Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023) -Movie Review

What do you get when you take one of the most successful independent games of all time and bring it into live action?

A much better film than expected.

Let’s discuss.

Five Nights and Freddy’s is a 2023 mystery/horror film brought to us by writer / director Emma Tammi, writer / series creator Scott Cawthorne, and writer Scott Cuddeback. I thought it odd that Cawthorne was included as a writer. That was until I saw the film and realized the bait and switch.

While The film was advertised to be based on the original game, it has very little to do with it. While there are plenty of easter eggs and nods to multiple games in the series, it is far more based on the books by Cawthorne.

Much like Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach, the film takes place in its own continuity.

As a fan of the games and someone who has watched and agreed with Wendigoon’s take on the FNAF, this was a disappointment. The story of the original series of games, FNAF through FNAF: Pizzeria Simulator, had an incredible story told out of sequence, that ended with one of the most satisfying conclusions of any series I’ve ever played. I really liked that journey and I hoped to experience it as a film series.

However, that’s not the case.

So fair warning, don’t go into this movie expecting anything as nuanced and thought provoking as the lore of the games.

It’s dumbed down and streamlined, but it’s not bad.

I watched this movie with my 7-year-old, and she loved it. She’s played all the games on her iPad and has posters, stuffed animals, and clothing that are all FNAF related. She knows the story and has her own theories. She’s seen horror themed movies before, one of her favorites being Killer Klowns from Outer Space, but she doesn’t consider the things she’s seen as “scary movies.”

This movie was to be her first scary movie and it did not disappoint.

Much like Monster Squad was a gateway for my generation into the genre, it feels like this movie could stand along side it.

Is it half as good as Monster Squad?

Hell No.

But is it more enjoyable than most straight to streaming horror films I’ve seen over the last couple years?

Absolutely.

The special effects are mostly practical and they’re fine enough. The ADR of the animatronics movement isn’t handled well and the overall sound design never felt like it truly fit.

However, the direction, cinematography, and set design were fantastic. The restaurant looks like like the one featured in Pizzeria Simulator. The film is crystal clear, even in the darkest scenes, which somehow much bigger budget films have screwed up time and time again.

The story is much simplified, but for a younger audience—it’s a perfect fit. Though, if you’re going to do a basic story set in a killer animatronic eatery, I’d prefer to watch the Nicolas Cage classic, Willy’s Wonderland—which did many things better than the FNAF movie.

The movie isn’t bad, but it isn’t special.

It’s just a straight forward horror film to watch with friends.

If you don’t go in with any expectations, you’ll probably have a good time.

If you want to take a trip to the Pizzeria, you can find this film streaming exclusively on Peacock.