"Five Nights at Freddy’s": Cool practical effects can’t save this so-so movie

By Alexander S. Corey

"Five Nights at Freddy’s" is the latest video game to get adapted for the big screen.

The movie stars Josh Hutcherson (“The Hunger Games”) as Mike, a young man struggling to hold a job and take care of his 10-year-old sister Abby (Piper Rubio). He has trouble connecting with her, in part because of a trauma that has haunted him since childhood.

One day, while working his shift as a security guard at the mall, he witnesses what he thinks is the kidnapping of a young child. 

After tackling the suspect and beating them to a pulp, Mike realizes that he has misread the situation and beaten a father in front of their own child.

He gets axed from his job and in the next scene meets a career counselor named Steve, played by Matthew Lillard. After confronting Mike about his troubled work history, he offers him a night shift job which Mike declines, presumably so that his sister isn’t left home alone.

After becoming more desperate for work, Mike changes his mind and calls to see if the job is still available. He starts his new gig at the deserted Pizza Parlor and over the next five nights working there, things get progressively stranger.

Hutcherson’s performance is fine, but he’s written as an unlikable protagonist. 

Part of the plot involves Mike fighting to keep custody of his sister from his scheming aunt. We are meant to sympathize with him, but he is generally cold toward his sister and makes a few choices in the movie that make you question whether he should have custody after all.

In one scene, after a pharmacist politely suggests an alternative to prescription pills he uses to sleep, Mike swipes the prescription from their hand without saying a word. As he walks away, the pharmacist remarks “What an asshole.”

The screenplay was written by Scott Cawthon, who created the survival horror video games that the movie is based on, Seth Cuddeback, and Emma Tammi, who also directed.

The practical effects are the highlight of the movie. Great care was surely taken with the designs of the animatronic suits, in order to make them look like demented Furbys. Unfortunately, the rest of the movie isn’t on the same level.

The movie isn’t bad, it’s just average. That’s a shame, because it feels like there could be a better movie hiding underneath all that fur. I like the premise, a guy takes a job as a security guard at a haunted Chuck E. Cheese Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria, but the end result isn’t as satisfying as a cheesy slice from the ill-fated pizza parlor.

Atmosphere-wise, the movie does a good job of taking a family friendly location and making it spooky. The scenes where the story is told through security footage were creepily fun.

There is one memorable kill where someone is bitten in half, which drew some gasps in the audience. I thought the movie was gearing up to become a slasher fest, but it didn’t go there.

The movie isn’t scary, but it isn’t a horror comedy either. Nor is it self-aware. I think the film should have leaned into something more.

The movie isn’t bad, it’s just average. That’s a shame, because it feels like there could be a better movie hiding underneath all that fur.

"Five Nights at Freddy’s" was released in theaters on Friday, October 27th and on the streaming platform Peacock the evening before. I saw this in theaters, but if you want to watch killer animatronic creeps, I recommend streaming this one from the safety of your home.

Alexander S. Corey is a co-founder of Behemoth Comics Film Club. Some of his favorite films include Amélie and Hot Fuzz. You can follow him on Letterboxd: @whatapicture