Five Nights at Freddy’s review – horror game movie is an unscary Halloween trick
The supposedly exciting movie adaptation of a beloved video game, set in the eerie restaurant of Freddy Fazbear, seems to drag on for more than the five nights the game is based on. It fails to capture the same level of entertainment as the game, as it is weighed down by long and unnecessary sequences such as dream sequences, lengthy explanations and a slow start. Sadly, the movie lacks the expected fun and enjoyment that the game brought.
The reason why Five Nights at Freddy's movie didn't hit the mark was because Emma Tammi and Scott Cawthon, who co-wrote the film, were unsure of its tone, leaving viewers confused. There were moments where the movie delved into dark themes such as childhood trauma, followed by scenes that were too light-hearted for its own good, lacking coherence and coming off as boring. Given the premise of the film, where animatronic animals turn lethal, it's disappointing that the movie failed to hold our attention, leading us to constantly check our watches.
The story of Five Nights at Freddy's follows a worn-out kids' pizza restaurant, similar to a Chuck E Cheese, where a band of animatronic mascots performs while people enjoy greasy pizza slices. Despite its closing years ago, the restaurant requires a security guard to prevent anyone from breaking in, a job now taken by Mike (played by Josh Hutcherson from the Hunger Games), a troubled traveler assisted by a strange career counselor named Steve (portrayed by Matthew Lillard). After losing his parents, Mike must take care of his younger sister while dealing with interference from his meddlesome aunt (played by Mary Stuart Masterson, whose character acts like a villain trying to get rid of Beethoven). Mike is constantly haunted by the memory of his missing brother from childhood and spends his time dreaming about what happened to him. However, sleeping at work might not be the smartest decision...
There is something appealingly old-fashioned about the cheesy B-movie premise, especially for certain newcomers who may be older. It reminds us of the horror films from the 80s that were based on silly ideas, like Chopping Mall, Dolls, or Death Spa. However, when this premise is updated for modern times, the result is often lackluster due to genre issues. Rather than focusing on the fun of watching robot animals go on killing sprees, the movie becomes bogged down with the melodramatic struggles of a one-dimensional main character. The film is restricted by a PG-13 rating, resulting in lackluster and poorly censored death scenes. Even with more graphic violence, the director struggles to create the necessary suspense to hold the audience's attention. The movie never manages to speed up our heart rate, and a particular scene involving a ball pit is both frustrating and dull. The sluggish pace of the mechanical villains prevents the director from fixing this issue.
Although the director does a decent job of making the film look polished compared to other Halloween movies available this year (such as Amazon’s Totally Killer which looks absolutely terrible in comparison), there are still many flaws in the plot. The script is full of inconsistencies and a convoluted story which fails to make sense even with the film’s lengthy runtime. Furthermore, the film has too many scenes with the main character, played by Hutcherson, gaining information from a character played by You’s Elizabeth Lail who spouts exposition, making their interactions feel like fillers that you wish could be skipped. With an overreliance on dialogue, the film's feeble mystery fails to capture our interest, as there is not enough action to balance it out. The big reveal is far too predictable while the climactic showdown is underwhelming, with overacting and unconvincing attempts to create drama.
We don't get the exciting and thrilling experience we hoped for from Five Nights at Freddy's due to a combination of indecisive restraint and misplaced self-importance. It feels like a chore to finish and won't be remembered for long.
The movie version of Five Nights at Freddy's is currently showing in UK cinemas, while it is scheduled to hit cinemas and Peacock in the US on October 27.
