“Five Nights at Freddy’s,” adapted from the games of the same name, written by Seth Cuddeback, game creator Scott Cawthon and director Emma Tammi, brings to life the franchise that has been beloved since its initial release in 2014. Following newly-hired security guard Mike Schmidt (Josh Hutcherson), who grapples with his haunted past and custody battle of little sister Abby (Piper Rubio), the two work together with friendly yet suspicious cop Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail) to uncover the story behind the decrepit pizzeria. The film is a great watch for the spooky fall season, combining humor, jumpscares and gore—as well as references to fan content to pay tribute to the games themselves. Not only that, but it rewards new and longtime enjoyers with a sense of nostalgia, inviting them to revisit childhood.
Humor
Surprisingly, the humor interjected into the film wasn’t out of place, and it does its work of grounding the viewer into this world. There may be ghosts possessing run-down killer animatronics, but in the end, this is taking place in a family diner, amidst flashing mini-games, colored wallpaper and an oddly nostalgic atmosphere of the past. I found myself laughing quietly in the way the animatronics stared into the security cameras, eyelids lowered in a cartoonish, annoyed expression—nearly “The Office” reminiscent, a scary and silly moment all at once. While this tends to work, in some scenes it feels overdone, like in the controversial fort-building scene. Bonnie flashes a comical thumbs up when he falls over after stacking a table, and while it can be read as a tactical move to lull Abby into a false sense of security, some moments especially in this scene bordered too close to ridiculous.
Jump scares
FNAF isn’t FNAF without jump scares, and with the games being traditional click-and-point horror games that rely on shock factor to scare, the film surprisingly doesn’t lean too heavily on this idea. Instead, a more ominous feeling of dread builds and ebbs through the scenes–amplified by the eerie analog props; white noise, fuzzy VHS tapes and flickering security screens. A masterfully done scene playing on this notion occurs near the end of the film, when Foxy is chasing Abby. He is shown first in his human body—stepping back behind the curtain and then coming into the light as Foxy, eye alight and hook ready. Terrifying, and perfect, even by long time fan’s standards.
Gore
A major concern was the level of gore that would be present in the film. With established events in the community like the bite of ‘83, which is actually a reference to when Max (Kat Conner Sterling) is cleaved in half by an animatronic, enthusiasts made it clear they want the gore to be brought on strong. Naturally, the discussion shifts to the highly anticipated “spring-locked” scene, where villain Willliam Afton (Matthew Lillard) meets his demise. The scene was done as gracefully as it could have been under the PG-13 rating, and while paying homage to a certain level of anticipated grisliness. While some desired more gore, I feel that Afton’s sharp intakes of breath as the metal stabbed his body, the eerie glow of the spotlight transforming him into a spectacle and the famed line “I always come back,” strained from the puncturing of his lungs, made for a quietly horrifying wrap-up to the film.
Fandom Fun
The film also makes references in an effort to appeal to long-time fans with appearances and hints to late games, and maybe a sequel. Most notably, theorizer MatPat appears as a cafe waiter and even spouts his trademark phrase, “It’s just a theory.” Fellow gamer Youtuber CoryxKenshin also plays a role as a cab driver, taking Freddy and Abby to the pizzeria, and even getting jumpscared in end credits by Balloon Boy—a nod to the 2016 game “Sister Location.” Even “The Living Tombstone,” a band that has been dubbed by FNAF lovers as a staple of the fandom, also plays in the end credits, with the song “Five Nights at Freddy’s.”
Nostalgia and Old Media
Regardless of how mixed the reviews were on the movie, it undoubtedly has its own lovely reminiscent charm. The first game was released in 2014, and many young adults consider it an integral part of their childhood. While the nostalgic, Chuck-E-Cheese-related memorabilia and anthropomorphic animals that bring back memories of childhood birthday parties, the movie sends across an important message. In an environment that adapts so quickly to new media, new tech and new entertainment, bringing back the bittersweetness of growing up is always a worthwhile thing to celebrate. This sentiment has taken the community by storm on social media, especially on TikTok. Using the slideshow features, the trend compares the poster’s current appearance, with the caption “who’s seeing the FNAF movie,” and a second image of their childhood selves (usually decked out in FNAF merch), with the caption “Who’s really watching it.” In that way, the film isn’t just another video game adaptation, but a heartwarming way to reflect on the poignant sweetness of adolescence, yellow around the edges with age and tinged gold with happiness.
Overall, the movie is a mixed bag. It’s a good stand-alone film for a new viewer—and still includes popular references for long-time fans. It’s silly, and scary, and occasionally wholesome—and whether you’re an avid follower or completely new, there’s an element of nostalgia that permeates the film. So, give it a shot! Lose yourself in the light bouncing off the plastic ball pit, in the starchy smell of worn, well-used crayons and the laughter of childhood. The revamping of FNAF, or any media that is directly linked to so many people’s bittersweet memories, leaves viewers with this message: no matter what age you are now, it’s time to wake up your inner child and play.