Final Destination (2000)

"Final Destination" is the first film in a franchise that features a different group in each film that has somehow avoided a gruesome death only to be killed off one by one in a different, violent fashion. Each film builds up on the last while adding it's own unique detail in how Death is completing it's job. The original film keeps things simple and effective, proving to have it's fair share of interesting death scenes involving whatever might be around the victim at the moment. The acting is equivalent of most slasher films and that's ok, this is just a creative slasher flick without a slasher.

A high school group is on their way for a senior trip to France, accompanied by two teacher chaperones. Alex Browning has a terrifying vision that the plane is going to explode shortly after it takes off and has a panic attack, screaming that everyone has to get off the plane. He is kicked off the plane along with his best friend, a trouble maker and his girlfriend, a kid who was running late, a chaperone, and a girl who just believed what Alex was saying. While the fight continues at the gate, the group sees the plane explode and fall into deep shock. Each one is questioned by the FBI who is highly suspicious of the event, keeping a close eye on Alex.

A month after the event, the survivors begin to die in bizarre and mysterious ways that at first look like suicides. First Alex's best friend Tod is killed in his bathroom and then at a chance meeting in town by the entire group, Terry, the rival's girlfriend, is killed when she steps in front of a speeding bus. Alex soon realizes that everyone is dying in the order that they were sitting in on the plane, essentially dying in the same order as if they had stayed on the plane. With this new information, he tries to save the next victim, the teacher Valerie but she is killed in an explosion at her house, where Alex leaves evidence that makes it look as if he killed her. Clear Rivers, the girl who followed Alex off of the plane, is still the only one who believes his theory and tries to help him solve the mystery as to how to stop Death's design.