Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023)
Rating – 3.5/4
**SPOILERS**
So, finally, after a long wait, the movie was finally released. Directors changed, the script changed, the studio changed, and times changed. As the saying goes, “The longer the journey, the greater the reward.” So was it worth the wait?
I’d say so.
After getting fired from his previous job and desperate to support his family, Mike Schmidt (Josh Hutcherson), takes a job as a security guard at the rundown restaurant, Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. His job is easy. Keep the place clean, watch the security cameras, and take care of the four animatronics: Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy.
Simple enough…except all the animatronics want to kill him!
I’d quit immediately!
Meanwhile, Mike has been searching for any clues about his little brother’s kidnapping many years ago. And Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza has also been the site of the mysterious disappearances of five children, whose bodies were never found. Coincidence? Maybe. But there’s definitely something going on there and it’s definitely not what it seems.
Also helping him discover the mystery is a police officer named Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail) and his little sister Abby (Piper Rubio), who develops a strange bond with the animatronics. And someone is hiding something.
For the record, I’ve played Five Nights at Freddy’s (the first game) and I’m familiar with the lore and characters so there were already high stakes, especially with how popular the franchise is, especially due to YouTubers and the endless playthroughs. And video game movies don’t tend to get the best reviews, usually due to unfaithfulness to the source material.
And this adaptation did not disappoint me. The producers wanted something that was an "insane, terrifying, and weirdly adorable movie." And it delivered. There are the jump scares associated with the franchise, the lore and backstory were faithful, and the story was engaging. I don’t know what more you needed.
As for the acting, all was good, if not excellent. But Josh Hutcherson gets to shine in the lead as Mike as a depressed and traumatized, yet caring and committed man who just wants closure about his brother. The scene where he’s talking about his brother's disappearance and how it affected his family might be some of the best acting I’ve seen from Hutcherson. I remember seeing him in movies as a kid like Zathura and RV and he’s proven he’s transitioned very well from child star to adult.
I also want to give a shout out to Piper Rubio who played Abby, Mike’s younger sister. When I had read the summary, I thought she was going to be the typical, annoying brat who sabotages the main characters and offers failed comedy in an attempt to be cute. But no! She’s an active character in the story, has good chemistry with Hutcherson, and has depth. She might seem annoying at first, but is also struggling alongside her brother and truly loves him.
For one of her first movies, she’s proven she can hold her own against seasoned actors.
But of course, the animatronics are the real stars, brought to life by the Jim Henson Company. They’re clunky, don’t move fluidly, and there’s something unsettling about their appearance. And it works just like the games. It gives the movie an atmosphere, one of unease and mystery, but also one of curiosity. What are these animatronics and who could potentially be behind them?
And why do they have such a bond with Abby?
Just watch and find out.
Honestly, I can’t understand other critics' problems with this movie. Is it perfect? No. But is it entertaining and faithful to the franchise? I believe so. The acting is fine and the scares are effective. Why did so many complain about the lack of jump scares and the animatronics? Aren’t horror movies supposed to rely on tension instead of just jump scares? I appreciate that the filmmakers tried something different. I know I’m in the minority, but I enjoyed Five Nights at Freddy’s. It’s not anything special, but it delivered what it promised and was worth the wait.
If players could survive five nights, then I think one can survive two hours.
