No frights for Freddy’s fans

Years of development woes made it seem as though the film version of Five Nights At Freddy’s was simply not meant to be. Finally, the video game phenomenon makes it to cinemas. The story centres around a young man named Mike Schmidt. A troubled soul whose personal demons make it difficult for him to hold down a job without incident. With a résumé like his, the only place he can find gainful employment is a broken down arcade and pizzeria. It just so happens to be haunted by murderous animatronics.

Five Nights at Freddy’s takes Chuck E. Cheese and turns him into Chucky. The animatronic mascots are tall hulking figures that have a mean streak, and an unsettling stillness that makes them a unique set of horror monsters. As Mike starts to uncover the secret to his new workplace, he spends nights by his lonesome, waiting for morning to break before his bones get broken.

The mystery of the movie is told through dream sequences, and unfortunately, it doesn’t live up to imagination. The execution of the exposition is underwhelming. to say the least, and feels either obvious or uninteresting. Aside from that, the scares are less than impactful. While Freddy and his animatronic compatriots are terrifying in concept, they lack a sense of theatricality when it comes to their slashing.

The film also has more story than it knows what to do with. Mike seeks employment so he can make ends meet for himself and his estranged younger sister, who also is sought after by their duplicitous aunt, who constantly feels like she is auditioning to be Disney’s next evil stepmother. Their family struggle feels unimportant in the face of mystically murderous mascots, yet the film begs you to care for both.

Aesthetically, the film nails it. The atmosphere of the arcade is decidedly horrific, and the puppetry on display is tremendous. The practical effects go a long way in making Freddy and friends feel tactile and terrifying. The story is where the film falters, with an ending that disappoints yet blatantly sets up for future instalments. Five Nights At Freddy’s feels less like a complete film and more a rushed attempt to cash in on a fervent fanbase.

Rating: Catch It On Cable

Damian Levy is a film critic and podcaster for Damian Michael Movies.