In this episode of Horror Joy, we turn back time to solve the puzzle of the first three films of the Final Destination franchise, exploring the ways they engage with the horrors of the new millennium, its politics, and its technologies. The series’ horrors are doubled when we realize that the first film starts off with an exploding plane, uncannily anticipating the 9/11 terrorist attacks that fundamentally reshaped the United States of America, the Middle East, and the geopolitics of never-ending surveillance due to the specter of terrorism.

They discuss:

·      How these films reflect the anxieties of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, including the twin specters of Y2K and the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

·      How the themes of technology, societal change, and existential dread, show up differently in each film

·      The role of Tony Todd's (Bludworth) character as a potential personification of death

·      And reflect on how the trilogy evolved into a commentary on the modern human condition.

So, charge your camera batteries and death proof your rusty fishing hooks because the roller coaster is about to leave the station. It’s your last chance to get off the ride. But don’t worry, we’ll remember your place in line.

William Stevenson. "Late Slasher: Remediation to Premediation in Urban Legend, Gossip, and Final Destination."

Danse Macabre

Camus - The Myth of Sisyphus

Heidegger - Being and Time