A horror fan reviews Five Nights at Freddy’s
Last weekend, I watched Five Nights at Freddy’s, a film adapted from the popular horror game franchise by Scott Braden Cawthon. I went into the theater with little knowledge about the franchise—a reality derived from the fact that I’ve never played the games. Not being a fan of the source material, however, didn’t mangle my incentives to tune in.
The movie was produced by Blumhouse, a company I have deemed reputable, based on movies such as Happy Death Day (2017), Ma (2019), Get Out (2017), Black Phone (2021), and MEGAN (2022). As a movie lover, I’m always looking for promising trailers, and mentioning Blumhouse at the beginning of the teaser raised my hopes tenfold. Off the bat, I thought this film had the potential to evoke high adrenaline during the mundanity of a Sunday night.
As a huge fan of The Hunger Games saga, I also went to see Peeta Mellark, played by Josh Hutcherson, star in another adaptation of a series with a cult following. Other notable names I saw attached to this were Matthew Lillard, Guinevere, and Elizabeth Lial, making me all the more eager to see this film; I knew the acting wouldn't disappoint!
With that out of the way, the movie was just okay. While there were certain things I enjoyed, the film completely diverged from my expectations a little too much. I overlooked the PG-13 rating and assumed the movie would still be scary. If I were to describe the series that is Five Nights at Freddy’s in a few words, it would be “horror for kids.” I expected more from the animatronics; their concept was horrifying without a screenplay. My lack of uncertainty squandered my suspense because of the main cast’s continuous state of well-being—I blame this on the framing of the narrative—having most of the scenes meant to establish the animatronics’ threat fade to black before any fear could settle in.
A few days after seeing the movie, my roommates and I decided to play the first Five Nights at Freddy’s (2014) game, and I can say I was more nervous by merely watching my friends play the game than I was with the higher-budgeted movie; something definitely attributed to the first-person perspective in the game. I wish they could have incorporated this, as well as other elements of analog horror, in this movie. The idea that animatronics move during the night is already an unsettling phenomenon that fills the audience with uncertainty; playing into the aesthetics of the vintage cameras, the jump scares, and the weirdly paradoxical eeriness of a building of childish nostalgia would have enhanced my fear.
While I did appreciate the plot, which included a few twists at the end, the pacing was a bit off. The middle felt slow and redundant regarding certain events, leaving a lot of the narrative rushed in the end. I wish more of the movie focused on exploring and explaining the implications of the twists in greater detail, many of which currently make no sense. Though a sequel would offer a solution to this gripe, a movie, even if in a trilogy, should not have to rely on its successor.
On a more positive note, I appreciated the set design and animatronics, which were incredibly detailed and well-made. I expected to leave the theater with a new phobia of robotic performers, but instead, I could only mull over how endearing the animatronics were. They stole the show for me, though I wish the movie utilized them more! I also loved the relationship between the main character and his little sister. Their interactions, filled with tender and hilarious moments, satisfied me during the slower parts. This movie was surprisingly funny, to the point where labeling it a comedy would have been a better fit. I came in expecting a horror that would have me jumping from the thought of facing a possessed robot, but instead, I received a more comedic, lighter tone as a drama unfolded about a man fighting a custody battle getting a job as a night guard.
This was in no way a horror movie, but it was still enjoyable as it was clearly made with heart. My grievances are rooted in the film's underutilization of the animatronics and scare factors. Having a movie be funny, heartfelt, and terrifying is a lot of work. Five Nights at Freddy’s doesn’t put in the work to pull this off, and sadly, it would excel if it demonstrated a balance between the three elements.
With that being said, if you’re looking for something visually beautiful and entertaining, this movie will satisfy you. If horror is what you crave, I’d say to look elsewhere. Overall, come in with the right expectations, and you’ll enjoy Five Nights at Freddy’s.