Last week Paul (of OGTPod) and I tried to see Foe. We heard it was kind of bad and wanted to experience said badness together, or see it defy our expectations. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control (the hoards of Paul Mescal fans, who I like to call “Mesgals”) we managed to only get one seat. So we abandoned that plan and opted for Five Nights at Freddy’s, the film adaptation of the game of the same name created by Scott Cawthon. And I have to admit it, I wasn’t too mad at how my evening ended up.
Plot
Five Nights at Freddy’s follows brother and sister Mike (Josh Hutcherson) and Abby (Piper Rubio). Mike is Abby’s legal guardian and needs a new job to keep her under his care. Mike and Abby also have to deal with a meddling aunt who want’s to take Abby from Mike in order to receive the child support.
He takes a job as the security guard at Fazbear’s Pizza, once a lively pizza/entertainment spot, popular with families. Fazbear’s hosted a group of animatronic animals that entertained audiences, but now it is closed down and Mike can sleep through his shifts. Mike is plagued by memories of his brother who was kidnapped when they were children and uses his dreams to try and remember who it was that took his brother. Mike also meets Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail), a helpful policewoman who is aware of strange goings-on at Fazbear’s.
One night, Abby’s babysitter can’t make it so Mike has to take her with him to work. Abby encounters the animatronic animals and befriends them, discovering a secret. Horror ensues, leading to a showdown and a resolution for Mike and Abby.
My Review
FNaF is a Blumhouse production, and you can tell. This film was never going to be a cinematic masterpiece and I think it knows it. The acting is fine, I have no problems with Hutcherson and Piper Rubio wasn’t so annoying that I regretted my life choices (this sometimes happens with child actors in horror). The plot was also fine, it had a bit of sub-plot, but not so much that it took over the main thrust of the story. It moved quickly but also took a bit of time to develop Mike and Abby’s relationship and that was… fine.
In terms of horror, there were parts I liked. Animatronics that come alive are obviously creepy and there was minimal gore but it was still there, at least. There were a few moments of “ew”, which I always enjoy and some implied gore that they clearly didn’t show because they wanted to keep a low rating (a 15 in the UK but a PG-13 in the US). The creepy setting of abandoned Fazbear’s was well-done: a genuinely spooky setting that I liked being in. I also appreciated that they were puppets and not CGI, so a shout-out to that.
The “romance” element was light, and probably not necessary. Mike’s real love was Abby and they didn’t need to add in anything there, the character of Vanessa seemed a little superfluous overall but they needed her for the finale.
Largely, FNaF is… fine. It’s very average. Perhaps a good film for a teenager just getting into horror. And for that reason, I’m surprised it’s not a 12A (the UK’s version of PG-13). I would have gone that route and would recommend it to youngsters who are getting into horror.
2.5 stars, if you’re into that.
That Horror Chick 