Goofy or A True Feat: FNAF Movie Review

A grisly video game known for its brutal jump scares and deep-rooted cult following, Five Nights at Freddy’s has finally graced the big screen…

Goofy or a True Feat? Five Nights at Freddy’s Review: 3/5 🐻⭐️🎮

With star appearances from The Hunger Games’ Josh Hutcherson, the iconic Shaggy himself Matthew Lillard, and of course, the ultimate star himself, Freddy Fazbear, the record-breaking movie encapsulates the essence of what only a true fan could ask for while simultaneously echoing a new direction for adaptation-cinema. However, the unique approach taken by director Emma Tammi is one of gory surprises.

The world-building in this film is arguably one of the most brilliant aspects. An avid video-gamer, specifically one acquainted with the bloody horror genre that is Freddy’s, would recognize the Easter eggs dropped within the intricate sets of the movie. The cinematography was surprisingly nuanced and stunning, and the costuming never missed a beat in replicating the nostalgia of the original characters we’ve grown up to *hate*. The animatronics specifically pay immense homage to the classic fever-dreamish feel of the video game; however, what lacks in comparison to this is an anemic quality of storytelling.

The plot of the movie is dull at best, and while it does succumb to the unfortunate horror-game-turned-movie cinematic trope, Emma Tammi adds stylistic elements of gore and dark humor to accentuate the atmosphere. The film follows Security guard Mike, Josh Hutcherson, who agrees to watch over Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, a family-friendly pizzeria and video game arcade that shut down in the 80s after several mysterious child disappearances. Unbenounced to him, the animatronics come alive at night through various generic jump scares and lackluster threats. Nevertheless, the plot still stays true to some classic Freddy’s character arcs, which makes the watch all the more enjoyable. 

With such a niche fanbase and incredible marketing on TikTok and Instagram, Five Nights at Freddy’s has achieved more than it should have ultimately reached in its less than 2 month-advertising period. Despite this, the film was an absolute blast for a fan of the game; will it be for those unacquainted with the infamous Xbox top pick? You’ll have to see it yourself.