Successful video game adaptations faithfully represent the game’s personalities, while building a larger, engaging narrative. It should create new fans of the franchise who consider going back to the source. Or, as in the case of a sequel, like Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, watch the first film before the next chapter.
Mike (Josh Hutcherson) and Abby (Piper Rubio) are trying to make a fresh start. But no matter how much Mike tries to help them move on, Abby can’t let go of her Fazbear friends and Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail) can’t stop thinking about her serial killer father. Their inability to leave the past behind means it inevitably interferes with the present. Now it’s taken the form of an angry ghost hell-bent on revenge.
The killer Yellow Rabbit’s death forces this film to find a new threat or reinvent an old one. This picture introduces the Marionette animatronic, which is probably one of the film’s most disturbing characters.
Much like the videogame, the film doesn’t only rely on jump scares to frighten audiences. Instead, it builds tension that eventually leads to startling confrontations. This approach works well inside the dilapidated restaurant, but is a little more hit or miss outside it.
The narrative requires some very specific things to progress. But these weak plot devices decrease the story’s quality. Early on in the film, a group of ghost investigators visit Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. They make one key narrative contribution, but their main purpose is falling victim to the animatronics. Even more illogical is Mike’s thoughtless act at the end of the film. It advances the plot, but makes no contextual sense.
The film appears to be building towards a trilogy, but Blumhouse suggests they’ll keep going beyond three movies. Nonetheless, the cliff-hanger is promising, but audiences should stay for the entire credits to get the full effect.
Director: Emma Tammi
Starring: Josh Hutcherson, Piper Rubio and Elizabeth Lail
