When a troubled security guard starts a new job at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza place, he soon realises that his night shifts won’t be quite as easy as anticipated, when the animatronic puppets come to life and begin to stalk him.
Based on the hugely popular video game series created by Scott Cawthon, the film tells the tale of Mike Schmidt (Josh Hutcherson) a young man with a troubled childhood, trying to raise his young sister after the death of their mother. Desperate for a job after another sacking, Mike accepts the only gig available to him as night watchman at the long-abandoned Pizzeria.
When he’s targeted by Freddy, and his gang of murderous animatronics, Mike must team with enigmatic local cop Vanessa to uncover the restaurant’s dark past and the lunatic behind it all.
Produced by renowned horror studio Blumhouse, the film is directed by Emma Tammi who co-wrote the screenplay alongside the game’s creator Cawthon.
Targeting a Halloween audience with its October release, the film’s success in the UK is likely to be hampered by a 15 rating, which essentially prevents its core audience of young gamers from watching the film in cinemas.
A dark and sinister tone means that rating was probably warranted, but even those who are old enough to watch the film are likely to be disappointed by the slow pace and absence of gore.
Hutcherson is a solid enough lead, but Elizabeth Lail struggles to convince as small-town cop Vanessa. Relative newcomer Piper Rubio pretty much nails the role of the annoying little sister and there’s also an entertaining cameo from Scream veteran Matthew Lillard, hamming it up as careers advisor Steve.
Video games are notoriously difficult beasts to adapt, and while Tammi and Cawthon’s decision to focus on character development and backstory over thrills is commendable, it’s also misjudged. A conscious effort has clearly been made to incorporate as much of the game’s dense lore as possible, but it only serves to bog down the script, while the films early 2000’s setting is an interesting choice but brings little to the film other than a retro soundtrack.
2021 Nicholas Cage film Willy’s Wonderland, which was basically a rip off of the FNAF games premise, discarded any complicated backstory and was a much better film for it.
With such an absurd premise, the set-up lends itself perfectly to a campy slasher romp, but that’s not what we get here.
Fans expecting a slasher will be sorely disappointed with what is ultimately a low-key mystery, far too interested in its own mythology. Killer robot animals hunting hapless teens really should be more fun than this.
While hardcore fans may enjoy the easter eggs and nods to the game, others will find the convoluted plot a bore.
Competent and creepy at its best, at worst Five Nights at Freddy’s is a bit of a toothless slog.
⭐️⭐️
Paul Steward
@grittster
01/11/23