Final Destination 3 (2006) is directed by James Wong, who also wrote the script alongside Glen Morgan. It stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ryan Merriman, Amanda Crew, Kris Lemche, Alexz Johnson, Sam Easton, Jesse Moss, Gina Holden, Texas Battle, Chelan Simmons, and Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe. When Wendy (Winstead), a high school senior, experiences a premonition that the roller coaster she’s about to ride will crash and kill everyone on board, she stays behind with her best friend’s boyfriend, Kevin (Merriman). When the coaster crashes, resulting in the deaths of their significant others, Wendy and Kevin are forced to pick up the pieces of their now uncertain futures. Unfortunately, things go from bad to worse when the handful of people Wendy convinced to skip the ride begin dying in mysterious, brutal accidents. Convinced that Death has returned to claim their lives in the same order they would’ve died on the coaster, the duo sets out to break the cycle before it’s too late. 

Other than maybe Devon Sawa in the first film, Winstead is easily the best lead character of the franchise (and that includes future installments). As for Ryan Merriman, the same applies. Other than maybe Ali Larter, he’s easily the best co-lead of the franchise. They’re very talented performers, but the script also provides them with a unique and compelling dynamic. They’re two people who were only friends by association, but grow closer instead of drifting apart after those associations cease to exist. This doesn’t necessarily do anything to shake up the formula, but it always feels like a cherry on top when a horror film can make us care about its protagonists. 

The theme park-set opening sequence is well-conceived. It does what the franchise’s formulaic openings do so well: present the most tragic version of a common experience—a version that’s sure to keep the viewer up at night (or at least make them think twice before going on a roller coaster). Unfortunately, this sequence also marks the start of the franchise’s unwavering commitment to using heavy amounts of CGI. Many of the film’s other set pieces still use practical effects, but the CGI in the opening is still tough to ignore when considering how problematic it becomes later in the franchise. 

The deaths here are satisfying and feature the proper balance of laughs and chills, but ultimately feel like a big step down from the previous installment. The body count is diminished, and the individual kills aren’t as entertainingly convoluted. This would be fine if it were a case of quality over quantity (or even quantity over quality), but the film doesn’t allow for either scenario. These more “safe” deaths make the movie feel not only like the most accessible installment, but also the most forgettable. This also causes the comedic elements to mostly fall flat because the deaths lose an element of ironic absurdity. This forces the writers to beat us over the head with the irony of the situations far too early, making the eventual catharsis extremely predictable. In other words, it’s easy to see the punchline coming. Who the hell honestly laughs at a joke they know the punchline to?

Like the first movie, Final Destination 3 struggles to deliver a satisfying third act. After the movie kills all the characters it wants to die, it seemingly has no idea how to continue the story. It makes sense that providing these films with a satisfying conclusion would be difficult when considering the immortal nature of its villain. Still, there could’ve at least been a catharsis to what are, up to this point, the franchise’s most compelling character dynamics. 

Overall, this is a highly flawed but ultimately serviceable entry in the Final Destination series. The characters are arguably the best in the franchise, but the “carnage candy,” the thing the core audience desires first and foremost, is a noticeable step down. It takes what’s special about the franchise and dilutes it to the point that the premise feels like it’s quickly running out of steam. That said, it delivers on just enough of what we come to these films for that it never feels like a waste of time. If anything, check it out for the two leads; they may not be special in the grand scheme of horror cinema, but they’re impressive in the context of this franchise. Other than that, it’s not a horrible experience, but a surprisingly forgettable one. C