Director Emma Tammi Credits Jim Henson's Creature Shop for Bringing 'Five Nights at Freddy's' to Life

The Big Picture

Five Nights at Freddy's has gained immense popularity through its online community engagement and fan theorizing about the franchise's lore.

The film combines elements of horror and family drama, presenting a distinctive approach that sets it apart from other Blumhouse films. With its PG-13 rating, the movie successfully strikes a creative and fulfilling harmony between scares and appeal for younger viewers, incorporating ingenious techniques to elevate the horror aspects.

David Gordon Green’s The Exorcist: Believer had a strong presence in theaters this October, and now Blumhouse Productions and Universal Pictures are teaming up once again for another highly anticipated franchise, Five Nights at Freddy's. Directed by Emma Tammi (known for her work on The Wind) and starring Josh Hutcherson (from The Hunger Games), this PG-13 horror film brings to life the twisted and expansive world created by Scott Cawthon. Fans can only hope that this will be another successful franchise for Blumhouse. In a recent interview with Steve Weintraub from Our website, Tammi discussed Easter eggs, killer animatronics, and her hopes for a sequel.

The story of Five Nights at Freddy's revolves around Mike (played by Hutcherson), who is desperately searching for a job to support himself and his younger sister, Abby (played by Piper Rubio). When he is offered a less-than-desirable position as a nighttime security guard at the run-down Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria by Steve Raglan (played by Matthew Lillard), Mike reluctantly accepts due to a lack of other options. It is only after police officer Vanessa (played by Elizabeth Lail) shares the pizzeria's dark history that Mike encounters Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy - the worn and brightly colored stars of Freddy Fazbear's show. The pizza place is surrounded by terrifying rumors that claim the animatronics come to life at night and wander the premises. These rumors stem from reports of children going missing decades ago and never being found.

Our website: Why do you believe Five Nights at Freddy's has remained incredibly popular for the past decade?

EMMA TAMMI: Oh, man. That's a monumental question, and I'm not sure if I possess the complete capability to provide a definitive answer. Nonetheless, once I delved into playing it, I found myself utterly captivated, which allows me to comprehend why others would feel the same way. Moreover, a significant component of the FNaF franchise lies within its online community, where fans engage in theorizing about the lore, conversing with each other, and fostering an extraordinary and unparalleled experience.

Image via ScottGames

What do you think would surprise fans of Blumhouse to learn about making a Blumhouse movie?

TAMMI: Interesting.

I am facing unexpected challenges.

TAMMI: This situation is quite unexpected. In particular, during the first month of filming, we didn't work with the animatronics. Instead, we focused on shooting scenes in various locations, which gave the film a family drama-like atmosphere. These scenes primarily revolved around Mike and Abby, who are brother and sister, dealing with relatable human struggles. However, about a month into production, we transitioned to the pizzeria set and started incorporating the animatronics, which completely changed the dynamic in a thrilling way. Interestingly, this horror film also incorporates elements from other genres, which might not be what audiences typically expect from a Blumhouse film.

The prospect of this film being a first scary movie for a new generation of kids is significant. I consider it a great privilege to potentially introduce them to this genre. As a child, I vividly recall the movies that scared me the most, and they hold a special place in my heart. Films like Gremlins, for example, not only frightened me but also instilled a sense of wonder, humor, and even adorableness that took a dark turn as the cute creatures transformed into monsters. This delicate balance of tones is something we aimed to achieve, and I believe it adds a unique touch to the film.

Image via Blumhouse

The film is rated PG-13, and it features an impactful kill scene. Hence, I'm intrigued by the process of creating a film of this nature, pushing the boundaries while also navigating the requirements of the MPAA.

TAMMI: We maintain an ongoing conversation throughout the script process, editorial, and the inclusion of any VFX enhancements. Our goal is to strike a balance between fulfilling our intention and delivering an experience that satisfies the fans' expectations in terms of scares, while also ensuring the film falls within the PG-13 category. It's about finding the right amount of seasoning, a touch of salt, a hint of pepper, and then evaluating if we have gone overboard and making adjustments if necessary. It's all about finding the perfect blend.

