INTRODUCTION.
Get ready for a spine-chilling thrill in ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023),‘ a hair-raising movie inspired by the popular video game series of the same name. Crafted by the masterminds Scott Cawthon and directed by the talented Emma Tammi, this supernatural horror flick promises to keep you on the edge of your seat. With a stellar cast including Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, Piper Rubio, Mary Stuart Masterson, and Matthew Lillard, prepare for an immersive fright-fest.
Launched on Peacock initially, the film made its grand debut in US theaters just a day later. Clocking in at an intense 1 hour and 35 minutes, get set for a nail-biting experience!
WHAT IS FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S ABOUT? PLOT SUMMARY.
Immersed in an infectious, nostalgic beat reminiscent of classic Nintendo games, I felt a rush of delightful memories flooding back. As Mike, now the primary caregiver for his sister Abby prepares for work he goes to check on his sister. Instead of finding Abby set for the day, she’s crafted a cozy tent made of bed sheets. With a playful rumple, he grants her a five-minute grace period to get ready for school.
Mike is a security guard. At work, a sudden incident unfolds: Mike witnesses a man aggressively shoving a child. Reacting swiftly, he charges towards the man, believing him to be a kidnapper. In the heat of the moment, Mike delivers a series of punches, only to realize later that the man is the child’s father, resulting in his dismissal for assault.
Despite an offer to secure a deserted building – Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza by keeping unauthorized individuals out at night, Mike hastily declines because it is a ‘night job’. Upon returning home, he receives a Delinquency Notice, further adding to his mounting troubles.
As he tries to sleep, haunting visions plague his mind, showing a family picnic where he’s entrusted with watching over his brother. Mike looks away for a second only to discover that his brother is being taken away in a vehicle, helpless to prevent it. These haunting visions torment Mike, making sleep elusive.
Threatened by the looming loss of custody of his sister Abby to their estranged aunt, Mike reluctantly agrees to the job which he rejected before. The one that his career counselor suggested for him. This new job turns eerie when vivid dreams haunt him, revealing alarming visions about his brother’s abduction and peculiar encounters with mysterious children. Meanwhile, Jane schemes to frame Mike but faces an unexpected, supernatural twist when trying to sabotage his workplace.
As chaos ensues, a strange turn of events involving animatronic mascots leaves a trail of destruction. Mike’s cop friend, Vanessa, warns of the impending trouble at his workplace, threatening his job security. Abby’s fascination with Mike’s workplace and peculiar animatronic mascots further complicates the situation. As nightmares blur with reality, a desperate plea from the otherworldly children pushes Mike to make a crucial, potentially life-altering decision regarding Abby and the fate of his lost brother.
Will Mike reclaim his sister? Can he reunite with his missing brother? The unfolding mystery leaves us on edge, compelling us to uncover the thrilling and mysterious journey that lies ahead.
IS FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S GOOD OR BAD?
Five Nights at Freddy’s dared to be a fresh and unique horror flick straight out of a game, yet it somehow missed the thrill factor it promised. Adapting a simple gaming concept into a full-blown movie isn’t easy, I get it. But… the script fell short.
CHARACTER’S PERFORMANCE.
Despite that, this movie sparkles with talented actors like Josh Hutcherson and Matthew Lillard, whose performances were absolutely stellar. Their presence brought back a flood of nostalgia and was a delight to watch. Other supporting characters also impressed and gave this movie a lifeline despite the shaky storyline.
CINEMATOGRAPHY AND VISUAL DESIGN.
The attention to detail in sound, visuals, and the overall design, from the eerie animatronics to the restaurant setting, was mind-blowing. Those creature costumes? Absolutely stunning!
Unbelievably, this movie managed to skip the usual scary moments and felt more like a suspenseful thriller without the actual frightening parts. It steered clear of showing anything too gory, opting for eerie sounds, and silhouettes, and suggesting the horrors instead. The pacing was a bit slow, promising a gradual build-up, but it never quite reached its climax. It felt like it lingered a bit too much.
I must admit, I was captivated by the incredible visual design, something expected from the studio behind the film. However, the storyline itself was disappointingly weak. I’m usually pretty forgiving with horror films, but this one almost veered into cheesy, almost parody-like territory.
THEMES.
This movie delves into a handful of powerful themes. It uncovers the struggle of overcoming past pain and the sense of being stuck, alongside the theme of care demonstrated by Josh Hutcherson’s character, Mike, towards his sister, Piper Rubio, whom they described as dealing with mental health challenges as she was always seen talking to herself. The interplay of Mike’s past, his challenges, and the vivid visions create a gripping story of struggle, regret, and the weight of responsibility that he grapples with each night.
FUN FACT ABOUT FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S .
According to IMDB, Puppeteers from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop brought the incredible animatronic creatures to life. When the characters needed to be still, the puppeteers controlled both the head and the body movements. However, when a character needed to walk or dance, a daring stunt performer would step into the costume while the puppeteers controlled their expressive faces from afar.
CONCLUSION.
Five Nights at Freddy’s is a horror thriller that started off with a promising idea but ultimately fell short of imagination. The whole angle of a ‘kidnapped little brother’ seemed more like a reason to have his sister engage with the robots, even though it didn’t quite make sense considering his affection for her. It’s a stretch to think he’d risk his sister to find his brother.
For me, the actual concept of Five Nights at Freddy’s isn’t particularly frightening, so the movie didn’t scare me. Sure, the jump scares were effective, but did it truly send shivers down my spine? Not really. However, that’s just my personal take and not a criticism of the movie per se.
Overall, I did find some enjoyment in the experience, which is, after all, the purpose of any form of entertainment. Yet, the side story and most of the dialogue needed more work before being presented.
Five Nights at Freddy’s is rated PG-13 for strong violent content, bloody images, and language. You can see Five Nights at Freddy’s in Cinemas close to you?
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