Since the release of the original video game in 2014, “Five Nights at Freddy’s” has become a pop culture phenomenon. In addition to an extensive video game series, the franchise is made up of books, toys and endless merchandise. The game follows a security guard who must survive five nights in an abandoned pizza restaurant full of strange animatronics — lifelike animal robots — that kill anyone they see. For years, the game’s massive fanbase has begged for a film adaptation, and this October, they finally got their wish.
The movie follows roughly the same storyline as the first game in the series, with a greater emphasis placed on characters. Viewers are introduced to Mike Schmidt (Josh Hutcherson): unemployed and down on his luck, Mike struggles to find work while caring for his younger sister Abby (Piper Rubio). When he is offered a job as a security guard at an abandoned pizza restaurant, Mike reluctantly accepts it, broke and desperate.
Mike’s fixation on the past and relentless pursuit of the truth made him a complex protagonist who, although flawed, viewers will undoubtedly root for. Additionally, his fierce love for and protection of his younger sister was both heartwarming and humanizing. Mike’s character development is one aspect of the film that the original game series lacks, even though it is played through his eyes. The impressive way it added complexity to a formerly dull video game avatar is one of the “FNAF” movie’s greatest strengths, and a way in which it takes the groundwork of the game and builds upon it.
But while Mike was a complex character, the introduction to his character could have been condensed. Too much time was spent establishing his unemployment and living situation with his sister, which isn’t relevant for the rest of the movie. This resulted in a very slow start, distracting from the movie’s main attraction: the creepy animatronics that come out at night.
When they were finally revealed, however, they were deeply unsettling. The animatronics were practically identical to the ones in the game — looming machines possessed by the souls of lost children. They triggered intense discomfort whenever they appeared on screen, and perfectly captured the creepy aesthetic of the game.
The animatronics are about as horrific as this film gets though. While marketed as horror, the movie is rather tame. Most gory moments happen off-screen, and although horror can be created without violence, the film is also lacking in suspense and psychological fear. There are no heart-racing jump scares, and since most fans are so familiar with the game, the largely predictable plot doesn’t add any of the anticipation and suspense that horror movies typically aim to create. However, it’s important to remember the target audience for this film is kids and younger teens. The “FNAF” movie would likely be a lot more scary to a 10-year-old than a grown adult.
Because the “FNAF” franchise is so heavily reliant on its extensive lore, many fans worried that the film wouldn’t accurately adopt it. Fortunately, the film honors the game’s lore as best as it can within a brief two-hour time frame. While it’s unrealistic to expect that every event within the “FNAF” universe will be covered, the movie references important moments and characters that fans of the game will be excited to recognize. For example, the infamous “Bite of ‘87” is referenced in a particularly unsettling scene when an animatronic chomps on and decapitates a victim.
It’s also important to note that there are plans for sequels, so it is likely that future films will explore characters and plot points that might have not been highlighted in the first movie.
All in all, the “Five Nights at Freddy’s” movie is a solid adaptation of a beloved game. While the film was lacking in suspense and fast pacing, it is bound to please fans who have waited so long to see its lore brought to life. I would rate the movie a three out of five stars.
