An In-Depth Review of Five Nights at Freddy's

Universal's wisest decision with Five Nights at Freddy's was to immediately release it on streaming. While the theatrical run will bring legitimacy and financial success, the true destiny of the film lies in entertaining slumber parties of excited pre-teens who revel in staying up past 11. Hardcore fans, who are deeply involved in the lore and proudly display Foxy or Chica on their keyrings, will also find joy in the film. Unfortunately, the franchise seems to be better suited for Let's Play videos rather than full-length feature films.

The production of Five Nights at Freddy's went through a series of changes, akin to the turnover of security guards at Fazbear's. The film was originally announced at Warner Bros. in 2015, with Gil Keenan of Monster House set to direct and Tyler Burton Smith, the writer of the Child's Play reboot, on board as a co-writer. However, Warner Bros. decided to seek additional support, leading series creator Scott Cawthon to bring the project over to Blumhouse. Chris Columbus, the director behind the well-received Home Alone movies, as well as the writer of Gremlins and Goonies, stepped in to take the helm. However, he ultimately stepped back when Cawthon discarded the script he had approved. Emma Tammi, known for her work on Blumhouse's Into the Dark straight-to-streaming film series, was then brought in to replace Columbus and co-write the new screenplay with Cawthon. One cannot help but wonder if the previous directors would have had an easier time with the material.

For those unfamiliar with the FNaF franchise, it revolves around an abandoned pizza restaurant filled with haunted animatronics. The franchise's popularity, consisting of ten mainline games and six spin-off titles, can largely be attributed to its YouTube presence. It has gained a dedicated following through the countless Let's Players and lore enthusiasts. The film closely follows the storyline of the original 2014 game. In the movie, Josh Hutcherson portrays Mike, the protagonist from the game, who is in need of a job to support his younger sister and prevent his money-hungry aunt from gaining custody. Matthew Lillard takes on the role of Steve Raglan, Mike's career counselor, who presents him with an offer he can't refuse, despite it being less than desirable. As the night guard at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, Mike uncovers horrifying secrets from its past and discovers an unexplainable connection between this darkness and his own haunting memories. However, the interwoven plotlines tend to be rather predictable, lacking the element of surprise.

Content

Was Five Nights at Freddy's designed for a younger audience? The fandom has been divided over the film's PG-13 rating. While the games have always maintained a T for Teen rating, the movie had the potential to target a broader demographic. Creator Scott Cawthon previously developed family-friendly games before delving into the horror genre. However, due to his strong religious beliefs, he may have been hesitant to explore darker themes beyond what he has already portrayed. It is worth noting that FNaF has gained immense popularity among children, particularly through YouTube Let's Plays that focus more on scared reactions rather than comedic commentary. With this in mind, the film faced a dilemma. Embracing the story's ominous atmosphere would risk an R-rating, thereby potentially alienating a significant portion of the audience. On the other hand, creating a horror film suitable for children akin to Gil Keenan's Monster House would make long-time adult fans, who have been devoted to the franchise for nearly a decade, feel a sense of disconnect. Ultimately, both Tammi and Cawthon erred on the side of caution, resulting in a film that tiptoes around violence and profanity. Consequently, it fails to fully commit in either direction, lacking the compelling impact it could have had.

Fortunately, the movie's redeeming factor lies in its technical aspects. The four animatronics – Freddy, Chica, Bonnie, and Foxy – exude excellence throughout the film. Fans will be delighted to witness their lifelike presence brought to life with assistance from the renowned Jim Henson's Creature Shop. In the games, the animatronics' actions are often limited to standing idle, jumping out of closets, and giving the player a sense of impending danger through implied murder scenes. However, this film brilliantly showcases their intimidating nature while allowing them to express their personalities beyond their usual snippets. Additionally, the production design is generally impressive. Despite being made on a modest budget, the film does not appear cheap. The faithfully recreated Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, along with the fully functional animatronics, will undoubtedly captivate fans. For those seeking to see FNaF presented as a blockbuster, watching Willy's Wonderland immediately afterward would highlight the stark contrast between the two.

Everything beyond the animatronics and environments crumbles when scrutinized. Five Nights at Freddy's is akin to a children's movie in its writing. The dialogue often feels awkward or inhuman, eliciting brief bursts of laughter in serious moments. While there are some successful jokes that could potentially steer the film into a mean-spirited comedy territory, akin to a Child's Play sequel, the movie never fully embraces this concept. The script prevents the actors from achieving anything remarkable, and the narrative takes an eternity to reach its destination. The slow build-up would be acceptable if each twist hadn't been meticulously spoiled in advance, allowing even the youngest audience member to anticipate them. Perhaps the gravest flaw lies in the complete absence of any genuine scares. Perhaps a couple of feeble jumps might momentarily startle a drowsy viewer, but it lacks any sense of fear. Leave it to Cawthon, whose family-friendly game featured a face so terrifying that it became a horror icon, to create a horror film devoid of any truly frightening elements.

Five Nights at Freddy's offers little substance in terms of its premise and lacks any original ideas in its execution. It falls just above the bare minimum, but not by a significant margin. Regrettably, the prevailing sentiment towards this highly anticipated adaptation is one of sheer boredom. The various underdeveloped elements come together to create a predictable experience that fails to leave a lasting impression. For those interested in Five Nights at Freddy's, Peacock is the ideal platform to catch the show. Devoted fans and teenagers may find enjoyment in it, but it is likely to fade from the memory of everyone else.

Five Nights at Freddy's

In this adaptation of the iconic horror game, a security guard must survive the haunted animatronics at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza to discover his strange link to its dark past.