‘Final Destination’ Basis Dull

One exciting thing about movies is that they’re always looking for the new new thing. One infuriating thing is that they usually flog it until it’s the old, old, old thing.

“Final Destination” is something sort-of new. Hollywood has cranked out high school versions of Shakespeare, which never caught on, and “Scream”-based movies about young people getting julienned, which have peaked. Now, “Final Destination” aims for young audiences with an “X-Files: The Wonder Years” science/suspense plot about a kid who, having escaped being on a plane that crashed, learns more than mortals should about death.

The mostly unintriguing movie gets at some intriguing things. After the crash, our hero (Devon Sawa) and six others who deplaned find they are still targeted for death or, rather, Death. The Grim Reaper, feeling cheated, has plans for them.

I like how Death uses harmless household items in harmful ways, and I like the idea that we should heed the nagging feelings we all have, because Somebody is trying to tell us something.

But it’s ridiculous that “Someone” turns out to be Death. I mean, death is going to claim all of us? Duh. How much drabber could a premise be?

And could the movie pile on more ominous music, thundercracks and glimpses of spattered blood and demonic faces? Those things crop up so often that you want to scream, “Stop showing me how you’re going to scare me and cut to the scaring.”

“Final Destination” is occasionally shocking but never suspenseful. The movie tries so hard that you’re more likely to be shrieking with laughter than just plain shrieking.

“Final Destination” Locations: Lyons Ave., River Park Square, Spokane Valley, Coeur d’Alene Cinemas. Credits: Directed by James Wong, Devon Sawa, Ali Larter, Kerr Smith, Tony Todd, Kristen Cloke Running time: 1:33 Rating: R