woman in the white van can safely deliver her baby, then that means that someone else will be saved, or will have to die, I forget which. This is the kind of bookkeeping that makes you wish Arthur Anderson were still around. - Roger Ebert

James Berardinelli's ReelViews 4 of 10
The primary reason to give Final Destination 2 a wide berth is its utter lack of respect for its audience. The movie mandates complete gullibility and vacuous attention in order to work on any level. It doesn't bother me that the movie revels in death, but there's nothing beyond the carnage. Without characters or a coherent plot, why bother? This Final Destination ends up in the same graveyard as the first. Unfortunately, I suspect the Grim Reaper is already sharpening His scythe in preparation for Final Destination 3. - James Berardinelli