Five Nights At Freddy’s is a film that was very clearly made with the fans in mind — which is a good thing. However, some might find it clunky.
When a franchise has such a loyal and massive fan base, and you decide to make a movie about it, it needs to be made for the fans. Five Nights At Freddy’s is exactly that. This movie was very clearly made with the fans in mind.
Sure, some lore changes, but this film is jam packed with Easter eggs and references to the games and books that the fans love with their whole heart. It wasn’t made for the critics, it wasn’t made for adults — it was made for the younger generation that has invested hours upon hours into the franchise. And they are the ones that are thrilled with how it turned out.
To outsiders, the script is clunky and unfunny, and the horror never quite gets there. But to the fans, this is exactly what they dreamt of when they heard a FNAF movie was coming. It gave them what they wanted and more — with the hints and hopes that there will be several more films coming after this.
These are the same kids that watch Game Theory, Film Theory, Food Theory, and Style Theory on repeat — so not only throwing a MatPat cameo in, but working his signature “But that’s just a theory” into the script has them losing their minds.
My youngest daughter was lucky enough to meet MatPat at the Super Mario Bros. Movie premiere, and he couldn’t have been any nicer to her. When I tell you that she jumped up off the couch and started running around the room when she saw him pop up, I am not exaggerating.
This is just one example of the many things that were included in Five Nights At Freddy’s for the fans. The filmmakers very clearly had this age group in mind and because of that, they have succeeded. Sure, the dialogue is campy and the scares never fully get there. Too many are done off camera or in the shadows, but that is because we are watching it as adults, who have already seen much scarier films.
Five Nights At Freddy’s is not only a wonderful introduction into the realm of horror for younger kids, but it is also an introduction into campy horror films — which we can all agree are some of the best ones.
Here’s the thing, this movie has some truly great elements that everyone can agree on. The animatronics look incredible, which was made clear as soon as The Jim Henson Company signed on to create the puppets. These are taken to the next level and give Freddy, Foxy, Bonnie, Chica, and even Carl the Cupcake, what they deserve.
Matthew Lillard has always been great in horror roles, and he proves that he has not lost it in Five Nights At Freddy’s. Plus, that Scream reference — flawless. That one was for the older generation that was asked to watch this movie by their kids. And we thank the writers for including it.
Yes, some of the lore was changed around, but this almost always happens when you adapt something for film or television. Five Nights At Freddy’s leans more on the books than the games because that is where more substance comes from.
It is sure to include multiple Easter eggs and references, while doing its own thing. It isn’t perfect, far from it, but try to tell that to the kids who love FNAF and they will have thousands of reasons why you are wrong. Which was the entire point of this film.
It’s made for the fans. Let them have this.
Rating: 3 out of 5
NEXT: Five Nights At Freddy’s Filmmakers Talk Lore & Animatronics
About Five Nights At Freddy’s
The film follows Mike (Josh Hutcherson) a troubled young man caring for his 10-year-old sister Abby (Piper Rubio), and haunted by the unsolved disappearance of his younger brother more than a decade before.
Recently fired and desperate for work so that he can keep custody of Abby, Mike agrees to take a position as a night security guard at an abandoned theme restaurant: Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria. But Mike soon discovers that nothing at Freddy’s is what it seems. With the aid of Vanessa, a local police officer (Elizabeth Lail), Mike’s nights at Freddy’s will lead him into unexplainable encounters with the supernatural and drag him into the black heart of an unspeakable nightmare.
Five Nights At Freddy’s is now streaming on Peacock and playing in theaters.
