Horror films are not necessarily my favorite movie genre.

Psychological thrillers, yes. Horror films, especially those with depictions of graphic violence, are not films that I usually review or see.

The summer movie season “officially” began May 23 with the release of “Final Destination: Bloodlines.” It’s one of the most interesting, thrilling and chilling films of the summer movie season so far.

“Final Destination: Bloodlines” is well-scripted, well-acted and superbly-directed with not only the requisite jump cuts (scenes that make you jump in your theater seat), but with a thoughtful backstory about the psychological (and, it turns out, otherwise) scars of a broken family.

“Final Destination: Bloodlines” includes the late Tony Todd, reprising his role as William John Bludworth, in a memorable scene deserving of a supporting actor Oscar nomination.

“Final Destination Bloodlines” is sixth in the franchise: “Final Destination” (2000), “Final Destination 2” (2003), “Final Destination 3” (2006), “The Final Destination” (2009) and “Final Destination 5” (2011).

“Final Destination,” not including “Bloodlines,” is said to be the 10th highest-grossing horror franchise in the United States at approximately $347.8 million, with the worldwide gross put at $783 million.

The premise of the films is that the characters are on a Death List, with Death presented as an invisible force taking the lives of those on the list through a series of macabre, grisly and ridiculous mishaps and accidents, often triggered by mundane household or mechanical devices and predicted in premonitions through nightmares, thoughts or hunches.

In “Final Destination: Bloodlines,” Stefani (Kaitlyn Santa Juana) is attending college when she experiences a recurring nightmare of a tower collapse said to have happened in 1968.

She visits her family in an attempt to stop the nightmare and unravel the past.

Stefani reconnects, sort of, with her brother Charlie (Teo Briones); father Marty (Tinpo Lee); uncle Howard (Alex Zahara) and aunt Brenda (April Telek), and cousins Erik (Richard Harmon), Bobby (Owen Patrick Joyner) and Julia (Anna Lore).

One terrible thing leads to another, but that would be telling. No spoilers here.

Stefani’s mother, Darlene (Rya Kihlstedt) shows up. More family drama and trauma ensues. Again, no spoilers.

Stefani takes some of her family to visit her reclusive grandmother Iris (Gabrielle Rose), who as a teen (Brec Bassinger) had a premonition at the center of Stefani’s nightmare. You know the, ahem, drill. No spoilers.

Stefani meets William Bludworth (Tony Todd), who sheds some light on the family dilemma and encouragement for their lives.

“Final Destination Bloodlines” is essentially “Ten Little Indians,” with several films based on “And Then There Were None,” the Agatha Christie 1939 crime novel.

Dame Agatha cannot be classified as a progenitor of the Splatter Horror genre.

“Final Destination Bloodlines” is. The film raises the, ahem, bar for the Splatter Horror genre.

The Grim Reaper isn’t so grim in “Final Destination Bloodlines,” which uses irony to great comedic effect. You may find yourself laughing at the truly tragic scenes unfolding before your eyes, despite yourself.

Directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein (directors, “Freaks,” 2018) demonstrate a supreme command of cinema, working from a screenplay by Guy Busick (screenwriter, “Abigail, 2024; “Scream VI,” 2023; “Scream,” 2022; “Ready or Not,” 2019), Lori Evans Taylor (screenwriter, “Cellar Door,” 2024) and Jon Watts (screenwriter, “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” 2017) from a story by Watts, Busick and Evans Taylor based on characters created by Jeffrey Reddick (screenwriter, “Final Destination” and sequels).

Production values are excellent. Kudos to Cinematographer Christian Sebaldt (Primetime Emmy, cinematography, “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”), Editor Sabrina Pitre (editor, TV’s “Love, Death & Robots,” 2019), Production Designer Rachel O’Toole (“The 9th Life of Louis Drax,” 2016) and Composer Tim Wynn (composer, “Freaks”) with effective jokey use of contemporary music (including “Shout”; “Escape (The Piña Colada Song),” Rupert Holmes; “Without You,” Air Supply, and “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You),” Kelly Clarkson).

The cast is terrific.

Kaitlyn Santa Juana (“The Friendship Game,” 2022) as Stefani has eyes that express an inner turmoil.

Teo Briones (TV’s “Chucky,” 2021) as her brother Charlie, has a compelling presence.

Richard Harmon (TV’s “The Flash,” 2023) is intensely good as Erik.

