Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!
Plot Summary: After another premonition of disaster, the survivors learn there is another way to cheat death.
Review: With FD4 leading me to believe this franchise would devolve into nothing but standalone splatterfests, I was shocked to learn this wasn't the case. Not only does FD5 put the franchise back on track, it adds to the mythos, ties back to the original story line from FD1 and 2, and has a wonderful twist to really spice things up. Not only that, but this is arguably the best disaster in the whole franchise. Another, incredibly important, thing to consider is the inclusion of two little cupcakes: the always luscious, Chasty Ballesteros and a newly featured chickadee, Jacqueline Wood. Factoring these aspects altogether, it's a tough call whether this or FD2 is my favorite.
Definitely hotter with the glasses on.
This time around we have Saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam as the main character. The disaster involves a bridge collapsing when Sammy-boy and his coworkers are going on a retreat. I appreciate the attempt at, once again, making the characters feel more lively and memorable. In fact, I think this entry has the best uses of humor--with no awkward timings. For example, when they're at the memorial for the victims, one of the survivors is mistaken for someone who died; of course he was well on his way to hell regardless. Most of the deaths are imaginative and get under your skin like Ms. Wood taking a laser to the eye. However, the usual flair isn't what makes this installment stand out. We are introduced to a new rule whereby if a survivor kills someone else then they receive that person's remaining time alive. This darker turn drives the Tom Cruise-wannabe character crazy which is, essentially, the inevitable conclusion to the McKinley character from FD3. But what really lands this sequel into amazing territory is when we get the twist at the end: FD5 is actually a prequel! The film ends with the remaining survivors being killed with flight 180 that set the entire franchise into motion. The clues are actually all over the movie if you have a keen eye and working knowledge of the late '90s.
That chesty--uhh--Chasty is so damn sexy. I don't know what's going on with that tongue, but I like it!
A few things to consider: first, the significance of 180. Until now, we've been led to believe everything is a ripple effect from FD1, but things go deeper (that's what she said! I'm sorry...). What could the number possibly mean? Furthermore, what the hell does the Tony Todd character really know? He's more subdued here which implies his smugness wasn't as established yet. Maybe at this point he had experienced only one prior incident...or what if he somehow survived a disaster of his own? We also have all the companies that lurk in the background of each installment like the logging truck. It's probably best we never learn the truth since I don't want the franchise to be demystified.
Overall, this is a vast improvement over FD4 and one of the best sequels. More so, this entry flat out impressed me. The disaster is effectively brutal, the characters are interesting and fun, the deaths are creative, and the twist leaves you more than satisfied when the crazy credits begin to roll. If only all horror sequels could be this good. Now, I'm not saying this is perfect or anything, but it's a giant step in the right direction. The final thing to acknowledge is that FD6 has been announced and supposedly will begin filming in the near future. Let's hope they can keep the momentum going.
Notable Moment: As much as I love the bridge collapse, I have to go with the revelation at the end. Seeing Alex and crew from FD1 out of nowhere was such a glorious "what the fuck" moment.
Final Rating: 7/10
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