Donnie Darko: The Unlikely Inspiration Behind Five Nights at Freddy's
Five Nights at Freddy's director Emma Tammi reveals the profound influence of Donnie Darko and Casino on her captivating video game adaptation
Emma Tammi, the director of Five Nights at Freddy's, delves into the influences of Donnie Darko and Casino on her riveting video game adaptation. This bone-chilling story revolves around animatronic creatures awakening in a deserted amusement eatery named Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, relentlessly pursuing their human prey.
The film FNaF is based on a 2014 horror survival game with the same title. However, it bears little resemblance to the end-of-the-world drama Donnie Darko, other than the presence of a giant rabbit in the 2001 film.
In a recent interview, director Emma Tammi shares how Richard Kelly's Donnie Darko served as an inspiration for her work on FNaF, alongside an unexpected film by Martin Scorsese.
How Donnie Darko inspired Five Nights at Freddy’s
When asked about the films that influenced Five Nights at Freddy's, Emma Tammi shared with Forbes that one such film was Donnie Darko. According to Tammi, Josh Hutcherson, who stars in the movie, referenced Donnie Darko when discussing his performance. Tammi found the film's unique tone to be significant and believed it was important to draw inspiration from a variety of movies and filmmakers. Donnie Darko, starring Jake Gyllenhaal as a troubled teenager who receives messages about the end of the world from a man in a rabbit suit, may not have been a commercial success initially but has gained a dedicated fan base over the past 22 years.
Tammi further surprised by referencing Scorsese's Casino as a major influence on the camera movement in Freddy's, along with other unexpected elements. She believed this created an exciting combination that perfectly complemented the distinctive and eccentric nature of the story and its world.Casino is a biographical crime film featuring Robert De Niro as Sam 'Ace' Rothstein, who endeavors to establish a lucrative gambling kingdom in Las Vegas.
Five Nights at Freddy's is currently showing in UK cinemas, and the movie will be released on Peacock and in US theaters on October 27, 2023. Explore the articles below for further information about the film.
