Movie Review - Five Nights at Freddy's

 

Well it's here, and I'll be honest, never thought we would finally get a FNAF film. It was announced so many years ago, with Warner Brothers being the ones to distribute it originally. But it's here now with much of what was planned years ago, still in this final version of the film, albeit with some noticeable but probably minor details changed. It's had reviews similar to The Super Mario Bros. Movie in which the critics either don't like it or don't get it. Whereas the audience seem to love it as do the fans. I saw this on Saturday with friends and the screen was packed with people that look very much like they could be gamers who have played the game or people that are more in it for the lore than anything else (maybe both in some instances). So having played the released games (and mainly the main ones on my YouTube channel) let's see how this lives up to the hype:

Mike Schmidt (played by Josh Hutcherson) is a man who was once a security guard in a shopping mall, but got fired due to a misunderstanding. He looks after his little sister Abby (played by Piper Rubio) and is struggling to get over something that happened in the past to their parents and brother (but mainly the brother). On the suggestion of his career consoler Steve Raglan (played by Matthew Lillard) and so that he can keep custody of his sister against the wishes of their estranged aunt Jane (played by Mary Stuart Masterson), he accepts the job of a night guard at the long since abandoned Freddy Fazbear's Pizza restaurant. As his first week begins, it soon becomes clear that his dream may be connected to the animatronics that lurk within the restaurant, but is nevertheless determined to do the job and keep custody of Abby to protect her not just from her aunt, but also her associates.

I will say now that this film isn't as scary as the trailers make it out to be. In fact, I would go as far to say that it's well within how people feel about the franchise in that for the most part, it's not scary. But remains unsettling throughout, however. But saying that, I can't say that I wasn't entertained by it because I am. There are a lot of funny (intentionally or otherwise) moments and the points where Mike and Co. are in the restaurant, is really where the film is able to deliver its best moments. It's mainly a loose adaptation of the very first game and I say loose because Mike, actually has character development here, and it also brings in elements from other games too. Such elements, like a handful of other well known FNAF characters from other games, the minigame parts of FNAF 3 (but again, loosely) and references to the Bite of 83 and 87. As much as I would love to give this film a higher rating than what I am about to give it, it feels very incomplete without some of the major FNAF YouTubers like Markipler and Jacksepticeye. But a few do still appear in places, with two having physical cameo roles and others featuring on photos. 7/10