Final Destination Bloodlines referenced this major character from the first film and we didn’t even notice

Final Destination Bloodlines is the sixth entry in the franchise that is known for giving innovative deaths to its characters. The film is helmed by Adam Stein and Zach Lipovsky, and it was released on May 16, 2025, by Warner Bros. Pictures. Here's the official synopsis:

Plagued by a recurring violent nightmare, a college student returns home to find the one person who can break the cycle and save her family from the horrific fate that inevitably awaits them.

The film references a character from the first film that viewers might have just missed. Let's take a look.

Final Destination Bloodlines references a character from the first film

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Final Destination Bloodlines has a scene where the family members are looking for JB. That is when Darlene Campbell (played by Rya Kihlstedt) remembers that she had found him at a hospital. She recalls that the hospital name involved a river, but is unable to spell out the entire name. While trying to recall the names, she says Clear River. This is a direct hat tip to the namesake character played by Ali Larter in the first two films. The water park in the initial film also had a similar name, Clear Rivers Water.

Darlene accidentally named the hospital Clear River. Bloodlines references how Clear passed away in the second Final Destination film. Her death took place inside a hospital, and it's such a minute reference that only hardcore fans might be able to notice.

More about Final Destination Bloodlines

Final Destination Bloodlines is produced by Jon Watts, Craig Perry, Sheila Hanahan Taylor, Dianne McGunigle, and Toby Emmerich. The film is written by Guy Busick, Jon Watts, and Lori Evans Taylor. Here's a list of its cast members:

Kaitlyn Santa Juana as Stefani Reyes
Teo Briones as Charlie Reyes
Richard Harmon as Erik Campbell
Owen Patrick Joyner as Bobby Campbell
Rya Kihlstedt as Darlene Campbell
Anna Lore as Julia Campbell
Gabrielle Rose as Iris Campbell
Tony Todd as William Bludworth
Tinpo Lee as Marty Reyes
Alex Zahara as Howard Campbell

Both the directors of Final Destination Bloodlines spoke to Time magazine about the theme. Adam Stein said that the film doesn't have a masked killer but death as the main antagonist. He said:

"There's no killer in a mask running around with a knife but Death does have a personality. Death is very clever and plays a long game. That's why people love these movies. The kills are so much fun to watch that you end up rooting for Death in a way."

Zach Lipovsky then said:

"A lot of my friends have died in Final Destination movies or worked on Final Destination movies. A lot of landmarks are set pieces. It's sort of a staple in the city."

He added:

"The biggest challenge with Bloodlines was that the formula already works really well: a bunch of people escape Death, are marked by Death, and Death comes for them. That's why you're going to the theater. And Final Destination 5 ended in such a great way that it felt like the perfect conclusion. So we wanted to find all sorts of ways be true to the canon, but twist it to play with people's expectations. We wanted to keep it feeling fresh."