Producer Craig Perry reveals the creative secrets behind Final Destination: Bloodlines‘ thrilling deaths, family ties, and that iconic ending.
Just one week after its highly anticipated release, Final Destinations: Bloodlines has not only sent shivers down spines but has also racked up an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score from both audiences and critics, much to the delight of its long-time producer, Craig Perry. In an exclusive interview with Mama’s Geeky, Perry, who has been a part of every bone-chilling installment of the iconic horror franchise, offered a candid look into the film’s exciting success, clever nods to the past films, and the insanely exciting deaths that fans look forward to.
“You never know if it’s going to connect,” Perry admits, reflecting on the film’s overwhelmingly positive reception. “You do all the things you think that are going to make people happy, and you’re going to push them a little bit, and get them intrigued in ways they didn’t anticipate.”
He attributes much of this success to the 14-year absence since the last film, creating an anticipation from long-time fans, as well as the final performance of horror icon Tony Todd. “People were really wanting to see Tony Todd in his last performance, in a way that gave it a level of poignancy and anticipation,” Perry shares. “And I think we delivered, certainly, at least Tony delivered on that front. We just gave him the platform and he took it.“
A Fresh Dynamic: The Family That Dies Together
One of the most praised elements of Final Destinations: Bloodlines is its focus on a central family, a departure that audiences have embraced. Unlike previous films where protagonists often were connected by simply being in the same place at the same time, Bloodlines immediately immerses viewers in relatable relationships. “I’m glad you say that you liked the characters,” Perry remarked, acknowledging that character connection was a conscious evolution for this film. “It’s something that we understood is why maybe the other movies didn’t play out as anticipated.“
“Jon Watts coming to us with the story about it being a family automatically gives you buy-in,” Perry explains. “We are all in families for all their crazy, mixed-up, loving, hating, fighting ways. It just immediately creates both empathy and understanding of the relationship dynamics. We didn’t have to actually over-explain how they knew each other. They’re just a cousin. We all got cousins.” This familial foundation allows for immediate emotional investment from the audience.
Perry also praises the cast for their undeniable chemistry. “We got so lucky,” he exclaims. “You never know if you’re going to get people together that really fully work. But before we even started shooting, they were all hanging out, going out to karaoke. They still have an hourly active WhatsApp thread with just the actors. A year after we wrapped, they’re still tight as thieves. It’s great.” The genuine camaraderie among the cast translates into believable on-screen performances, making each character’s struggle against Death all the more impactful.
The Art of the Ultimate Demise and the Return of a Classic
Final Destination films are synonymous with their elaborate and often darkly humorous death sequences, and Bloodlines is no exception. Perry humorously noted the franchise’s overarching goal: “What industry, profession, or occupation can we destroy with this next movie? What can we do to instill what will hopefully be generational trauma in the people who view the movie?”
This pursuit of unique ways to meet one’s end led to the standout MRI scene, a sequence so impactful it was previewed at CinemaCon. Perry reveals a hidden Easter Egg within this scene: “Did you notice when his torso was inside the MRI and all the bits and pieces of the wheelchair coming through, that that’s the poster for FD5?” These subtle nods are part of the “wink, wink, nudge, nudge” that enriches the viewing experience for dedicated fans.
But the real showstopper, especially for long-time fans, was the film’s ending, bringing back a terrifying staple from the franchise’s history: the log truck. Perry revealed this brilliant callback was the brainchild of visual effects supervisor Nordin Rahhali.
“As we were designing the animation [during the final scene], he came to us and said, ‘I have an idea. What if there were log trucks on the train? And when it comes over, that’s what takes them out?‘” Perry recalls a collective moment of “joy and rapture and inner peace” among the team when the idea was presented.
“It’s not just the moment of seeing how death ultimately gets what it’s due him, but it’s the manner in which it happens.” This moment, almost entirely done in post-production, exemplifies the collaborative spirit that Perry fosters on set and in the writer’s room.
“Everybody has a seat at the table because everybody has ideas, and it’s our job to curate those ideas.” He adds, “We want an open-door policy with all the department heads.” This creative freedom even extends to the props department, who secretly embedded many Easter eggs, seven of which Perry himself has yet to discover.
The Scenes That Didn’t Make It: The Supermarket of Doom
Not every idea makes it to the big screen, though. Perry shared an intriguing anecdote about a planned sequence that never saw the light of day with us.
“We wrote an entire sequence that took place in a supermarket because everybody goes grocery shopping once a week. Everybody goes there.” Despite the universal appeal of the setting, the scene ultimately failed to meet the franchise’s exacting standards for “plausible and credible” deaths. “We wrote the whole thing, put it away for a couple of days, looked at it, we’re like, this is dog shit. This is terrible. And it was terrible because it was trying too hard.”
This commitment to a razor’s edge of believability is paramount for the franchise, ensuring that even the most outlandish deaths maintain a terrifying grounding in reality. “Not every location that you and I frequent is a good destination,” Perry concludes, citing the tattoo parlor as an example of a setting that did lend itself well to the film’s unique brand of horror.
The warm reception for Final Destinations: Bloodlines, particularly for its compelling characters, inventive death sequences, and the powerful presence of Tony Todd, fuels hope for future installments.
“Will we have more? I hope so,” Perry says optimistically. “I think it would be so much fun to do. And as long as we listen to the audience and we respect the desires of what they want, and do what we did with this one, which was very carefully approached so that the love that we have for the franchise shows up in the movie.”
Final Destination: Bloodlines is up against some heavy hitters this weekend at the box office, but as Perry put it, “For the best experience, go see Final Destination: Bloodlines. The other two can wait.” With its blend of nostalgic nods, cast chemistry, and the ever-present threat of Death, it seems the franchise’s grip on our deepest fears is stronger than ever.
Be sure to watch our full interview with Craig Perry and go see Final Destination: Bloodlines on the biggest screen possible during its theatrical run.
NEXT: Final Destination: Bloodlines Is One Of The Franchise’s Best
About Final Destination: Bloodlines
The newest chapter in New Line Cinema’s bloody successful franchise takes audiences back to the very beginning of Death’s twisted sense of justice. Plagued by a violent recurring nightmare, college student Stefanie heads home to track down the one person who might be able to break the cycle and save her family from the grisly demise that inevitably awaits them all.
Final Destination: Bloodlines is playing in theaters now.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.