A Terrifying Rendition of the 'Five Nights at Freddy's' Concept Unleashed by 'Doctor Who'

Article Summary

The lack of suspense and tension in Five Nights at Freddy's makes it fall short as a scary horror film.

The animatronic villains, despite their initial frightful appearance, lose their impact in the movie because of their slow and predictable movement.

The Weeping Angels episode of Doctor Who effectively showcases terrifying, immobile creatures, which could have served as a better source of inspiration for Five Nights at Freddy's. While watching Five Nights at Freddy's, the popular science fiction series Doctor Who, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, might come to mind. This Chuck E. Cheese parody has now set another significant milestone for video game adaptations after the highly profitable The Super Mario Bros. Movie, as Five Nights at Freddy's continues to break box office records despite its simultaneous streaming release. Hopefully, Universal Pictures and Blumhouse don't draw the wrong conclusions from its success, but regardless, the unprecedented triumph of Five Nights at Freddy's serves as a major victory for movie theaters during the ongoing challenges faced by the film industry. With its impressive box office performance, one would assume that Five Nights at Freddy's is an outstanding horror film, right? Well...

Is Five Nights at Freddy's the worst horror movie of 2023? No, it's not. It's not even the worst movie released by Blumhouse this month (*cough* The Exorcist: Believer *cough*). However, it does have several problems, with the biggest one being that it fails to deliver scares. In fact, the film lacks any moments of suspense or tension throughout its lengthy runtime. It's disappointing because creating a genuinely frightening Five Nights at Freddy's movie should have been an easy task, considering the already creepy animatronic villains.

That's where the issue lies. The villains in Five Nights at Freddy's are scary when they're still, but in the film, they constantly move at an agonizingly slow pace. It's a strange mistake that could have been avoided by taking inspiration from Doctor Who's iconic Weeping Angels. In Season 3, Episode 10, these silent and statuesque creatures were introduced and left a lasting impression on audiences everywhere.

Ready to test your survival skills? Prepare for a bone-chilling experience as the terrifying horror game sensation, Five Nights at Freddy's, comes alive on the silver screen. Produced by Blumhouse, known for their spine-tingling movies such as M3GAN, The Black Phone, and The Invisible Man, this cinematic adaptation delves into the dark world of Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. Join our protagonist, a troubled security guard, as he embarks on his first night shift at Freddy's, only to discover that surviving the night won't be a walk in the park.

What Are the Weeping Angels in 'Doctor Who'?

Release Date: October 27, 2023

Director: Emma Tammi

Cast: Josh Hutcherson, Matthew Lillard, Elizabeth Lail, Mary Stuart Masterson

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 110 minutes

Main Genre: Horror

Genres: Horror

Image via BBC

At the time of writing, Season 3, Episode 10 of Doctor Who has received an impressive score on IMDb with over 23,000 reviews, and for good reason. Not only does it feature the iconic line "wibbly wobbly... time-y wimey... stuff," but it also delves into the realm of horror, something that is uncommon in the series. While the Doctor's usual time-traveling adventures take a backseat in this episode, the focus shifts to a terrifying new world inhabited by the Weeping Angels. These formidable beings make even the Daleks seem tame, resembling harmless statues until they reveal their true nature as hostile predators. Just one wrong move and they will eliminate their unsuspecting prey in an instant. What sets the Weeping Angels apart from other creatures is their unique hunting method – as long as you don't look at them, they appear to be nothing more than ordinary statues.

The Weeping Angels can only move when no one is making eye contact with them. In just one second, they can stealthily approach their victims, taking advantage of even a simple blink. Sally and Larry learn this the hard way as they desperately try to escape from these merciless creatures. Adding to the fear factor, the episode concludes with the Doctor breaking the fourth wall, cautioning the audience to avoid breaking eye contact with suspicious statues, hinting that seemingly harmless stone figures may actually be disguised monsters.

From a storytelling perspective, the Angels are already terrifying, but the show enhances their fear factor through its presentation. When Sally and Larry divert their gaze, we, as viewers, are left in the dark about the Angels' movements. Our imaginations run wild, wondering how they are able to capture their victims and what their true intentions may be. This approach is far more impactful than relying on flashy CGI scenes or slow-moving, lifeless props.

Freddy and His Friends are Not Scary in 'Five Nights at Freddy's

Unlike the Weeping Angels, Freddy and his animatronic companions are not known for their swift movements. In fact, they are incredibly slow. To put it in perspective, they make the zombies from The Walking Dead appear as fast as The Flash. The exception to this is Foxy, who darts towards his prey when they are cornered. However, the transition to CGI diminishes the scare factor. On a positive note, the puppets and costumes used to bring Freddy Fazbear and his friends to life are incredibly accurate and true to the game. They truly resemble characters that have jumped out of the video game. Despite this, the slow movements of the animatronics raise the question of how they are able to harm anyone. Perhaps the intricate practical costumes contribute to their sluggishness. It would make sense for them to only move when the characters are not looking.

The 'Five Nights at Freddy's 2014 Game Uses Freddy and the Animatronics Effectively

Image via ScottGames

That's exactly how the original game portrayed the now-iconic animatronics. In the 2014 game, players take on the role of the security guard, with Josh Hutcherson's character representing him. The robots, known for their infamy, remain completely still when they are being watched through the cameras. Only when the player's attention is diverted do they gradually move closer. The exception to this is Foxy, who dashes towards the security room if the player neglects to pay enough attention to him. However, the other animatronics become much faster in delivering jump scares if the player loses the game. It is this sudden increase in speed, coupled with their prior absence of movement, that adds a terrifying aspect to these characters. The fact that they possess the ability to kill instantly but choose not to adds an instant horror factor, contributing to the longstanding popularity of this iconic intellectual property. It's unfortunate that while Doctor Who understood the fear factor of stillness in 2007, Five Nights at Freddy's seems to struggle with this concept in 2023. Five Nights at Freddy's can now be watched in theaters or streamed on Peacock.

Watch on Peacock

Editor's P/S

1. In my opinion, the Weeping Angels from Doctor Who are a much more terrifying concept than the animatronics from Five Nights at Freddy's. The Weeping Angels are completely still and silent when you're not looking at them, but as soon as you turn your back, they're able to move and attack. This makes them incredibly unpredictable and unsettling. The animatronics in Five Nights at Freddy's, on the other hand, are constantly moving and making noise, which makes them less scary.

2. I think that Five Nights at Freddy's would have been a much better movie if it had taken more inspiration from the Weeping Angels. The film could have used more suspense and tension by having the animatronics be more still and silent. This would have made them more unpredictable and unsettling, and it would have made the film more scary. Additionally, the film could have explored the idea of the animatronics being able to move when you're not looking at them, which would have added another layer of恐怖.