Five Nights at Freddy’s Review: An Enjoyable Romp, But Not A Horror

When a film advertises itself as horror, there is an expectation of some jump scares or even some gore that goes above a beyond what a violent drama would produce. Unfortunately, this is where Five Nights at Freddy’s misses the mark.

At no point in the almost 2-hour film does the audience ever feel like something is going to jump out at them or terrify them in the thrilling way it should. Every move of the antagonists can be seen a mile away, and the appearances in the shadows come across as boring and predictable which is probably because of the PG-13 rating but still doesn’t make it a fantastic film.

That’s not to say this film isn’t still an enjoyable story because it is. The plot is compelling, and you end up feeling for the protagonist, Mike, almost immediately. 

Mike’s Past Steers the Story Forward

The mystery behind Mike’s dreams is the subplot that actually makes this film even slightly enjoyable. You are intrigued enough to keep watching to find out who Garrett is in relation to Mike.

It gives another layer to why Mike is the unpredictable, clearly traumatized character that he is. This element of a brother aching to go back in time and change what happened gives him a relatable quality.

Josh Hutcherson does a fantastic job of juggling the many layers of Mike and his relationship to Abby, and then Vanessa as the story progresses. Mike isn’t an easy person to love because he is so rough around the edges, but Hutcherson gives him that slight element of kindness that breaks through every now and again.

If it weren’t for Hutcherson’s performance and natural charm, Mike might’ve fallen a bit flat. On paper, the character is selfish, distant, and allows his trauma to run his life and be his whole personality.

In fact, Hutcherson brings out the anxiety and unease we are supposed to be feeling from everyone in Five Nights at Freddy’s more so than any other character. His eyes constantly scanning the room, even when he’s not at work, shows just how unsettled Mike is — whether due to his extended time working at Freddy Fazbears or his past.

This story about a security guard who finds himself having to contend with animatronics that come to life wouldn’t be nearly as interesting if we weren’t constantly thinking about how it all relates to Mike’s past. If it were just Mike trying to figure out the lore of these animatronics, then the movie would’ve been a complete failure.

The Vanessa and William Plot Lacks Depth

While it is interesting that the female police officer who has been helping Mike throughout the film turns out to have her own connections to Freddy’s, it’s not enough to make us really care. By the time the plot reveals that the man who hired Mike and Vanessa’s father is one and the same and that he’s the one who kidnapped and killed all those kids, including Garrett, we are ready for the movie to just be over.

If the reveal of William’s connection to Mike’s own life and why Vanessa is so important to the plot overall had come even a half hour sooner, then maybe it would’ve packed a bigger punch. Or maybe if the animatronic portion of the plot — you know the whole point of the film — had been explored more deeply it would’ve carried the weight it was supposed to.

As it stands, while the idea that William put all these children he kidnapped into the animatronics is eye-catching, it doesn’t carry the overall plot in any kind of way. We are supposed to be terrified by these characters as soon as we realize they can come to life and attack people, but we aren’t.

Again, this lack of depth and oomph is a direct result of the film trying to cater to all audiences, young and old. If the film had simply stuck to an adult audience, there would’ve been more room to explore the sinister side of this man and his characters. 

In the end, it’s just a sad story about some missing kids who met a horrible end. But the emotionality isn’t there because we barely know who these kids are and therefore feel no real connection to them.

Ignoring the Genre Labels, This Movie is Fun

If we ignore that this is supposed to be a horror film or that it is based on an already established game franchise then on its own merit, the film is fun to watch. From start to finish we are taken on a journey that has emotional depth and connects us to the main characters: Mike and Abby.

We get to see Mike grow into a strong guardian for his sister as he fights off his mean Aunt Jane who wants custody. It’s a story that grips your heart and has you rooting for Mike to win despite everything wrong with him.

And ultimately, the idea that a drawing can change the course of your life is quite compelling. Who knew a little girl could change the motives of the animatronics just by drawing their master as he really is?

It gives agency back to the kids and shows that adults deserve to give kids so much more credit and understanding than they usually do. At the end of the day, Abby shows Mike he is a great guardian and that as a team they can take on the world.

It’s a heartwarming ending that makes every twist along the way worth it.

Stray Thoughts:

• Despite the lack of depth to his character, Matthew Lillard gives us chills just by being on screen. 
• The casting of this film is worth its own mention because every role was perfectly cast.
• I wish we could’ve explored Max and her brother more instead of expecting the audience to understand their motives enough to care about their deaths
• Aunt Jane’s lawyer was hysterical

 

 

 

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Five Nights at Freddy’s is now in theatres and streaming on Peacock

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