“Five Nights at Freddy’s”, the indie horror franchise created by Scott Cawthon in 2014 has had a highly anticipated wait from fans for the movie adaptation. The film is a thrilling experience for fans of the games, or people who are new to the franchise. The plot follows the film’s protagonist, Mike Schmidt (played by Josh Hutcherson), who has to work the night shift at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, a pizzeria that has been shut down since the 80s, when five kids mysteriously went missing. Mike soon discovers that the animatronic characters that inhabit the pizzeria are more than what they seem. While on the job, Mike meets Vanessa (played by Elizabeth Lail), a police officer who tells Mike about the past of the pizzeria, but seems to be hiding a bigger secret from him.
As a huge fan of the franchise myself, I absolutely loved the film, and can confidently say that any fan of the games will love the film for how well it was adapted into a movie. When watching the film, it is clear to see how much time was put into mastering the mysterious, uneasy atmosphere and feel that the games are known for. The design of the animatronic characters were flawlessly made by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, looking almost identical to their in-game counterparts. The movie is filled with so many easter eggs and references that it would take even the most avid fans multiple watch-throughs to catch them all. I myself have rewatched the movie multiple times just to look for any little details I might have missed.
Looking at the movie through the eyes of someone who doesn’t know anything about the franchise, I could see how the film would maybe be a bit confusing in the film’s storytelling aspect. The Five Nights at Freddy’s games are known for their complicated story, but I feel that the movie did a good job of changing the story so that it makes sense for people who aren’t experts on the games, which is good for people who are new to the franchise. The film could be a great way for someone to be introduced to the franchise. Even as a fan, I have to admit that although there were some suspenseful moments, the film was not very scary compared to most horror movies, making it seem more like a thriller rather than full-on horror.
For me, the movie is more than just an adaptation of the games, it is a gift to the fans of the franchise. Fans have been waiting for a Five Nights at Freddy’s movie for years, and now are able to enjoy the creepy charm of the games on the big screen. The movie was mostly made for the fans, but that doesn’t make it a bad movie for people who aren’t. Overall, even though the movie isn’t perfect, it is definitely worth watching for fans and newcomers alike
4/5 Stars