FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S, Less Frights but All Fun

Desperate for a job, an unemployed security guard takes a gig at a defunct children’s playland, not knowing its dark history or what horrors lie inside. Based on the popular video game series, Five Nights at Freddy’s delivers a worthy adaptation that builds upon the source material while providing great fun and mild frights.

To prove he’s a worthy caretaker of his little sister Abby, Mike (Josh Hutcherson) accepts his only job opportunity, a night guard at the abandoned Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. What was once a bustling fun zone for kids now lies in ruin as a creepy snapshot of the past with a disturbing secret.

But it’s not just Freddy’s that is plagued by a haunting past, as Mike struggles with guilt from witnessing his little brother’s kidnapping when he was only 12, still holding hope that he can uncover the truth decades later.

While the overnight shift only requires Mike to ensure the place is secure from vandals, he slowly uncovers a possible connection to his brother’s disappearance while coming face-to-face with homicidal animatronics.

Also starring Elizabeth Lail and Matthew Lillard, Five Nights at Freddy’s does a stellar job bringing Freddy and friends to life, perfectly capturing the menacing yet endearing animatronics with the same quirky horror that fans enjoyed with M3GAN.

It embodies the atmosphere of family entertainment hubs of the 80s and 90s, like Chuck E. Cheese, playing with viewers’ nostalgic memories of those places. While also leaning into the creepiness that is inherent in their decay.

The film is fairly tame with the frights, though there are a few decent scares. It’s one of those films where I think it could have played up the jump scares since that’s something so prevalent in the games. But the lack of tension isn’t a detractor, as the film still maintains to entertain.

With the groundwork in the games, the film expands upon the story while remaining true to the source material. In some ways, this did impact the believability of Mike’s unaware connection and eventual placement at Freddy’s.

As the film presents his past by taking us into his dreams, reliving the day his brother went missing, it feels clunky in how it all ties back. It didn’t seem realistic that someone so consumed with finding answers wouldn’t have been privy to the child abduction connected to the establishment.

They could have simplified everything by letting Mike be aware of Freddy’s dark past and curious to learn if it’s related to his brother. The repetitive nature of the dream hopping also tended to bring the story down a beat at times.

Though Hutcherson was a wonderful lead and really sold his character as a hapless big brother just trying to do his best. And the dynamic with his sister felt authentic and manages showcase their imperfections while staying clear of tropes.

The film may be a touch predictable in its plot setup, but it doesn’t take away from the fun audiences can have with it. Their ability to deliver the essence of the game is so impressive, from the set and sound design to the incredible animatronic costuming. I’m sure it helped that game creator Scott Cawthon served as a producer, ensuring every detail was on point.

Five Nights at Freddy’s manages to do a lot of things right when it comes to adapting to the big screen. While I hope for more amplified frights in future sequels (two are expected), the film offers the same mischief and mayhem of the games that viewers will appreciate.

Five Nights at Freddy’s in theaters and on Peacock