Was there a need to negotiate, particularly for a certain sequence? Without giving away too much, were there any negotiations required to keep the film PG-rated?

TAMMI: We were successful in maintaining the desired level of execution and still qualifying for a PG-13 rating. However, this success heavily relied on the execution itself. For example, one of the moments you mentioned required a lot of shadow work, which allowed us to navigate the restrictions. Nevertheless, for this film and our cinematic approach, choosing this creatively satisfying option was genuinely exciting.

Discussing the editing process is something I truly enjoy because it is where everything converges. So, what insights did you gain from the initial screenings that influenced the final version of the film?

TAMMI: We were highly aware that security leaks were a concern for this project, so we kept it extremely confidential. However, the feedback we received prompted us to make some adjustments, particularly in terms of the ending's balance of character action. Based on this feedback, we decided to give Mike a more prominent active role towards the end of the film, which proved to be incredibly useful.

Image via Blumhouse

We made sure to include plenty of Easter eggs while filming this movie. Our main goal was to satisfy the fans with the first viewing, but also provide ongoing discoveries for those who choose to re-watch it. While our focus was primarily on the present film, we did consider the potential impact on future sequels. Hopefully, we will have the opportunity to delve further into that.

Is there a specific sequence that viewers should pay attention to, particularly with any hidden details in the background? I recommend keeping an eye on the security monitors.

[Laughs] Okay.

TAMMI: Fair enough.

Working with Jim Henson's Creature Shop was an incredible opportunity. Collaborating on the creation of animatronics allowed us to push boundaries and bring these creatures to life. We dedicated a significant amount of time to rehearsing and determining the limits of the servos during extensive movements on set. While there were always parameters to consider, our team became highly efficient and experienced as production progressed. The time spent preparing and breaking down the animatronics significantly decreased as we honed our skills to a science.

Hypothetically, I know you wouldn't have taken anything from set, but what did you take from set?

TAMMI: [Laughs] I shall never speak of that.

Image via Blumhouse

Did you attempt to get one of the animatronics in the car, or is it way too much?

TAMMI: So, we did manage to install an animatronic in a car for a specific scene, and it was quite a challenging task. I'm not sure if it would be feasible to fit one in a regular car without disassembling it beforehand. However, it was a really enjoyable experience to do it for that particular scene.

In situations like this, I would definitely be interested in exploring the possibility of "borrowing" one.

TAMMI: Yeah, just borrow one.

Just to keep it at home. You know what I mean?

TAMMI: Yep!

Did you end up with a lot of deleted scenes?

TAMMI: No, we actually utilized almost all of the scenes we filmed. Some aspects were shortened, as expected during the editorial process, but we didn't exclude anything in this instance. Every element felt purposeful and effectively contributed to the film, which was remarkable.

I must say, Josh truly gave it his all. He delivered his performance with great dedication. Could you elaborate on his role in the movie? Because without him anchoring everything, the entire project would crumble.

TAMMI: That's absolutely correct. If you're not on board with Mike, then you're completely absorbed in the movie, and Josh truly embodied the character of Mike flawlessly – he was so genuine, confident, and at ease in his portrayal. As a performer, he possesses an incredible amount of depth and a cheerful spirit, qualities that were indispensable for the role of Mike and are not always easy to find in one performance. He simply aced it.

Image via Universal Pictures

TAMMI: It was a great experience having Scott on set. Even when he couldn't physically be there, he had access to our monitors to see what was happening. It was really helpful to have his real-time feedback and make any necessary adjustments. A few weeks into production, he even told me that he was enjoying watching the movie and seeing the story unfold on screen. It was amazing because both of us were unsure of what to expect, but the entire process was fantastic. Having him on our side was a huge asset, as we wouldn't have been able to accurately adapt the game without his involvement.

Five Nights at Freddy's is now in theaters and streaming on Peacock.