Top 5 Kills in Final Destination

I’ve always seen Final Destination franchise as a damn work of art, so when the second Final Destination: Bloodlines hit theaters in May 2025, I was there, popcorn in hand, ready for Death’s latest masterpiece.

It’s the same old setup: college kid Stephanie has a vision of her grandmother Iris’s premonition in 1968 about the collapse of Sky View—glass dance floor shattering, the whole place crashing down, screams and gore everywhere. Stephanie saves a bunch of people, but Death starts picking off her and her bloodline. The kills are big, flashy, but too in-your-face, like it’s all about the effects. Only one stood out to me: Eric’s hospital MRI disaster. He’s trying to save his brother Bobby from Death’s claws, only to get his body piercings ripped out by the MRI machine that's been accidentally turned into the highest setting, his wheelchair slamming in and turning him to mush.

But honestly, Bloodlines let me down. It’s got the blood and the spectacle, but it’s missing that magic spark. The Final Destination soul is in the fake-outs: you think the character’s dodged Death’s trap, then some tiny, stupid detail sends them to hell. Take Final Destination 2’s opening kill—a random dude deals with a sink trapping his hand, a sparking microwave, and a gas leak. He fights like hell to escape every danger, only to get blown to bits because of some dumb oversight from earlier. That’s the thrill: hope dangled in front of you, then yanked away, leaving your heart pounding. That’s what makes this series sing.

The genius of Final Destination is turning everyday junk—ropes, elevators, pools—into Death’s murder weapons. The best kills aren’t just gory; they’re a chess game, luring you in, making you think you can win, only to checkmate you at the last second. Here are my top five kills from the series, each with a cruelty index (out of 10, based on gore, pain, and mind-screw factor).

1. Final Destination 5: Olivia’s Laser Surgery
Cruelty Index: 8/10

This is my top pick, a straight-up masterpiece! Olivia’s on a laser surgery table, fixing her vision, when the machine goes berserk—red lights flashing, screen numbers freaking out. She’s strapped down, thrashing to get free, the laser’s hum boring into your brain. You think it’ll burn her eyes out? Nope. She finally breaks loose, only to trip and fall out a window, brains splattering everywhere. This kill is savage, tapping into that gut-level fear of medical gear turning traitor—who hasn’t worried about a machine going nuts on the operating table? Death dangles a glimmer of hope, then slams her with a fall. The gore’s not insane, but the suffocating tension makes my scalp crawl every time.

2. Final Destination: Tod’s Bathroom Mishap
Cruelty Index: 6/10

Tod’s death is simple but creepy as hell. In the bathroom, a pipe leaks. The floor’s slick, he slips on shampoo, and a clothesline wraps around his neck choking him out. No fancy tech, no bloodbath, just water, soap, and a rope teaming up for a deadly combo. The director takes the most boring setting but makes it terrifying. Tod’s struggle against the tightening rope feels so real you can almost feel the air cut off. The cruelty’s not in the gore but in how it makes your own house feel like a trap. Every time I see a rope in the bathroom, I check it’s not plotting against me.

3. Final Destination 2: Nora’s Elevator Nightmare
Cruelty Index: 7/10

Nora’s death is Final Destination 2’s high point, and it gives me chills! She steps into an elevator, doors close, but her braid gets caught outside. The elevator rises, the braid pulls tighter, she’s screaming, clawing to free it, but no dice—her head gets crushed. The horror’s in the slow burn: every second, you think she’ll make it, but Death’s like, “Nice try.” An elevator, something we ride every day, becomes a guillotine. The close-up of the braid, her terrified face, the elevator’s rumble—every frame cranks up the dread. Not super gory, but the psychological punch is brutal. I’m paranoid every time I step into an elevator now.

4. Final Destination 4: Hunt’s Pool Tragedy
Cruelty Index: 8/10

Hunt’s death makes me laugh and wince at the same time. He’s chilling in a pool, sipping beer, soaking up summer, when the drain’s suction kicks into overdrive, pinning him by the butt. Then, his guts get sucked out, turning the pool red! It’s so absurd—“butt stuck in a drain” sounds like a bad joke—but it’s horrifying. The director lulls you with sunshine, beer, and poolside vibes, then flips it into a nightmare. The suction’s sound and Hunt’s desperate flailing make it tough to watch. The gore’s maxed out, the pain’s through the roof, and the mental hit sticks with you. Who knew a pool could kill?

5. Final Destination 3: Ashley and Ashlyn’s Tanning Bed Horror
Cruelty Index: 10/10

This is the cruelest kill, hands down! Two girls hit the tanning beds, chasing that perfect tan, but the machine screws up, heat cranks up, and the glass lids lock them in. They’re trapped like cupcakes in an oven, banging on the glass, screaming, until the machine catches fire and burns them alive. The claustrophobic vibe is pure hell—you’re stuck in a tiny box, watching death close in with no way out. The red glow, the ticking thermometer, their desperate screams—every second tortures you. Turning a trendy tanning bed into a death trap is wickedly ironic. Even years later, I get jumpy seeing new beauty gadgets online.

To me, this series isn’t just horror—it’s art. Those interlocking death scenes are like a masterclass in mechanical chaos. Death’s a sly chess player, using your hope and carelessness to set traps, each move messing with your head. Compared to that, Bloodlines feels like a quick visual flex, missing the heart-pounding buildup of the classics. The MRI kill was cool, but it’s over too fast, lacking that slow, nerve-wracking tease. This series makes you rethink everyday stuff—ropes, elevators, pools, tanning beds—all potential weapons in Death’s arsenal. Bloodlines tries hard but feels like a tribute to the old days, not a true return to form. Here’s hoping the next one brings back that pulse-racing dread. If you’re a scaredy-cat, peek through your fingers at these kills. They’re terrifying, but the genius? Totally worth it.

Catch you later for more movie musings!