It’s been so long, but finally, the much anticipated Five Nights at Freddy’s movie has hit the big screens, leaving many mixed opinions amongst fans in its wake. The Five Nights at Freddy’s games, created by Scott Cawthon, has one of the biggest fanbases of any horror game, and these fans have been eagerly waiting for this film adaption after it was promised to them over eight years ago. Produced by Blumhouse Studios, a studio known for its eerie atmosphere and thrilling jump scares in movies, many fans went into this movie with high expectations, and many fans left with those expectations fulfilled.
One of the most interesting, or disappointing to some, aspects of the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie is how it compared to its source material. Instead of following the story from the games to a tee, the film takes place in an alternate universe, keeping some elements from the games while changing up different parts to make its own new storyline. While this decision did disappoint some older, more dedicated fans, overall, it was better coming from a narrative perspective, as the Five Nights at Freddy’s lore is notorious for being insanely confusing and mostly based on fan theories. However, if you watch closely enough, you’ll notice some obscure references and easter eggs, a subtle nod to the games’ alternate universe.
The film centers around security guard Mike Schmidt, who, desperate for a job, takes the night shift at an old, abandoned pizza place, Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria. As the hours get later, Mike discovers the dark secret of the run-down pizza place; the animatronics that were abandoned there come to life, and they’re out for blood. With the help of his little sister Abby, and his police officer friend Vanessa, Mike fights to figure out the mystery behind the animatronics, and stop them, or whoever’s controlling them, before it’s too late.
Another astounding element of the movie was the props and the set. All the animatronic characters featured in the movie were actual animatronics, allowing a more realistic and unsettling effect than CGI ever could have accomplished. In addition, the Pizzeria truly carries a rather eerie and unnerving feel to it, really adding to the overall movie and helping it achieve the same creepy atmosphere that the games have. Blumhouse certainly spent their 20 million dollar budget well, and it shows in the quality of the movie.
Something else that had many fans jumping out of their cinema seats during the movie were the cameos from multiple popular Five Nights at Freddy’s content creators. I’m sure many fans across theaters went wild when MatPat and CoryxKenshin, two YouTubers highly known for theories and gameplays respectively, appeared on the big screen. In addition, many people were pleasantly surprised when “Five Nights at Freddy’s” by The Living Tombstone, one of the most well-known Five Nights at Freddy’s fan songs, began to play during the end credits. When it comes to dragging fandom idols into a production, this movie cannot be beat.
lthough this production has many things in its corner, there are still quite a few dissatisfied fans. Many people are upset over just how much the movie strayed from the lore of the games, some believe the pacing was off throughout the film, and others just think the jump scares and horror aspects of the movie could have used some work. While it is true that the movie was lacking a little bit in the horror department, you have to remember that the movie was rated PG-13 for a reason, so that younger kids, who make up a large chunk of the fanbase, could enjoy it as well as the older fans. As for the lore differences, while it was disappointing to not be able to see the exact story many people grew up with on the big screen, it just made more sense story-wise to portray a different universe, and that this movie was meant to offer something fresh and unexpected to all fans. Despite the stumbles and lore differences throughout the movie, Blumhouse still managed to tell a compelling story that carried the same energy from the games.
In my opinion, the movie was definitely worth the wait, and it’s clear that many fans agree, given how the movie managed to make $78 million on its opening weekend, securing a spot as one of the most successful horror and video game films of all time. The movie’s ability to capture the essence of the games, while still expanding out story-wise and exploring new territory made it an enjoyable experience for all fans, new or old. Altogether, the compelling plot, the chilling soundtrack, the subtle references, the impressive animatronics, and the talented cast all make this film truly amazing. Whether you’ve been a fan since 2014 and played every single game, or you’re just bored and have nothing better to do on a Tuesday night, you won’t regret watching this movie.
