Final Destination 1 - 2 - Region 2 DVD

The first is the better of the two, and it sets the premise up well. After a dramatic near-death experience, correctly foreseen by one of their number, a group of young friends soon find that not all is as it seems. Death, it seems, is coming back for them one at a time, and that’s an excuse for some intricate set pieces as the group find themselves in immense danger, as they try to puzzle out how to alter death’s plans. The second works surprisingly well too. Okay, it does little more than photocopy a winning formula, but its set pieces are that bit more over-the-top to compensate, and while it barely has an original moment in its running time, it is a genuine hoot.

Both films have a handy selection of shock moments, and both motor through at enough speed to paper over any cracks. And the end result in both cases is an enjoyable, sprightly ride, best enjoyed with the brain switched to neutral.--Simon Brew