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5 Reasons You Should Give Final Destination 3 Another Chance 10 Years After Its Release

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I’ve always been a fan of the Final Destination franchise, and it’s one of the few that I’d actually like to see continue indefinitely. Much like my favorite franchise – Friday the 13th – it has a basic formula that allows new characters to be easily plugged in for various creative death sequences with satisfactory results. While even the best franchises miss the mark from time to time, I feel that Final Destination 3 has been unfairly maligned. The film tends to be brushed off as a blemish on the franchise, but if you ask me, it holds its own among the more highly regarded entries. I’d even go so far as to say that in some ways it tops the much more popular second installment.

This year marked ten years since its theatrical release, and here are five reasons to consider watching it again (spoilers included).

1. Mary Elizabeth Winstead

Mary Elizabeth Winstead in Final Destination 3

Above all else, Final Destination 3 has one thing sorely lacking from the rest of the franchise: Mary Elizabeth Winstead. The movie was my first experience with Ms. Winstead though it was far from her first acting role. While she had also appeared in the previous year’s The Ring Two, she quickly established herself as a presence in our beloved genre – a presence that continues today. If you like her work in 10 Cloverfield Lane, Swiss Army Man, Faults, Death Proof, or anything else, it’s worth revisiting one of her earlier films.

2. Tony Todd and the Mystique of William Bludworth

Tony Todd as the devil in Final Destination 3

I admit that it would have been nice to see Tony Todd back for a third round in the flesh, but we do get his voice as the devil on the ill-fated rollercoaster and as the subway station announcer at the end of the film. In fact, the more I think about this, the more I like the approach here. He could have just popped up in a forced-in scene to talk to the lead characters about death, but we already saw that twice. His voicework in FD3 adds another layer to the mystique of his character and his connection to death itself.

3. The Return of Morgan and Wong

Final Destination 3

Let me be clear. I love Final Destination 2. It has an amazing opening disaster sequence and some great kills. It’s a lot of fun. That said, the writing leaves a great deal to be desired, particularly in the dialogue department, and the acting often suffers as a result. This kind of adds to the charm and fun of watching it (another connection to the Friday franchise), but there is a noticeable improvement in quality here with FD3 if you ask me. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing award-worthy here either, and there is still the occasional cringe-worthy line, but overall, it’s a step up. This may have something to do with Glenn Morgan and James Wong, the famous X-Files duo who collaborated on the first film, returning for round 3.

I also appreciate that they tried to add another layer to death’s mythology, which was basically scrapped in the following films. In FD3, Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s character discovers clues about death’s design in photographs, which I find kind of interesting. At the very least, it was an attempt to do something a little different without straying too far from the “don’t fix it if it ain’t broke” formula of the franchise.

4. The Kills

Final Destination 3 Nailgun

If there’s one thing Final Destination 2 did right it was the kills (including the epic highway pile-up premonition scene), and I’m not sure any of the subsequent films have topped 2 in this department. It’s understandable that some would be let down by FD3 after that, but if you look at FD3 by itself, it has its share of memorable kills.

The stand-outs include: the famous tanning bed sequence; Frankie’s head getting its comeuppance thanks to an engine fan from a truck that runs into his car in a fast food drive-in; Lewis getting his head crushed by weights; and my personal favorite, Erin getting a number of nails shot through her face.

5. It’s On Netflix

Tanning Bed Final Destination 3

If you’re a Netflix subscriber, which I believe most of you probably are, you don’t have to go out of your way to find a copy of the movie or hunt it down. It’s right there waiting for you. In fact, it’s the only film in the franchise currently available to stream on Netflix.

Look, I’m not going to sit here and try to tell you that Final Destination 3 is the pinnacle of the franchise. I’m just saying it’s an entertaining entry and doesn’t deserve black sheep status. I’ve seen it quite a few times over the past decade and I can honestly say I’ve never failed to have a good time watching it.

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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