William Bludworth
Encyclopedia
William Bludworth is a fictional character
the the Final Destination film series
, portrayed by Tony Todd
in Final Destination
, Final Destination 2
, and Final Destination 5
. He is the owner of Bludworth Funeral Homes, and has the most knowledge of Death
and its forces and capacities.
and Clear Rivers
sneak inside the morgue to glimpse at Tod Waggner's corpse. Bludworth caught them in the act and asked why they came. Offering his help, he explains to them about the rule of Death
: those who cheat death will be revisited by Death once more to claim back their lives which should've been lost. He also tells them about Death's List (a list of the order of deaths of the survivors in the original incident) and how it will work on them once again. Finally, he states about how ruining the list can affect the remaining survivors.
, together with Kimberly Corman
and Thomas Burke, to obtain help about cheating death. He is seen de-accessorizing the corpse of Evan Lewis. However, he only mentions to them the rule of life and death: new life
can defeat Death.
. In this film, he is seen as a mortician who the characters encounter several times, and informs them only that by taking a life can they live, for they will receive the lifespan of the person they've killed.
Tony Todd
, who played Candyman in the 1992 film Candyman
, was cast as mortician William Bludworth. Writer Glen Morgan
initially wanted Todd for the role for his deep voice that will give the film an eerie tone.
complimented his performance, saying that "Todd --- an old hand at scary stories after the "Candyman" series --- overplays with enough relish to position himself as a probable returnee for a Final Destination 2."; while Dustin Putman of TheMovieBoy.com gave positive reviews to his appearance:
However in Final Destination 2, Todd's performance as Bludworth received mixed reviews from critics. Michael Phillips
of Goatdog's Movies remarked that "the only remotely interesting person in this film is Tony Todd (of Candyman fame), who returns as the mortician who seems to know way too much about death's plan." Brian McKay of eFilmCritic mentioned that "the explanations from the mysterious undertaker from the first film (Tony Todd, a great actor sadly utilized in a one-scene throwaway part) make no sense." Andrew Manning of Radio Free Entertainment reviewed that his role was "hardly necessary" and "while he added a certain mood to the mix the first time around, his appearance here seems forced."
Both viewers and critics were glad to see Todd return in the fifth film.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
the the Final Destination film series
Final Destination (film series)
The Final Destination series is a series of horror films based on an unproduced script written by Jeffrey Reddick for the X-Files television series. Distributed by New Line Cinema, all five films are centered on the themes of fatalism, predestination, and precognition, in relation to death...
, portrayed by Tony Todd
Tony Todd
Anthony T. "Tony" Todd is an American actor and movie producer, known for his height of 6'5", and deep voice. He is well known for playing the Candyman in the horror movie franchise of the same name, William Bludworth in Final Destination and for guest starring roles on numerous television...
in Final Destination
Final Destination
Final Destination is a 2000 supernatural slasher film written and directed by James Wong. The film was co-written by Glen Morgan and Jeffrey Reddick, both of them having previously worked with Wong in the TV series The X-Files. The film stars Devon Sawa, Ali Larter, Kerr Smith and Tony Todd...
, Final Destination 2
Final Destination 2
Final Destination 2 is a 2003 supernatural horror film and the sequel to the 2000 film Final Destination and was directed by David R. Ellis. It was written by Jeffrey Reddick, Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber. The film stars Ali Larter, A. J. Cook, Michael Landes and Tony Todd...
, and Final Destination 5
Final Destination 5
Final Destination 5 is a 2011 supernatural horror film written by Eric Heisserer and directed by Steven Quale. It is the fifth installment in the Final Destination film franchise and stars Nicholas D'Agosto, Emma Bell, Miles Fisher, Arlen Escarpeta, David Koechner, and Tony Todd .The motion...
. He is the owner of Bludworth Funeral Homes, and has the most knowledge of Death
Death (personification)
The concept of death as a sentient entity has existed in many societies since the beginning of history. In English, Death is often given the name Grim Reaper and, from the 15th century onwards, came to be shown as a skeletal figure carrying a large scythe and clothed in a black cloak with a hood...
and its forces and capacities.
Final Destination
In the first film, Alex BrowningAlex Browning
Alexander Chance Browning is the protagonist of Final Destination portrayed by Devon Sawa. He is a senior student of Mt. Abraham High and is one of the students aboard Voleé Airlines Flight 180. He is the sixth survivor of Flight 180 to die....
and Clear Rivers
Clear Rivers
Clear Marie Rivers is the fictional character in the Final Destination film series, portrayed by Ali Larter. Clear serves as the main deuteragonist in both Final Destination and Final Destination 2. A senior at Mt. Abraham High School, Clear is one of the students aboard Volée Airlines Flight 180...
sneak inside the morgue to glimpse at Tod Waggner's corpse. Bludworth caught them in the act and asked why they came. Offering his help, he explains to them about the rule of Death
Death (personification)
The concept of death as a sentient entity has existed in many societies since the beginning of history. In English, Death is often given the name Grim Reaper and, from the 15th century onwards, came to be shown as a skeletal figure carrying a large scythe and clothed in a black cloak with a hood...
