Past Tense - Hope Is All But Forlorn Once You Mess With The Reaper Part I


[An earlier version of this PT was originally posted on May 21st, 2015 on JoBlo's "DVD, Blu-Ray & Home Theater Discussion" forum.]

It was the perfect camping spot. The area had just enough of a clearing for the truck and RV tow. Daylight was coming to an end for the day. The sky was crimson fading to dusk. You had heard of this place from a friend who didn't venture this far, but was planning to do later - before the snow came. It was a smile that you get to claim camp first.

The truck remained hitched for practical reasons. You had made a slow and precise turn so that when the weekend was over you can drive straight - back to civilization. Once done, you had gotten out and admired the scenery, taking in a great breath. It was inspirational poster worthy. Out of habit you gave the propane tanks a check and climbed in the RV - door closed and locked. Locked just in case you may get an unwanted, criminally minded hiker. Far from civilization, but not that far from misdeeds.

The place was packed with all the stuff to be self-sufficient and comfortable. Water tanks full. Gray and black tanks empty. This was your first RV tow. And this excursion was more than just taking a break, enjoying nature - it would be a test. A test to see if you could make this more than a weekend joy stay. Could this be made into a permanent tiny home; parked in some RV park - even taking out the toilet and modding it with a residential unit. Not that hard to do... just need to be motivated. Is it worth it?

You wanted this to be an evaluation, your thoughts - alone. So Hannah wasn't present. She did want to go. She did want to spend the time, 'roughing it' for a weekend. As much of it as having all the city convenience within feet of each other as roughing it. But a random family issue came up and that was okay. She says, she'll be there, "next time". In way this makes this experience, exclusive - yours alone.

As Friday descended into darkness, you had a hankering for pasta. Most of the proposition was hand made, even modding the canned sauce. And grating a brick of cheddar into a fine shred. Water was boiling, hydrating the pasta. Cooking on the other induction was some sausage for greater flavor.

WHAT?!

For a second you saw something from the uncurtained window. It was an instant. Red. A pair of... reds. You stopped cooking and turned on the outside lights from the wall switch. Nothing. Just trees moving slightly from a breeze. You stood there, eyes seeking movement. Some beats later, turned the lights off to save power. While they are LEDs, they are still floodlights after all. It was the smell that snapped you back. The pasta is ready.

You pull out the drainer and contemplate what... what was imagined; red glowing eyes? The various parts were assembled. A full plate and delicious, Hannah would've loved it. Hell, she does when you cook for her. Nobody is here. Why not? You bellowed a loud burp. It was satisfying. Before another thought could happen - you heard it, unmistakable, a roar. The first thought wasn't about those red eyes, but about a grizzly. Winter hadn't hit yet, would not go into hibernation for a few more weeks.

You hit the outside lights once more - and there it was. A damn brown bear, standing upright as if ready to pounce on the RV. Not expecting such a sight, you jumped back, tripping over onto the floor. A second roar happens, but was cut off in mid-howl, wet almost. You got back up, looking at the window, the beast was still there; part of it at least. You could see because of the temperature change, steam coming off the open carcass.

What did that? Better yet, where is the rest of the bear? The quick instinct is to get the frack out of Dodge. But that means going outside, exposed to... well to - whatever did that - so you could get back in the truck and drive away. Right now, that's not an option. You slowly move to the other side of the tow to see out of that window. There you stood for well over a minute - no movement seen. Then you felt and heard the crash.

Hard to believe we have hit the seven year mark. Welcome the Seventh Annual "Limited Edition Horror" - 2021! Four weeks of horror theme, multi-part Past Tense entries, one each week of October. With a possible bonus entry, if you're 'good'.

'21 kicks off with a modern classic that pits a unwitting seer against Death itself; a race to stay one step ahead of supernatural assassination. No mistake, that is what's happening. The Grim Reaper is setting things into motion to murder those who fail to heed his 'list'.



