Final Destination 3 (2006) #433

When the first "Final Destination" came out in 1999, it was obviously apparent that a new horror franchise had been created. The series was able to stay fresh and intriguing, from the mass death scene in the beginning of the film that's avoided due to a premonition to the grisly and creative death scenes that took out the survivors one by one. In "Final Destination 3", the conceptual twist that is introduced is that each character's death is captured on film, with each picture showing vaguely how the victim will be killed off. It's an interesting plot device that works pretty well in a movie like this. Once this clue is discovered, the remaining survivors are warned to no avail. If someone knew who you were going to die, would you want to know how?

As with most horror movies with a high death toll, the large cast of characters are underdeveloped and paper thin stereotypes of various teen cliches, more so this time around than the two previous films...but not nearly as bad as "Final Destination 4". The exception to this are the characters played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kris Lemeche ("Ginger Snaps" and "The Frankenstein Theory" ), and Ryan Merriman ("The Ring 2"); being the main characters, these three do receive more screen time to flesh out their personalities and motives. 

Accidents at amusement parks are known to happen, so this having the grand catastrophe in "Final Destination 3" take place on an old wooden roller coaster is brilliant. The death's in this scene are not as simple and realistic as those found in the original "Final Destination" or as gruesome as in "Final Destination-2" but they are still terrifying in the fact that any of them could happen in real life. It's also a great way to kill off a group of people who know each all at once. Of course, the survivors escape this tragedy for equally painful and horrific ways to die later on in the film.

One of my favorite moments in this film is when Kris Lemeche's character, Ian, raises the question of what would happen if one of the survivors who cheated death decided to commit suicide? His question is left unanswered but it raises an interesting point; would it break the cycle? It's a dark question and I'm thankful that the writers did not explore what could have happened, but it's a great plot point in showing how dark Ian's character is. This conversation takes place while the most improbable mousetrap style death in the film slowly builds to it's eventual climax.

The Frankenstein Theory (2013)

"The Frankenstein Theory" is a decent "found footage" piece that spends it's time focusing on the discomfort and helplessness of the characters that are trapped in a hostile, and yet beautiful, snow covered wilderness rather than trying to constantly scare the audience with cheap thrills. It's a lot like "The Blair Witch Project", beginning with historical background information and the reason for the documentary to be made before moving on to the journey itself which also included an interview with a slightly off witness. The main difference between the two films is that you do end up seeing the Frankenstein Monster at the end, hearing him huff and growl well before he enters the screen. I will admit that there were several moments where I found myself laughing out loud and I'm not sure if that was intended by the film makers or not....The character that plays Erik the Producer has some of the best reactions to the events in the film; just watch his face to see what I mean.


John Venkenheim is a college student working on his PH.D and is the focus of a documentary that he is paying for. He claims that a member from his family line is the basis for Mary Shelly's "Frankenstein" story and that there really is a Frankenstein Monster, still alive and roaming the lower Arctic Circle. Most people don't believe him, including his girlfriend (who leaves him) and the college (who kicks him out). So now hie's forced to find physical evidence to prove to the world that he is right. So a friend from college, Vicky, arranges a film and becomes his interviewer and brings along Erik the Producer, Brian the Sound Guy, and Luke the Video Guy. They meet up with their guide Karl, and continue off into the Canadian Wilderness on snowmobiles. They make it to a yurt in the middle of nowhere, and this is where they begin to suspect that they may have found the area that the Monster is currently passing through. How will the Monster react to people trying to find it? Will John find the proof that he needs? Will anyone return home alive??

Favorite part - I love when a "Found Footage" film takes the time to chew the scenery and let the suspense and pressure build on it's own, using what's already there. I also love movies that involve snow covered landscapes, adding to sense of isolation and hopelessness.

Ginger Snaps (2000)

What happens when you take the curse of a werewolf’s bite and a victim who is a teenage girl who hasn’t started puberty? You have “Ginger Snaps”, a clever and entertaining movie about that special time in a young woman’s life when her body is going through certain changes…or not. I love how this movie takes this premise and utilizes it for all it’s worth.

“Ginger Snaps” is a movie about Ginger (16) and Brigitte (15), two sisters whose  are obsessed with death. They spend their free time posing for pictures depicting horrible death-like scenes and talk about various ways that they could kill themselves. Of course their behavior makes them outcasts as their high school and they get in fights with the other girls from time to time. Late one night, the girls are out at a playground when Ginger realizes that she’s having her first period. After this realization they are attacked by a werewolf. Ginger is bitten but the werewolf is killed when as it continues to chase them into the street, being hit by a local drug dealer named Sam. Over the course of the movie, Ginger begins to experiences changes, which their mother says is all a part of becoming a woman. As Ginger tries to hide her tail and other wolf-like qualities and starts to date, Brigitte forms a friendship with Sam as they try to find a cure. Time is running out as Ginger becomes increasingly violent and deadly, steadily losing her humanity and turning into a giant wolf.

This movie is followed up with the sequel "Ginger Snaps: Unleashed" and a prequel "Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning". Both films were filmed back to back in 2003 and continue to star Emily Perkins as Brigitte and Katharine Isabelle as Ginger.

Favorite moment – I really enjoyed watching the steady visual changes that Ginger goes through in the film. First a few white strands of hair appear, and then so on. I don’t want to ruin the surprise, or what’s left of it.