Does Five Nights At Freddy's Movie Live Up to the Hype? A Review

Summary

Critics are lukewarm to negative about the Five Nights at Freddy's movie, calling it empty and unexciting.

The animatronics in the film faced criticism for being unscary and lifeless, despite their accurate resemblance to cuddly characters.

Josh Hutcherson's performance receives praise, with many calling it the saving grace of the movie. However, the story is described as a dreary portrayal of trauma that has been previously seen.

The Five Nights at Freddy's movie has received its first official reviews. Directed and co-written by Emma Tammi, the Blumhouse production is based on the popular horror video game series created by Scott Cawthon. Starring Josh Hutcherson as a nighttime security guard at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, the movie takes a chilling turn when he discovers that the animatronic characters come to life at midnight to kill anyone inside the building. The film also features Elizabeth Lail, Piper Rubio, Mary Stuart Masterson, and Matthew Lillard.

Early reviews for the Five Nights at Freddy's movie have now been released ahead of its upcoming release date. At present, Rotten Tomatoes has not yet compiled enough reviews to provide a Fresh or Rotten score. However, early indications from critics suggest a lukewarm to negative response. Variety's Murtada Elfadl describes the film as "a rather lackluster and unexciting attempt to attract horror fans during the Halloween season."

What Critics Are Saying About Five Nights at Freddy's

Most reviews criticize the animatronics at the center of the Five Nights at Freddy's movie, with some comparing them to Barney the purple dinosaur and calling them lifeless. However, there is praise for their design and how it appeals to Hutcherson's character's daughter. Despite this, it is easy to forget that these animatronics are supposed to be scary, even when they cause harm.

On the other hand, the cast of Five Nights at Freddy's, especially Josh Hutcherson, receives better feedback than the animatronics. Hutcherson's lead performance is described as compellingly worn-out and a saving grace by critics. While his charm is acknowledged, it is argued that it cannot compensate for the flaws in the movie. Furthermore, Hutcherson's portrayal of a character with trauma is seen as unoriginal and repetitive.

Some positive reviews have been received, with Pete Hammond of Deadline describing the execution as top-notch, and Jeremy Mathai of SlashFilm mentioning the cleverly staged thrills, humor, and, most importantly, heart that keep the movie engaging. Whether or not these reviews will have a significant impact on the box office performance of Five Nights at Freddy's remains to be seen. The film is currently projected to have a strong opening of $50 million. Unlike Blumhouse's earlier October release, The Exorcist: Believer, which was negatively reviewed and opened below expectations, Freddy's mixed reactions could indicate that the movie has a chance if it receives positive word of mouth.