: those who cheat death will be revisited by Death once more to claim back their lives which should've been lost. He also tells them about Death's List (a list of the order of deaths of the survivors in the original incident) and how it will work on them once again. Finally, he states about how ruining the list can affect the remaining survivors.
Final Destination 2
In second film, Bludworth is revisited by ClearClear Rivers
Clear Marie Rivers is the fictional character in the Final Destination film series, portrayed by Ali Larter. Clear serves as the main deuteragonist in both Final Destination and Final Destination 2. A senior at Mt. Abraham High School, Clear is one of the students aboard Volée Airlines Flight 180...
, together with Kimberly Corman
Kimberly Corman
Kimberly "Kim" Corman is the visionary of Final Destination 2, portrayed by A.J. Cook. She is a college student from White Plains, New York, and is one of the survivors of the Route 23 pile-up. She is the seventh survivor of Route 23 to die....
and Thomas Burke, to obtain help about cheating death. He is seen de-accessorizing the corpse of Evan Lewis. However, he only mentions to them the rule of life and death: new life
Birth
Birth is the act or process of bearing or bringing forth offspring. The offspring is brought forth from the mother. The time of human birth is defined as the time at which the fetus comes out of the mother's womb into the world...
can defeat Death.
Final Destination 3
Despite being absent in the third film, Bludworth's voice can be heard as the devil on the coaster and the subway station announcer at the end.Final Destination 5
After a complete absence in The Final Destination, Bludworth reappears in fifth filmFinal Destination 5
Final Destination 5 is a 2011 supernatural horror film written by Eric Heisserer and directed by Steven Quale. It is the fifth installment in the Final Destination film franchise and stars Nicholas D'Agosto, Emma Bell, Miles Fisher, Arlen Escarpeta, David Koechner, and Tony Todd .The motion...
. In this film, he is seen as a mortician who the characters encounter several times, and informs them only that by taking a life can they live, for they will receive the lifespan of the person they've killed.
Casting
Tony Todd
Anthony T. "Tony" Todd is an American actor and movie producer, known for his height of 6'5", and deep voice. He is well known for playing the Candyman in the horror movie franchise of the same name, William Bludworth in Final Destination and for guest starring roles on numerous television...
, who played Candyman in the 1992 film Candyman
Candyman (film)
Candyman is a 1992 horror film starring Virginia Madsen, Tony Todd and Xander Berkeley. It was directed by Bernard Rose and is based on the short story "The Forbidden" by Clive Barker, though the film's scenario is switched from England to Chicago. The film was scored by Philip Glass. The film was...
, was cast as mortician William Bludworth. Writer Glen Morgan
Glen Morgan
Glen Morgan is an American television producer, writer, and director.-Biography:Morgan is best known for his screen work with long-time writing partner James Wong, including The X-Files, Millennium, Space: Above and Beyond, the Final Destination series, The One, Willard, and the 2006 remake of...
initially wanted Todd for the role for his deep voice that will give the film an eerie tone.
Reception
Todd's performance in Final Destination has received positive reviews among critics. Joe Leydon of VarietyVariety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
complimented his performance, saying that "Todd --- an old hand at scary stories after the "Candyman" series --- overplays with enough relish to position himself as a probable returnee for a Final Destination 2."; while Dustin Putman of TheMovieBoy.com gave positive reviews to his appearance:
Tony Todd (1992's "Candyman"), as an arcane morgue attendant, pops up for a five-minute cameo, but his appearance is rather supererogatory.
However in Final Destination 2, Todd's performance as Bludworth received mixed reviews from critics. Michael Phillips
Michael Phillips (critic)
Michael Phillips is a film critic for the Chicago Tribune newspaper. Previously he was the drama critic of the Tribune; the Los Angeles Times; the St. Paul Pioneer Press; the San Diego Union-Tribune; and the Dallas Times Herald....
of Goatdog's Movies remarked that "the only remotely interesting person in this film is Tony Todd (of Candyman fame), who returns as the mortician who seems to know way too much about death's plan." Brian McKay of eFilmCritic mentioned that "the explanations from the mysterious undertaker from the first film (Tony Todd, a great actor sadly utilized in a one-scene throwaway part) make no sense." Andrew Manning of Radio Free Entertainment reviewed that his role was "hardly necessary" and "while he added a certain mood to the mix the first time around, his appearance here seems forced."
Both viewers and critics were glad to see Todd return in the fifth film.