WILD CARDS

Welcome to this week's edition of No Preview Screenings Theater. This week we have two death-affirming movies and one life-affirming film. On the one hand, you have the choice of seeing characters splattered by gruesome accidents in "Final Destination" (death by car wash -- there's a new one), or massacred traditionally in "Halloween II" by a golem with a butcher knife. The "Halloween" entry is rated R for "strong brutal bloody violence throughout, terror, disturbing graphic images, language, some crude sexual content and nudity," while "Final Destination" is a comparatively wimpy R for "violence, terror and language." On the other hand, there's "Open Road" (PG-13 for "some language") with Justin Timberlake, Jeff Bridges and Mary Steenburgen. It's about a young man looking to reconnect with his long-lost father -- a baseball star -- and bring him to the bedside of his ailing mother. Decisions, decisions. We'll have reviews online at www.startribune.com/movies.

COLIN COVERT