Final Destination 3-The Human Meat Grinder as Social Programmer
Okay, let me start by saying that I have no idea why the creators of Space Above and Beyond, a truly under appreciated short lived sci-fi television show, James Wong and Glee Morgan, have been reduced to teen meat grinders but this appears to be the case. Now, to categorize Final Destination 3 or any installment in the series as teen-horror really isn’t accurate. Honestly, to be more accurate it is part of, lets just call it an emerging sub-genre of the teen meat grinder. In the teen meat grinder we, the lucky audience, follow a group of teens as they are ripped apart, or in a uplifting change of pace, murdered in a variety of other ways fitting the Spanish Inquisition. Can’t show a boob on television but a “youngster” being ground up into microbits, sure what not? I will not ruin all the relatively clever ways, and I am not being sarcastic, that our band of “teens” are carved, sliced and ripped to shreds but it lets just say you will remember some of the visuals probably until the Alzheimers sits in.
The plot itself is a simple one. Young lass has inexplicable psychic episode just before getting on a roller coaster ride and witnesses everyone aboard murdered, again in comical and interesting ways. She convinces many of her companions to exit the ride and only later learns that Fate cannot be out-witted. One by one, much like in Predator actually, the “high-school” chums are picked off. There are additional clues as to how they will die hidden within photos taken earlier at the amusement park.
Ah, but for the interesting part. The movie is full of social programming that an active viewer will love and a more impressionable mind will absorb. Every time one of the 28 year old cast members, masquerading as a teen, is abruptly traded in for a CG swirl of red particles and clothing, the “youngster” in question has, often only moments earlier, broken some sort of social norm or simply refused to follow the rules. So kiddies follow the rules or you become a really, really bad day for the forensics team sent in to decipher what the hell happened.
Story C
Acting C (Some good reaction shots to the carnage.)
Visuals B- (Credit must be given for some of the imaginative effects that accompany the gruesomeness.)
Originality/Innovation C-
Enjoyability Grade C+ (There is an abundance to awkwardly laugh at in this one and some of the “kills” are a must see if you are into that sort of thing.)
DVD Extras C- (The main gimmick here in the DVD Extras is to allow the viewer to choose some of the deaths/outcomes at pivotal moments. It sounds like it would be much cooler than it is.)
Overall Grade C+ (Overall, not as good as Final Destination 1 or 2 but if you like humor packed into your teenage obliteration, then this will satisfy your bloodlust until Final Destination 3.5 or Final Destination 4).
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