Critical Reviews Label Five Nights at Freddy's Film as Tedious, Confusing, and Superficial

Five Nights at Freddy's has finally made its way to UK cinemas, but the reviews have been overwhelmingly negative. Critics have harshly criticized the video game adaptation. The original Five Nights at Freddy's game was released in 2014, and the announcement for the movie version came a year later in 2015. This means it has taken almost ten years to bring this movie to life.

FNAF was released in the UK today, it will be available for streaming on Peacock starting tomorrow, and will hit US screens on Friday (October 27).

Regrettably, according to various early online reviews, the final film is receiving negative feedback, with Five Nights at Freddy's receiving anything but five-star reviews.

Five Nights at Freddy’s gets dismal first reviews

Here’s what the critics are saying about Five Nights at Freddy’s in the smattering of review that went live today:

GamesRadar: A villainous character gleefully exclaims, "This is going to be so much fun!" in Five Nights At Freddy's, a movie adaptation of the popular video game. The film, directed by Emma Tammi, shares producers and story elements with the successful horror film M3GAN. However, despite occasional promising moments, Tammi's puppet show fails to fully deliver on its potential.

Digital Spy commends the film for a standout sequence featuring a series of intense kills. However, they express disappointment as Five Nights at Freddy's falls into a repetitive and unresolved exploration of trauma and exposition. The tension that made the game terrifying through its simple yet effective mechanic of shutting doors or turning on lights to keep animatronics away is noticeably absent.

Film Stories criticizes the movie for having a convoluted and superficial story that fails to make a lasting impression. The lead actor, Josh Hutcherson, is unremarkable, and his performance is hindered by a shallow script that mistakenly substitutes heavy backstory for emotional depth. Although Matthew Lillard's inclusion is always a pleasure, his portrayal as Mike's mysterious career counsellor is not enough to save the film. Elizabeth Lail, unfortunately, is given a thinly written character that does not do justice to her talents. While Vanessa may hold some significance for gamers, it is ultimately another missed opportunity for the overall film.

The Independent criticizes the film for abandoning its mysterious elements in favor of a repetitive portrayal of trauma. The lack of robot murder and the film's attempt at a bloodless rating hinder the impact of the violence. Additionally, the article questions the purpose of targeting a fanbase that is mostly of drinking age and doubts that the movie will attract new viewers. Five Nights at Freddy's is currently showing in UK cinemas, will be available on Peacock tomorrow, and will be released in US theaters on Friday. To learn more about the film, refer to the articles below.