‘Final Destination Bloodlines’ Directors on Adding Gore After Test Screenings, Tony Todd’s Goodbye to Fans and How They Got the Job by Turning an Exec Zoom Call Into a Bloodbath

Death is back, and it has two new visionaries at the helm.

Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein are currently directing the movie “Final Destination Bloodlines,” now playing in theaters thanks to Warner Bros. Pictures. Unlike other films in the series where strangers unite due to cheating death, this script penned by Guy Busick and Lori Evans Taylor (based on a story by Jon Watts) revolves around a family whose lives are counter to Death’s predetermined plan, as their matriarch has evaded Death for decades.

The movie “Final Destination Bloodlines” directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein is now showing in theaters thanks to Warner Bros. Pictures. Unlike other movies where people band together because they’ve cheated death, this story focuses on a family whose lives go against Death’s plan as their mother has managed to evade Death for many years.

Lipovsky and Stein discussed various aspects of rejuvenating a cherished series that has been dormant for 14 years with EbMaster, exploring both the delightful moments and the difficulties encountered during this process. They also mentioned their decision to amp up the violence, as well as filming a unique scene featuring Tony Todd, a key figure in the “Final Destination” series and a prominent figure in the horror genre, who unfortunately passed away in November.

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In conversation with EbMaster, Lipovsky and Stein shared their experiences of revitalizing a long-absent franchise after 14 years, detailing both the enjoyable aspects and the hurdles they faced. They also disclosed their intention to ramp up the violence and talked about a special scene they filmed with Tony Todd, a mainstay in “Final Destination” and an iconic figure in horror films, who sadly passed away last November.

Why were you interested in directing this return to the “Final Destination” franchise?

We’ve consistently admired the “Final Destination” series, and one aspect that captivates us as filmmakers is its distinctiveness among horror franchises. Unlike typical horror flicks, it doesn’t rely on a human antagonist like a masked killer or a creature in the woods. Instead, the villain is the skillful cinematography itself: close-ups of various objects subtly connected, artfully arranged and edited to evoke a sense of an unseen presence that emerges from the characters. This suspenseful atmosphere is crafted solely through the director’s camera work. Consequently, this innovative approach to building tension has always intrigued us about the series, and it was a pleasure as directors to emulate it.

It’s said you were able to secure the job by talking to the film execs via a Zoom call in which one of you ended up “dead” due to some creative filmmaking. Can you reveal how you pulled that off?

When aiming for larger projects, effectively conveying tone is challenging, especially with something as unique as “Final Destination.” At first, I considered filming the death of one team member live during a Zoom call to set the tone. Adam was doubtful at first, fearing it might turn out cheesy or disastrous. If anything went wrong, our chances for this project would be over. However, we decided to explore the feasibility and have fun with the idea, turning it into a mini film project. As we delved deeper into the technicalities of making it happen, the process became so intriguing that we couldn’t resist trying it out. The task was incredibly complex: We wanted a live, seamless experience where one of us would appear to have our head chopped off by a ceiling fan while pitching the movie over Zoom. It was a challenging sequence of technological feats, but it ultimately turned out well.

Did you end up taping it? Might we see it as a “Bloodlines” special feature someday?

As a movie reviewer, let me share my thoughts: The unique aspect of this event was its live broadcast on Zoom, making it an exclusive, one-time spectacle. Unlike other events, if recorded, it would lose its ephemeral charm. During the call, there was no room for interruptions or delays; it was their private meeting, a gathering for the 15 executives and producers involved. The live nature of this event added an unexpected realism that truly captured the essence of the moment, creating a magical, immersive experience.

What goals did you have for revitalizing the series and pushing it forward?

We had several ideas in mind when developing this movie. One key idea was to expand upon Jon Watts’ original concept of basing the story around a family tree. This idea, unique to this new chapter, would enable us to create characters with greater depth and complex emotional bonds to raise the stakes. In previous installments of the series, characters were often just teenage friends or strangers thrown into the situation, but here we saw an opportunity for a rich, emotionally charged narrative by focusing on family dynamics.

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What we found troubling about the movie was that it needed to keep viewers guessing to maintain tension. The movies had a tendency to follow a predictable pattern – a premonition, then avoiding it, followed by death claiming characters one by one. To break this formula and surprise the audience, we came up with ideas to alter the structure slightly while still staying true to the original concept. Instead of starting in the present and moving forward, we planned to start in the past and flash to the future, without immediately revealing who the premonition character was. This way, both die-hard fans and newcomers would be kept on the edge of their seats, not knowing what twists and turns the story would take next.

