5. Final Destination
Why it was good: Final Destination was one of the most unique teen slasher films to hit theaters last decade, if only for its premise and eerie execution. Speaking of execution, the gory deaths delivered up by director James Wong can still induce shivers today and the main set piece offered up in its solid sequel, to this day, makes me incapable of driving behind a log truck without fear of being impaled.
The turning point: Final my ass. A fiery plane crash and horrific car crash are one to escape but a rollercoaster derailment? In addition to mounting silliness, this series became more about staging elaborate deaths than actually constructing tense scenarios for our teens to find themselves within. Stripped away was any semblance of connection to the characters on screen, with our stock horror stereotypes merely turning into fodder for malfunctioning nail guns.
Why it needs to die: In 2009 we were treated to the cleverly titled The Final Destination which after inexplicably becoming the highest grossing in the series, gave us a fifth entry. For Final Destination 5, even a scarier setup, more proactive characters and an attempt at a thrilling twist only served to remind us how bad the series had become; even infusing the material with some zest could do nothing to elevate it beyond been-there-done-that territory. Want to play the toughest game ever? It’s called “Place That Death in the Correct Movie.” You’ll either have to guess wildly or watch all five to refresh your memory. Either way, you lose.