In 2014, the point-and-click survival horror video game created by Scott Cawthon, Five Nights at Freddy’s, was released to all major consoles at the time, as well as PC and mobile devices. It was praised by critics for bringing something new to the horror genre, quickly gaining popularity with a dedicated fanbase, and leading to various sequels and spinoffs, making the franchise an icon of video games.

Development for film adaptation began in 2015, initially with Warner Bros. before they backed out, leading to several delays and directors joining and leaving over the years. Finally, in 2023, the live-action adaptation of Five Nights at Freddy’s is now showing worldwide, even on streaming services, and series creator Scott Cawthon is co-producing, alongside Jason Blum, and with Emma Tammi in the director’s chair.

After being fired from various jobs, including his most recent one as a mall security guard after making a very unfortunate mistake, a desperate Mike Schmidt reluctantly accepts a low-paying security job, working night shifts at an abandoned building. The job is simple; just watch the monitors and don’t let anyone in. This restaurant is the old Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, a once successful and booming restaurant and family entertainment centre, with its animatronic mascots, Freddy Fazbear, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy, who are all still there even long after its closure. He quickly learns why so many quit this job before him – he may not be alone in this restaurant, and he becomes paranoid about some possible paranormal activity, believing he may have a deeper connection to what may be lurking in the restaurant.

Josh Hutcherson, best known for his role as Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games movies, stars as Mike Schmidt, who was also the main protagonist in the original game. His performance portrays him as stern because he’s fed up with people and all his shortcomings, but he’s also very caring, doing everything he can for his young sister, Abby, portrayed by Piper Rubio.

Abby is new a character who doesn’t appear in the games, but this gives Mike the motivation to try hard at work and stop screwing up in order to help raise her since they have no other family besides their Aunt, but he still does, and his Aunt Jane, played by Mary Stuart Masterson, is trying to gain custody of her. Abby is very reserved, doesn’t interact with the other kids in school, is only interested in drawing colourful pictures, and has a soft spot for cute and cuddly things.

Elizabeth Lail, famous for her role as the live-action Princess Anna in the Once Upon a Time television series, stars as Vanessa, a local police officer who often checks in on Mike, goes out of her way to look out for him, and actually knows her way around the old restaurant. It’s unclear if she’s the same Vanessa from the games, as she was a security officer and main protagonist of the last game, Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach. They both have blonde hair and do look alike, so this could lead to some interesting stories in possible future movies, or it could just be a way to mess with FNAF fans.

Matthew Lillard appears as Steve Raglan, a career counsellor who got Mike his latest job. The Scooby-Doo star doesn’t get a lot of screen time, but he does leave a lasting impression. Various popular YouTubers and social media influencers also make cameo appearances.

The real stars are of course Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy. During the better days of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, these life-sized animatronics were entertaining kids and their families, keeping them coming back for more, before being left to rot with the rest of the restaurant. Just like the games, they serve as the antagonists. They look cute and friendly, but also creepy and unsettling, especially with their decaying bodies. Instead of using CGI, the life-size mascots were actually made at Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, founded in 1979 by the late great Jim Henson, famous for creating the Muppets in Sesame Street, amongst many others. Their recreations of the FNAF mascots are just another example of their amazing craftsmanship.

Building real animatronics with stiff robotic movements adds so much to their creepy characteristics, but unfortunately, they don’t feel like they were featured enough. They do get their moments to terrify the audience, but a lot of it happens off-camera, and what they’re doing is just implied instead of being shown. If it wasn’t for the very few gruesome scenes, this horror movie would feel as tame as an episode of Goosebumps or other spooky shows aimed at kids.

The movie does a great job of recreating that tension build-up from the games through slow, heavy footsteps and moving gears that get louder as they get closer, but again, it feels like there could’ve been more of it. After a certain point when they get friendly with someone, they lose some of that mystique about them, but thankfully, Josh Hutcherson’s performance is a reminder to be wary of them, especially after the tragic event from his childhood that gave him trust issues, and things get more interesting as more of the mystery behind the mascots gets uncovered.

The movie also features family drama and some comedy, but it feels like it struggles to properly mix them together – like it can’t decide on which aspect to focus on more. The movie’s version of the story is definitely an interesting take and different from the games, and FNAF fans may or may not like the changes, but at the same time, it does make things less predictable, leading to some interesting plot twists and surprises.

Being set in the early 2000s, the film does a great job of creating that feeling with all the little details such as outdated technology, car models, and more from that period. The restaurant was shut down and abandoned sometime in the 90s, so everything inside gives a real 90s feeling, with old arcade machines, interior design, decorations, and dining furniture, all covered in dust and cobwebs, plus the flickering neon sign out front. It takes a lot of inspiration from the games which will really please diehard fans. The film’s score, composed by the Newton Brothers, compliments everything happening on screen, from building up tension, jump scares, and the more intense scenes.

The security room where Mike monitors everything has all the old monitors that somehow still work, looking very similar to their counterparts from the games. At first, it feels like playing the games, but this story has Mike purposely sleeping on the job by taking sleeping pills, so he can get a specific dream because that’s the only way he can connect to certain events from his past and try to find some answers.

In all the main games, the protagonist is wide awake during their shifts, as they need to be in order to stay alive. Being asleep would of course leave him vulnerable, so this change is a really odd one, but his dreams do play an important role later on, even though he and the audience are missing out on all the action he’s supposed to be monitoring.

The goal is that this film will be the first part of a trilogy, pending its success. Matthew Lillard has signed on for a three-picture deal, and while this movie doesn’t quite nail a lot of things it was aiming for, it still does a lot to create appeal and spark curiosity in both FNAF fans and those new to the franchise. Diehard fans may feel let down by certain aspects, but will find a lot to appreciate as well. It is still a love letter to the dedicated fanbase, and it might even encourage newcomers to try out the games or read the novels, which, like the movie, are also different from the games.

The live-action adaptation of Five Nights at Freddy’s is still worth a watch. Those expecting a scary movie will likely be left unsatisfied, but there is still a lot to enjoy with an interesting plot, set pieces inspired by the games, and the real-life animatronics of Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy. There’s plenty of room for improvement and the pending sequel can learn a lot from this film. Until then, the doors to Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza are now open and ready to welcome you, but leaving may not be an option.

Written by: Sammy Hanson