Owen Patrick Joyner (TV’s “Knight Squad,” 2018-19) as Bobby is woefully sympathetic.

Brec Bassinger (TV’s “Stargirl, 2020-22) is remarkable as young Iris.

Tony Todd (with 253 actor credits on IMDb, including “Candyman,” 1992, and the “Final Destination” franchise) is touching as William Bludworth.

“Final Destination Bloodlines” is not a destination that I would usually head to at the cinema. I dare you to see it.

“Final Destination Bloodlines,” R: (Restricted: Persons under 17 require an accompanying parent or adult guardian) for strong violent-grisly accidents, and language; Genre: Horror, Run time: 1 hour, 50 minutes. Distributed by Warner Bros. Motion Pictures.

Credit Readers Anonymous: In the “Final Destination Bloodlines” end credits, there’s a sequence displaying news articles about the Skyview tower collapse survivors and their deaths.

“Final Destination Bloodlines” was filmed July to October 2023 and March to May 2024 in Vancouver. British Columbia, Canada.

“Final Destination Bloodlines” is dedicated “In Memory of Tony Todd.”

When Todd signed on to reprise his role as William Bludworth in “Final Destination Bloodlines” in 2023, it’s said he let the film’s producers know that he had terminal stomach cancer.

In his scene in “Final Destination Bloodlines” in early 2024, Todd improvised the last lines of his character Mr. Bludworth as way to say goodbye to his fans.

Todd (1954-2024) appeared in August Wilson’s “How I Learned What I Learned” in 2021 and “Fences” in 2022 at the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival at DeSales University, Center Valley.

At The Movies: “Final Destination Bloodlines” was seen in Dolby Cinema at AMC, AMC Center Valley 16.

Theatrical Movies Domestic Weekend Box Office, May 30-June 1: “Lilo & Stitch” continued at No. 1 two weeks in a row, with a still strong $63 million in 4,410 theaters, $280.1 million, two weeks. “Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning” stayed at No. 2 with $27.3 million in 3,861 theaters, $122.6 million, two weeks. “Karate Kid: Legends” opened at No.3 with $21 million in 3,809 theaters, opening.

4. “Final Destination: Bloodlines” dropped one place, $10.8 million in 3,134 theaters, $111.7 million, three weeks. 5. “Bring Her Back,“ $7 million in 2,449 theaters, opening. 6. “Sinners” dropped one place, $5.2 million in 2,138 theaters, $267 million, seven weeks. 7. “Thunderbolts” dropped three places, $4.8 million in 2,520 theaters, $181.8 million, five weeks. 8. “Friendship” dropped one place, $2.5 million in 1,293 theaters, $12.3 million, four weeks. 9. “The Last Rodeo” dropped three places, $2.1 million in 1,995 theaters, $10.7 million, two weeks. 10. “j-hope Tour ‘Hope on the Stage’ in Japan: Live Viewing, $939,173 in 631 theaters, opening.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of June 1 is subject to change.

Unreel, June 6:

“The Phoenician Scheme,” PG-13: Wes Anderson directs Benicio Del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, F. Murray Abraham and Willem Dafoe in the Comedy Spy Thriller. A wealthy businessman has his estate challenged.

“Ballerina,” R: Len Wiseman directs Ana de Armas, Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Anjelica Huston and Gabriel Byrne in the John Wick franchise spinoff. An assassin seeks revenge for her father’s death.

“I Don’t Understand You,” R: David Joseph Craig and Brian Crano directs Amanda Seyfried, Nick Kroll, Andrew Rannells, Morgan Spector and Eleanora Romandini in the Comedy Horror film. An American couple trying to adopt a baby is stranded in Italy.

“The Life of Chuck,” R: Mike Flanagan directs Tom Hiddleston, Jacob Tremblay, Benjamin Pajak, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Mark Hamill in the Science Fiction Drama. The movie is based on Stephen King’s novella about Charles Krantz.

“The Ritual,” No MPAA rating: David Midell directs Al Pacino, Dan Stevens, Ashley Greene, Abigail Cowen and Patrician Heaton in the Horror film. Two priests try to perform an exorcism.

“Bad Shabbos,” No MPAA rating: Daniel Robbin directors Milana Varyntub, Kyra Sedgwick and Ashley Zukerman in the Comedy. An interfaith couple meets the parents at a Shabbat dinner.

Movie opening information from Internet Movie Data Base as of June 1 is subject to change.

Four Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes