The iconic video game Five Nights at Freddy’s came out in 2014, and ever since then, it’s become an internet sensation. From big streamers like Markiplier hyping it up, to fan-made games, to analog horror VHS tapes, and even popular Tiktok audios and memes, FNAF is something that’s impacted pop culture in a multitude of ways.
I, for one, am hyper fixated on FNAF to the point that I talk about it daily (I apologize to my roommate for incessantly singing har har har har har….) Despite the game scaring me and stressing me out, I love playing every second of it — especially fan-made games, like ‘87 Rewritten and The Return to Bloody Nights. So, when I heard that there would be a movie starring Josh Hutcherson and Matthew Lillard, I got really excited.
If you’re not familiar with the Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise, the premise of the game revolves around surviving the night shift from 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. as haunted animatronics try to kill you. In the first game, there’s a total of 4 animatronics: Bonnie, the bunny; Chica, the chicken; Foxy, the fox; and finally, Freddy Fazbear, the bear. While the concept of the game is simplistic, the design of its characters and the dark silence of the security room make the game creepy in every way. There are a total of 9 main FNAF games, so if you’re interested in playing, I recommend you check them all out!
Now, the film also follows this exact concept with a security guard having to work at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria. I initially hoped it would echo the format of analog horror films with its distorted footage and cryptic messages, as I thought that would best capture how frightening the game is. Even the lore of the game is incredibly disturbing, so I figured the film would have an R rating at the very least. However, when it was announced it would be PG-13, I understood what direction they were going with it, so I dropped my high expectations and settled for something that I knew would be fun and entertaining.
Going into the movie, I was excited for something somewhat suspenseful with clever easter eggs and cameos, but oddly enough, the movie felt…wholesome? While it’s marketed as a horror film, the tone felt mostly light-hearted, and its plot was incredibly corny and predictable. The film also strayed away from some of the lore, but I thought their approach to the characters was interesting, especially when it came to Hutcherson’s character Michael Schmidt. For me, Hutcherson made the movie! He’s an incredibly talented actor who I loved in The Hunger Games franchise, and I think his character was the heart of the film, as I really enjoyed how they connected his past and dreams with the events taking place at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria. It was an intriguing concept that I thought the writers explored well!
So, while the film in almost every aspect was…terrible, I thoroughly enjoyed it! It’s the kind of experience where you the movie is bad yet so entertaining that you can’t help but love it for its imperfections. For me, just seeing the animatronics come to life had me geeking out, and I appreciated how they were actual animatronics and not CGI, as there were behind-the-scenes clips that showed the animatronics giving hugs (it’s super cute!).
While I enjoyed it despite the numerous flaws, the general consensus of the film is quite divided. Rotten Tomatoes gave FNAF a 29% on the Tomatometer, which is insanely low, but the audience score rests at a solid 88%. Critics will look at the film as a whole and gather that there’s many structural weaknesses in its plot, but FNAF fans will see the care and passion for the original games displayed on the screen. The only criticism emanating from fans is that they weren’t completely lore accurate and that it should’ve been much scarier; while that was what I wanted originally, I still thought it was a fun film that also easily accessible for younger audiences, since FNAF is technically a kids’ game. Also, the creator of the games, Scott Cawthon, was a part of the development process for the movie and even had final say on the script, so if I were a diehard fan, I would go watch just to support him!
In all, while there were moments where I cringed or giggled at the corniness of it all, I would still recommend it to everyone whose guilty pleasure is bad movies. Don’t go into it expecting to be scared to the bone; instead, bring friends or family and expect a whole lot of fun!