The Explanations Behind Five Nights At Freddy's Ending

This article contains spoilers for Five Nights at Freddy's.

Article Key Points

The Five Nights at Freddy's movie remains faithful to the intricate storyline of the video game series, while also incorporating certain artistic interpretations.

Centered around Mike, a security guard employed at a haunted pizza restaurant, the film delves into the sinister revelations surrounding the animatronics and the instances of abduction that occurred.

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The conclusion of the story hints at the possibility of future installments, suggesting the return of the main antagonist and the exploration of new locations and characters within the expansive FNAF universe.

Numerous video games have been adapted into movies and TV shows by Hollywood, with varying levels of success. Five Nights at Freddy's has now joined the ranks, with a highly anticipated cinematic release just in time for Halloween 2023. Scott Cawthon, the creator of the popular video game series, immerses players in a security guard role, tasked with overseeing a deteriorating party venue reminiscent of the famous Chuck E. Cheese. Although the initial games may seem to revolve around a simple "survive the night" concept, there is a profound underlying narrative in each installment, making it the perfect material for a captivating cinematic adaptation.

What's the Five Nights at Freddy's Movie About?

The Five Nights at Freddy's movie successfully stays true to the core elements of the game's storyline, while also adding its own creative touches. The film revolves around a security guard working at a children's pizzeria, where the animatronics suddenly come to life, creating a constant sense of fear. However, it is the unexpected twist at the end that truly puts everything into perspective and enhances the overall impact of the movie.

The protagonist of the Five Nights at Freddy's movie is Mike Schmidt (played by Josh Hutcherson), a security guard at a mall who is haunted by the traumatic abduction of his brother Garrett. Mike's main focus is on other children, as he desperately tries to prevent a similar fate from befalling them. Unfortunately, he gets himself into trouble when he mistakenly identifies a struggling father and his son as potential kidnappers. This incident leads to Mike acquiring a new job as a security guard at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, a worn-down children's party venue that closed its doors in the 1980s.

Aside from losing his job and ending up at a haunted pizzeria, Mike also has to fight to maintain custody of his younger sister, Abby (played by Piper Rubio). However, his overwhelming grief becomes a hindrance, causing numerous obstacles for him to overcome. In his quest for answers about the kidnapper, Mike frequently relies on his dreams to relive the tragic event from his childhood, hoping to uncover crucial details. Unfortunately, this distance between Mike and his sister grows, despite his genuine concern for her well-being, making his aunt's bid for custody of Abby even stronger.

Mike's new job starts off with a creepy atmosphere, but gradually, the haunted animatronics begin to seem friendly, particularly towards Abby, who Mike is forced to bring along. The spirits of the children possessing Freddy and the other animatronics start infiltrating Mike's dreams, presenting him with an irresistible offer. They promise to provide answers about Garrett's kidnapper and even offer to reunite Mike with his brother and family in exchange for Abby.

Just as Mike rejects the offer, he awakens to find himself strapped in a chair, with an animatronic mask advancing menacingly towards him. Luckily, his friend and local police officer, Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail), comes to his rescue and reveals the truth about Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. It becomes evident then who the true culprit behind everything really is.

What Happens at the End of Five Nights at Freddy's?

At the end of the movie, Mike finally confronts William Afton, the mastermind behind Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. He discovers that William, who is also known as Steve Raglan, used to lure children into the pizzeria's backroom and brutally murder them by stuffing their bodies into the mechanical mascots. This disturbing act connects the souls of the children with the animatronics. William cunningly manipulated and influenced the children through his drawings, with the ultimate goal of possessing another mascot with a new spirit. Abby was his top choice, but Mike was determined to prevent that from happening.

The encounter between Mike and William Afton carries a heavy personal weight. Not only does Mike learn that William is the same person who hired him at Freddy Fazbear's under the alias of Steve Raglan, but he also discovers that William is Vanessa's father and the kidnapper and killer of Garrett many years ago.

Dressed in a hybrid animatronic suit resembling a yellow bunny, William effortlessly pummels Mike until his daughter intervenes. Displaying his lack of compassion, William proceeds to stab Vanessa. Despite his intentions to continue attacking Mike, Abby thwarts him by creating a drawing that reveals the truth to the other animatronics. Without hesitation, they turn against their creator, causing the spring traps in his suit to close tightly, impaling him and permanently trapping him within the suit.

Devoid of energy to continue the fight, Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy drag Afton out of the main parlor just as the entire building collapses. Mike and Abby manage to save Vanessa and successfully escape. In the final scene, Afton is shown locked in a backroom, on the verge of bleeding to death. Meanwhile, Vanessa recuperates in a hospital bed, and Mike and Abby strengthen their bond as they enjoy a family dinner together.

What Does the Ending Mean for its Cinematic Future?

Throughout the entire Five Nights at Freddy's movie, there are hidden surprises that can be seen as either a treat for fans or possible hints at future sequels. At the end of the film, Afton can be seen wearing a yellow bunny costume known as Springtrap, a character only revealed in the third game. This suggests that William might return in a future installment as a haunted animatronic, like Freddy and the others. During an interview with TheWrap, Emma Tammi, the Co-Writer and Director, expressed that if the audience enjoys the first movie, they hope to continue the storyline in the next film.

Furthermore, it is possible that the character Vanessa could be the same antagonistic security guard from Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach. Although she is initially portrayed as Mike's friend in the first film, her perspective may change after waking up in the hospital. Additionally, there is the unresolved issue of Garrett and the other children Afton murdered. It is highly likely that there were more victims beyond the five spirits introduced in the first film, which could lead to the exploration of different locations in future movies.

Matthew Lillard, who was a guest on the WeeklyMTG podcast to discuss Magic: The Gathering, announced his involvement in the upcoming movie 'Five Nights at Freddy's'. He expressed his excitement, mentioning that it is a three-picture contract with Universal and Blumhouse. With the movie receiving great praise from FNAF fans, the future of the franchise on the big screen seems promising.

Five Nights at Freddy's

Debuted in 2014, the initial installment of the Five Nights At Freddy's franchise proved to be an enormous triumph, consequently spawning the creation of several additional games within the series. Developed by Scott Cawthon, Five Nights At Freddy's is a chilling, point-and-click horror game that takes place in a haunted children's restaurant. Players assume the role of the nighttime security guard, tasked with vigilantly keeping watch over the once amiable animatronics that inexplicably come to life after hours.

Franchise Five Nights at Freddy'sPlatform(s) Android, iOS, PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox OneReleased August 8, 2014

Editor's P/S

As an enthusiastic fan of the Five Nights at Freddy's franchise, I was thrilled to finally see the movie adaptation come to life on the big screen. The filmmakers did an excellent job of capturing the creepy and unsettling atmosphere of the games, and the animatronics were brought to life in a truly terrifying way. The story was engaging and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time, and I especially appreciated the way it expanded upon the lore of the games.

Overall, I think the Five Nights at Freddy's movie was a great success and I can't wait to see what the future holds for this franchise. I would highly recommend it to any fan of the games or horror movies in general.