(Review) Five Nights at Freddy’s Fun Film To Introduce Someone To Horror Films.

By Chris Hammond

FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S

Starring: Josh Hutcherson, Piper Rubio, Matthew Lillard, Mary Stuart Masterson, Elizabeth Lail
Directed By: Emma Tammi
Written By: Scott Cawthon, Seth Cuddeback, Emma Tammi
Universal Pictures

Full Disclosure, I played the first Five Nights At Freddy’s videogame for five minutes when it first came out in 2014. It was too confusing to figure out, so I just put it down and never revisited it. Over the years sequels to the games were released and Creator Scott Cawthon has built quite the franchise. This includes games, action figures, collectibles and now the feature film.

Mike (Hutcherson) is a troubled security guard who struggles to keep a job and support his sister Abby (Rubio) who lives with him. He loses another job due to an incident and with no other alternative, he begins working at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. During his first night on the job, odd things happen and he realizes that the night shift won’t be so easy to get through. He will unravel the secrets that the pizzeria actually houses or die trying.

The film isn’t going to be for hardcore genre fans, this is more of an introductory movie for young ones wanting something scary but not SAW scary. It has plot holes and some generic dialogue, but it is never really dull, this is a given with Blumehouse( the producer of M3GAN, The Black Phone) is involved.

Hutcherson, who audiences will remember from The Hunger Games films plays the part of a loving brother, struggling with many things including the kidnapping of his brother years ago. He’s haunted by this incident and does his best to protect Abby. He struggles with blaming himself for his brother’s abduction and is haunted by nightmares (at least we think they’re nightmares) when he sleeps.

It is a pleasant surprise to see both Matthew Lillard(13 Ghosts, Scooby Doo) and Mary Stuart Masterson(Benny & Joon, Fried Green Tomatoes) in some interesting roles. I don’t want to go into too much detail here to give anything away, but both only add to the film in many ways.

Jim Henson’s Creature Shop does an amazing job with the animatronic creatures and really makes them believable. They have personality and look even better than their game counterparts.

Tammi creates a world of realism with the FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S film. The direction is great and the pacing is superb, especially for the younger generation. This is a horror film which kids will enjoy from behind the covers, peaking their heads up and will entertain adults too.

Don’t pass on FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S because you don’t know much about the story, go in blind and just enjoy it for what it is, good fun. Heck, it made me go back and pick up the video games again, I’m now a fan of the franchise.

Out now in theaters and streaming on the Peacock Network.