Did you have an approach to shooting the family scenes to make them feel as dynamic as the death scenes?

Lipovsky: One of our key goals was to prevent the film from feeling like a series of death scenes with long skips in between. Instead, we aimed to make every moment engaging and lively. To achieve this, we focused on developing the characters as deeply as possible on set, allowing them to interact freely and improvise lines. This helped create the chaotic yet authentic atmosphere reminiscent of an Amblin film that families can relate to.

Furthermore, it was essential for us to ensure that every character experienced growth during the movie, which isn’t typically found in such depth within the “Final Destination” series. To begin with, we portrayed some of them as familiar genre archetypes, but our intention was to transform these characters, revealing hidden aspects like “The tattooed individual, who appears harsh, is actually deeply caring towards his family and would go to great lengths for his brother” or “The jock-type character, seemingly strong and fearless, harbors sensitivity, fear, and a deep affection for turtles”. Essentially, we aimed to breathe life into all these characters, making them more than just another fatality, but rather fully-fledged individuals.

Were there any gory moments you had to trim down to keep the MPAA happy for an R rating?

It’s not surprising at all. Adam and I were thrilled to create a “Final Destination” film because there is an anticipation for the amount of graphic content it will contain. This needs to exceed what you would see in other films or on TV. During production, we pushed boundaries as much as possible. However, when we screened the movie for audiences, they craved even more. So, we made adjustments and added extra elements to take it to the extreme, because I believe this is what makes “Final Destination” stand out. It’s intriguing because horror has developed significantly since the last “Final Destination” film. Previous “Final Destination” films had to tone down their graphic content… not due to the MPAA but because audiences would lose interest when it became too gruesome. With this new version, our initial tests showed that viewers wanted just the opposite. Whatever has transpired in the last 14 years, people have developed an intense appetite for more gore than they did before.

The executives from New Line commented on the significant transformation of the audience since their last production, with viewers now seemingly eager for violence. However, it’s undeniable that this “Final Destination” installment is particularly amusing when viewed in a crowd. The audience becomes quite vocal, screaming and shouting at the deaths, and laughing boisterously throughout the movie at certain points, even simultaneously. Some of the gruesome deaths elicit screams of horror and laughter from the viewers. During our first test screening, there was a death in the opening where a child is killed, causing people to leap out of their seats and pump their fists in the air. This unexpected joy when the child dies indicates that the audience is enjoying the movie. The vocal response is surprising yet consistent, with even subtle reactions like murmurs among the audience when they anticipate someone’s death or when Aunt Brenda reveals a secret. Even minor details seem to captivate the viewers in this film.

What was it like working with Tony Todd? It seemed like he was saying goodbye to his larger fanbase in this movie.

During the film’s production, it was clear that Tony was ill, and at times, it seemed uncertain whether he would want to participate in the project. However, he persistently contacted us saying, “I must be part of this film. Don’t exclude me from it.” He was eager to deepen the audience’s perception of his character, Bludworth. Previously, Bludworth had been portrayed as a somewhat enigmatic mentor figure with little personal depth. Thus, Tony was thrilled about the prospect of providing his character with a human background, which would explain why Bludworth knew so much about death and showed concern over premonitions. Moreover, he wanted to give the character not just an origin but also a conclusion, as we anticipated this would be his last “Final Destination” movie due to the lengthy production process, although we didn’t know it would be his final role altogether.

When the character was bidding farewell to his co-characters on screen, it felt like a poignant nod to Tony parting ways with the film franchise. In that poignant final scene, we invited him to set aside the script and instead speak from his heart about what he wished to convey to the audience. “What would you like your fans to understand about life, Tony?” we asked, giving him free rein over the words he chose to use. The scene in the movie that resonates deeply is undoubtedly the one where he speaks from the heart about life’s truths, and I believe this sincerity is what makes it so emotionally moving. There was a profound silence of awe that enveloped the entire cast during filming.

Lipovsky: I recall clearly the moment following that take. The sound technician approached me with an astonished look on his face and exclaimed, “Was that what we just experienced?” Indeed, it was quite remarkable.

Have you already started thinking about what another installment might look like?

After devoting the past three years to turning our deepest, troubling thoughts into this movie, it’s challenging to imagine where we could delve further for the next project. However, death is an ongoing process, so there’s undoubtedly more to uncover and explore.

2025-05-16 23:47