The motion picture opened on March 17th, 2000. It was made with a budget of $23,000,000 (estimated) and grossed over $53 million during its U.S. theatrical run; counting foreign receipts it made $112,880,294. The film opened number three at the box office, the following week it remained at number three.

The feature opened against "Mission To Mars", "The Ninth Gate" and "American Beauty".

This originally was not issued a slipcover, but came with a foil wraparound. Please note, later pressings replaced it with a regular (matted) wraparound. First pressing also came with a single page insert; chapter listings, the other side mirrored the DVD's cover. Yeah, this came out when discs used to be gold colored, not silver.

This streeted on September 26, 2000 for $24.95.

Just so you know, that poster was released as a lenticular, not too many studios do that. Look at it one way see the cast, shift a bit, and you see them with skulls. I wish I had one.

- - -

I can not pin down the exact date for this exclusive. But I can tell you the month and year.

Wal-Mart offered the sole exclusive, a slipcover - years after the fact, a decade in fact.



This was part of their annual Halloween movie sale. It came out in mid September 2010 for $7.50.

As I've said in these pages; Wal-Mart has a long history of trying to trick people into buying older titles, disguised as new ones. Their modus operandi is new slipcovers.

For that holiday; most had a card stock sheet/flat covering the front (shrink wrapped). A few had 'actual' slipcovers; "Final Destination" was among the exceptions for "Halloween Movie Night" offerings.

That would've been that, an exclusive slip, but it doesn't end here. No. You see, somebody was asleep at the wheel.

The new slipcovers/flats mirrors their wraparound. It's easy to see what's what. But for this particular DVD they got it quite wrong.



Under the slip was "The Final Destination" (a.k.a. 'Final Destination IV') from 2009. It's a head scratcher why nobody noticed that the movie they were putting slipcovers onto looks entirely different.

I wonder how many people bought this thinking it was the first film and got home disappointed.

Being the total anal person that I am - and since the original didn't - I have that slipcover on the correct title.



Since you might be curious, above is the cover from the correct DVD.

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Rant.

Man it doesn't feel like it. This year marks the 21st anniversary that launched a franchise. So I got a bit curious and did some looking and basic math.

Kerr Smith who played Carter Horton was twenty-seven years old, playing a high school student.

Ali Larter as Clear Rivers was twenty-three as a high school student.

Devon Sawa who played Alex Browning was twenty-one as a high school student.

You know when you feel it. You know when it hits you, there's no mistaking when you fall. You don't anticipate it. And you can't calculate it. It just comes crashing through your walls.
- Ocean Lab

Man, we are lucky to have this movie. It began as an episode of "X-Files". The screenplay was written by James Wong and Glen Morgan with Wong directing it. The men are "X-Files" alumni; both had written fifteen episodes each and were co-executive producer on the series.

Does make me wonder what it would look like as a hour show. How far would Mulder (David Duchovny) have gone to save the students and would it be Sully (Gillian Anderson) who pulls him back - don't mess with Death; let it happen.

Would have made interesting television. Sway.



This was the flick that launched the long running film series. Currently stalled on the fifth movie, "Final Destination 5" (2011). New Line Cinema has yet to announce a sixth installment. At one point in September 2013 there was pitch to have the next one set in Middle Ages by franchise producer Craig Perry. He even did a concept trailer on YouTube, "Final Destination 6: The Dark Age", nothing came of it.

If you know how; "_cbiOv7s2Hw". It's still there (as of writing), checked. It's a mashup of over twenty different scenes from television and movies. He did a decent job.

Anyhow, these movies do make money; U.S. box office...

"Final Destination" (2000) - $53 million on a budget of $23 million
"Final Destination 2" (2003) - $46 million on a budget of $26 million
"Final Destination 3" (2006) - $54 million on a budget of $34 million
"The Final Destination [4]" (2009) - $66 million on a budget of $43 million
"Final Destination 5" (2011) - $42 million on a budget of $40 million