The long-awaited “Five Nights at Freddy’s” film has finally made its debut, but does it live up to the source material?
Eight years after its first announcement, the “Five Nights at Freddy’s” film adaptation was finally released on October 27th, 2023, streaming on both Peacock and in theaters. This highly anticipated film, directed by Emma Tammi, has already made $78 million dollars in its opening weekend alone. This makes it Blumhouse’s biggest opening weekend and the highest-grossing horror film of 2023. Fans have been waiting for this movie for a long time, many having high expectations, long before the first teaser was released. While the “Five Nights at Freddy’s” movie is not perfect, it is a fun and satisfying experience if you ignore the lack of horror and disappointingly drawn-out plot.
The original video game, created by Scott Cawthon, puts the player in the seat of a security guard fending off killer animatronics. Despite the concept being so simple, the game skyrocketed in popularity, becoming one of the biggest horror sensations of the 2010s. Currently, there are 10 games and 28 books in the “Five Nights at Freddy’s” series, keeping fans hooked. With a never-ending storyline, creatively constructed characters, and interesting mechanics, it’s no wonder that this franchise has garnered a cult-like following.
The movie follows Mike Schmidt (Josh Hutcherson), a grief-riddled man struggling to care for his little sister, Abby (Piper Rubio). His rocky job history and desperate need for money led him to take on a security job at the abandoned Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza restaurant, which shut down after five kids went missing on the premises. There, he learns that the animal-themed animatronics (fittingly named Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy) come to life. While working, he meets Vanessa, a mysterious police officer with extensive knowledge of Freddy’s. At the same time, his greedy aunt is looking to take custody of Abby. Overall, the story can get pretty convoluted and messy and at times, takes itself too seriously. However, it doesn’t shy away from the mystery, which is a highlight of the movie.
While the main plot works fairly well, the secondary one is downright boring. Considering the rest of the movie, Mike and Abby’s aunt sticks out like a sore thumb and takes away a lot of tension. Although her efforts to get custody of Abby motivate Mike to get a job at Freddy’s, there are many better ways for him to come about the job. The screen time given to the aunt could have been used for some much-needed character development or scary scenes. Sadly, the plot hints at a bigger story, but never explores it, leaving everything feeling confused and incomplete. If the runtime was longer and some parts were cut out, everything would feel much more cohesive.
Compared to the game, the movie is fairly different in terms of the story. On the surface, the two are similar: possessed animatronics, 5 kids going missing in the 80’s, and the infamous “Yellow Rabbit” who is really William Afton, the owner of the “Freddy Fazbear” restaurants. Although there is likely more story planned out for future movies, there are clear changes. The biggest is changing the role of Mike Schmidt. The games show that Mike Schmidt is actually Michael Afton, son of William. In the movie, he is a completely different character. This also changes the role of the rest of the Afton family. Additionally, the movie removes some important characters, notably the co-founder of “Freddy Fazbears,” a man named Henry Emily.
Most performances in the movie are average, but there are a few that stick out. Of course, Josh Hutcherson’s portrayal of Mike Schmidt is near-perfect; he looks like the perfect mix between scruffy and exhausted and embodies the “tortured soul” persona very well. He acts as dreary as his surroundings, which is an accurate depiction of the character. Another notable performance is Matthew Lillard’s, even if his character is disappointingly underused. Though not much can be said for the sake of spoilers, he was cast perfectly and fits the “charismatic career counselor” character surprisingly well.
What really brings the film together overall, is the atmosphere. Emma Tammi’s talent really begins to shine when the protagonists enter “Freddy’s”. The restaurant feels almost like it’s frozen in time–especially when the animatronics move as if they’ve been maintained for twenty-something years–though the deteriorating building and shoddy electricity say otherwise. One of the most impressive parts of the film is undoubtedly the technological aspects, especially the main cast of animatronics, who look like they were taken right out of the games. Each animatronic (5 in total, plus an actual robot) was made by the Jim Henson Company, responsible for creating the Muppets. All of the animatronics, minus Foxy, are actual people wearing the costumes. They feel frighteningly lifelike, emphasizing both their creepiness and their kindness. Creating physical creatures to torment and entertain the main characters makes everything much more immersive. Sadly, they don’t feel like they’ve been used to their full potential. There are only one or two scenes where they are aggressive and scary, which makes it much less scary.
Continuing with the technical side of things, the soundtrack is phenomenal. Composed by The Newton Brothers, Tyler Bates, and Andy Grush, each song reflects its respective scene, often adding a more harrowing tone. Most notably, the opening credits start with a fantastic synth opening before turning into a haunting children’s chorus, combining some of the most recognizable elements of the “Five Nights at Freddy’s” franchise. The soundtrack also incorporates classic 80’s hits like “Talking In Your Sleep” by The Romantics. Even more excitingly, the credits feature the song “Five Nights at Freddy’s” by the Living Tombstone, the first fan song ever made for the games.
For the most part, the cinematography is great. Choosing to use light and shadow as a way to enhance the intensity of each scene was appreciated, and it really pays off in climactic scenes. Not only is it logical, with the unreliable lights and spooky tone, but it gives the director a way to let the viewers experience brutal deaths without directly showing them. The distinction between the restaurant and the outside world is made through color, with the outside being bleak and gray while the inside is full of vibrant lights. It also can be very symbolic, as color often is in films.
There’s no doubt that what made “Five Nights at Freddy’s” wasn’t the plot, but the actors and artists involved. Many parts were well executed, but it feels like there are some great chances that weren’t taken. The film is pretty faithful to the source material, but it’s hard to compare the two. Those who are familiar with the games are sure to be pleased by the movie, but it’s hard to see newcomers being as invested. “Five Nights at Freddy’s” earns an 8/10 rating. No matter how messy, unscary, and confusing it can be, it’s full of everything that a fan could ever want.
