Most video game adaptations don’t do well. There’s little loyalty to the source material, bad pacing and much less consumer interaction than in their respective games. But “Five Nights At Freddy’s” did not disappoint.
“Five Nights at Freddy’s,” the beloved indie horror game that stemmed into a franchise of over 20 more games and over 30 books, has finally made its way onto the big screen and brought the spine-chilling horror from the original game to life into an immersive and suspenseful story.
From the moment the opening credits roll, the film instantly captures the uncanny and eerie atmosphere of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, a seemingly normal pizza house with a dark terrifying secret. The attention to detail in the set is incredible, bringing the iconic animatronics of Freddy, a brown bear with a bowtie and tophat, Bonnie, an indigo-colored rabbit who plays the guitar, Chica, a chicken and singer, and Foxy, a red fox and pirate, to life.
The story stars Josh Hutcherson as Mike Schmidt, a jobless and struggling older brother who cares for his younger sister Abby alone. Mike is then faced with a tough situation — to get employed or lose custody of Abby. So, like in the game, he gets a night security job at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, an old worn-down family entertainment restaurant, where he has to watch over the business through security cameras for five days to get his paycheck.
The set and animatronics are masterfully crafted, with the sound design bringing the world to life. The ominous creaks and whirs of machinery paired with the chilling music all add to the eerie atmosphere of the abandoned pizza house. And like many horror classics, the movie doesn’t have many jumpscares. Instead, the story builds upon itself, with each minute building anticipation up until the credits roll.
For gamers who have played the original game, there are quite a few easter eggs which are a nice touch, but regardless if you have or haven’t, “Five Nights at Freddy’s” is a masterfully crafted movie that will be sure to keep everyone on their toes.
