The franchise has a special place in the hearts of gore seekers. This franchise sparked terror in all of us that we didn’t know was there. After the first movie we all moved out the lane with the truck carrying the wood lol. It gave us all the “what if” when it comes to the disasters looming before us. Some, without knowing, too extra careful attention to our surroundings. Aside from the real-world implications, this movie franchise is entertaining none the less.

Death is the ultimate trickster and just when you think you figured it out, BAM, dead. Some of the most creative ways to go, some of which I have thought of while writing my un-filmed short movies. Along the six movies we have seen characters come and go but one has been around since the beginning. William Bludworth, played by Tony Todd. He is a long-standing actor in the horror genre most known from the Candyman franchise. He plays a mortician in Final Destination who always seems to have answers on how to trick death.

In Final Destination: Bloodlines, it was striking seeing Tony’s condition. He is super frail, and it made me think, “oh wow, this is his final movie”. I knew he passed in 20204 but had to look at the cause, stomach cancer. This explains his appearance. For his final play, the franchise gave him a back story to finally make him and integral part of the movie. Before had he was just a character the others cross paths with. He gives his wisdom on the situation and fades from all the chaos. In Bloodlines, we see that he was there at the beginning. His life was saved from a disaster at a newly opened restaurant. Since then, behind the scenes, he has been dealing with death in his own ways, managing to stay alive all those years. The how? We don’t know. But it’s not important.

I read that the studio was not sure if he was going to be in good health to do the movie, but Tony insisted. The back story was a personal touch from the studio knowing Tony didn’t have much time to live. They also went back and forth on showing death catching up to him. Ultimately decided it wasn’t necessary, and his final on-screen scene was enough. The script was written with him saying “I’m retiring, and I’m going to go enjoy the time I have left”. But what followed was from Tony, “All life is precious. Enjoy the time you have left. Enjoy every single second, because you never know when.” This was his final farewell to the cast and audience as he walks out the door. Watching the scene, it was very touching to me because I knew the words being said were important and not just movie lines. I am happy the allowed this for him and he was capable of giving one last performance to his fans.

He will be missed, Tony Todd 1954-2024❤️