<em>Final Destination</em> captivates audiences with its portrayal of naive characters who blatantly disregard the ominous signs surrounding them, a narrative choice that significantly enhances its suspenseful formula. The frustration of witnessing these individuals flirt with the very idea of death creates a palpable sense of inevitability regarding their fates. Throughout the series, it is uncommon for viewers to feel that a character genuinely deserves the extremity of their demise. However, in Final Destination: Bloodlines, we are introduced to the franchise’s most detestable character, who meets a particularly unceremonious and comically ironic end.

Although the character known as the penny-throwing kid (Noah Bromley) never receives an official name, he is portrayed with absolutely no redeeming qualities. He plays a pivotal role in the catastrophic events of the opening premonition and exhibits unapologetically rude behavior towards everyone he encounters. This makes his eventual fake-out escape immensely satisfying for the audience. However, any sympathy is quickly erased when he meets an unexpectedly humorous and slapstick demise. As viewers, we can’t help but revel in the twisted sense of justice that accompanies his death.

Discover How ‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’ Introduces the Most Disliked Character in the Franchise

The opening premonition of Final Destination: Bloodlines stands out from others in the franchise due to its unique structure featuring two critical components. The first involves the glass dance floor shattering, which serves as the key inciting incident that Iris successfully prevents. However, the extent of destruction is exacerbated by a child who recklessly throws a penny from the top of the Skyview Tower. His misguided aim is to hit someone below, completely oblivious to the potentially fatal repercussions of his actions. Ultimately, the penny fails to travel far and becomes lodged in the ventilation system. When this penny is dislodged, it results in a gas canister leaking into the restaurant, leading to a catastrophic explosion that claims the lives of everyone in the tower. While we cannot predict the fatalities that would have occurred had the dance floor broken alone, it is abundantly clear that the penny-throwing child is largely responsible for the ensuing disaster.

This child is immediately established as a nuisance to those around him. When Iris (Brec Bassinger) and Paul (Max Lloyd-James) enter the elevator to ascend to the top of the tower, the kid stands directly next to them. The architectural design of the tower features transparent glass floors, including in the elevator, which makes Iris feel a twinge of unease. However, the kid deliberately stamps and jumps on the glass floor as it rises, producing an unavoidable thud. As viewers, we wish we could shake him and remind him of the horror movie he’s unwittingly part of. Even when a security guard cautions him about the dangers of throwing the penny, he remains rude and entitled, mockingly whispering under his breath as he saunters away. This character, known as the penny kid, is utterly irredeemable.

Explore How Death Manipulates Its Victims in ‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’

In the Final Destination series, character deaths often come with a sense of forewarning, but the penny kid’s demise is the most surprising since that of Terry Chaney (Amanda Detmer), who was infamously struck by a bus in the original film. Initially, he appears to be the only character who escapes the chaos. As the other characters in the tower rush towards the stairs, an explosion obliterates the middle steps, leaving only him with access to a safe escape route. Witnessing his clear path to survival is deeply frustrating for the audience, as he bears significant responsibility for the ensuing destruction yet seems poised to avoid consequences. His punishment ultimately could not be more fitting.

As chaos unfolds above, the camera swiftly transitions to show the kid sprinting from the exit on the bottom floor. Upon reaching solid ground, he wears the smarmiest expression of satisfaction on his face. Almost immediately, a piano plummets from the tower and lands directly on him. This death is strikingly unceremonious and rapid, yet it is unforgettable. It feels like poetic justice, particularly knowing that he played a major role in the deaths of many others.

The Final Destination franchise has consistently demonstrated that death possesses a macabre sense of humor and relishes in toying with its victims. Allowing the penny kid to savor a fleeting moment of freedom before unexpectedly dropping a piano on his head feels like death’s playful retribution. As viewers, we feel no sympathy for him and happily applaud death for its masterful execution. This death occurs in the opening moments of the film and signals that Final Destination: Bloodlines is fully aware of its place within this iconic horror series. Viewers quickly understand that some of these deaths are intentionally absurd. With this particular demise, death grants the audience permission to laugh and cheer when warranted. While in real life, nobody truly deserves to die, within the universe of Final Destination, the penny kid certainly had it coming.