Can you survive five nights? The terrifying horror game phenomenon becomes a blood-chilling cinematic event, as Blumhouse— the producer of M3GAN, The Black Phone and The Invisible Man— brings Five Nights At Freddy’s to the big screen. Catch Freddy, Bonny, Chica, and Foxy in cinemas October 25th, 2023. Just in time for Halloween!
Synopsis
Five Nights Ar Freddy’s follows Mike (Josh Hutcherson) a troubled young man caring for his 10-year-old sister Abby (Piper Rubio), and haunted by the unsolved disappearance of his younger brother more than a decade before.
Recently fired and desperate for work so that he can keep custody of Abby, Mike agrees to take a position as a night security guard at an abandoned theme restaurant: Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria. But Mike soon discovers that nothing at Freddy’s is what it seems. With the aid of Vanessa Shelly, a local police officer (Elizabeth Lail), Mike’s nights at Freddy’s will lead him into unexplainable encounters with the supernatural and drag him into the black heart of an unspeakable nightmare.
Review
Confession time. I’ve never played Five Nights At Freddy’s, however, when the film was announced my interest was immediately piqued. This film was an opportunity to finally experience the world of FNAF without having to submerge myself in the stress of the video games. I don’t cope well with horror games, but I was desperate to meet these terrifying mascots that have gripped audiences around the world for the best part of nine years. Of course, video game adaptations have been scrutinized, mostly for their fidelity, but as an introduction… Five Nights At Freddy’s does a fantastic job at laying down the core foundations for a much wider and less knowledgeable audience.
I’m not completely ignorant to the world that Scott Cawthon has developed, but it felt as though they prioritised the core components of the franchise and really honed in on them through subtle references, certain shots, set-ups, and props. So for those hardcore fans who truly understand the world and lore, it may not feel as in-depth , it may actually come across as fairly simplistic and safe. For me personally, this film captured the essential ingredients that made FNAF soar. It’s an incredibly accessible film that operates in a way that doesn’t neglect new audiences, but also doesn’t forget about the fans.
While it does take a while for the film to establish the iconic and eerily decrepit mascots, they are definitely the highlight. They are the stars of the show, which is only right. Not only do they look utterly fantastic, but they really do feel like characters in their own way. There’s a charm to them that instantly evaporates when their motivations become clear. Considering that each Mascot is an animatronic, brought brilliantly to life by the Jim Henson Company, it’s truly amazing seeing these animatronics emote and interact with the world and the characters.
Would it have been better if they had more screentime? Sure, but what we got was really good. They look terrific, they feel real, and more importantly they ooze personality. Each mascot is different in terms of their attitude, and they all get their moment in the spotlight. If I had to pick a favourite, it would have to be Foxy. From a practical standpoint, Five Nights At Freddy’s is just a joy to look at, from the rundown environment of the Pizzeria to the mascots themselves. Each scene is riddled with detail, and the animatronics just elevate the film. It’s technical artistry mixed with a deep understanding of the material. FNAF was crafted by people who know and understand the franchise. It would be fair to say that they didn’t check all of the boxes, but from the very start it’s clear that this was made by passionate fans.
While we waited patiently for Freddy and his friends to take the stage, we of course had the human and grounded element of FNAF to contend with. It may seem like an irrelevant comparison, but more often than not monster movies tend to get the human to monster ratio wrong. To a degree, Five Nights At Freddy’s is a monster movie and it definitely leaned towards the human element more. However, through Josh Hutcherson’s Mike we’re introduced to a complex family dynamic that dabbles heavily in trauma, PTSD, rejection and loneliness. It complements the narrative and ties everything up nicely.
The scales may indeed be unbalanced, but the family element that drives this narrative is really well executed, incredibly convienent at times, but nonetheless well developed. The bond that Mike shares with his sister is fractured and broken, but it slowly blossoms into something quite sincere and beautiful just as the events at Freddy’s Pizzeria intensifies drastically. The combination is splendid. You really care for Mike and his unique situation which only heightens the impending horror as truths are layed out, and each night becomes increasingly more extreme.
One of the biggest issues with FNAF, which interestingly works as a positive for someone like me, is that it is quite tame. The gore is very minimal, the jump scares are predictable, and some of the scares just don’t quite land like they should. However, what this film lacks in chilling scares it makes up for in pure unapologetic fun. Five Nights At Freddy’s is an incredibly fun movie; intensely fun if you will.
In a way, it felt very similar to M3GAN. The horror element is toned down, and the entertainment is cranked up. Having said that though, this movie deals with much darker themes and the fun is never used to dull those moments. The mascots may be the stars, but there is an underlying story that binds everything together and it is gripping. Five Nights At Freddy’s finds a perfect balance between the light and dark and creates a wonderful concoction. Unfortuntely, for those looking for a real scare, this adaptation just doesn’t hit that sweet spot.
Verdict
Five Nights At Freddy’s is a thrilling and highly enjoyable feast that perfectly utilizes the core ingredients from the franchise. While it definitely could have gone harder and leaned more into the “horror” element, it’s easy to see why this adaptation appears quite tame. FNAF works as a great introduction for new fans who are eager to explore the franchise, but it’s also a respectable adaptation that honors the source material from the vast franchise. It’s a very minimal adaptation, but if this film takes off… There is so much more material to experiment with, and I would absolutely love to see what else Freddy and his friends have up their sleeves,
⭐⭐⭐.5
Five Nights at Freddy’s is produced by Jason Blum and Scott Cawthon. The film’s executive producers are Bea Sequeira, Russell Binder, Marc Mostman and Christopher H. Warner. Universal Pictures presents a Blumhouse production, in association with Striker Entertainment.
Will you be watching Five Nights at Freddy’s on the big screen this Halloween? Make sure you let us know in the comments.
