No, it’s not surprising that we’re getting a movie based on popular video game series, Five Nights at Freddy’s. It’s just surprising that it took this long. Since Scott Cawthon created the horror-centric game in August 2014, several different iterations have following along with a massive merchandise line you can find at any GameStop location. Believe it or not, however, the movie won’t break new ground. To date, two horror movies about killer animatronic mascots – Willy’s Wonderland and The Banana Splits Movie – already exist. And the horror genre has adapted countless video game series (Resident Evil, Silent Hill). Maybe it’s not surprising then that critics didn’t really enjoy an evening at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza.

Synopsis

Mike Schmidt is an out-of-work security guard struggling to take care of his younger sister, Abby. With his aunt taking legal action to get custody of Abby, Mike desperately takes a night shift job at an old, shut-down children’s pizzeria and entertainment center, Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. But the simple job immediately feels wrong. Falling asleep during his shifts, Mike vividly dreams about the day a stranger abducted his younger brother. And the restaurant’s old animatronic mascots seemingly come to life each night. When Mike learns the real secret behind Freddy Fazbear’s mascots, he must fight to save his sister, Abby.

Five Nights at Freddy’s Adds Too Much Unnecessary Backstory at the Expense of Its Creepy Mythology

If the above synopsis doesn’t quite capture the story of Five Nights at Freddy’s that’s because writer and director Emma Tammi, and co-writers Seth Cuddeback and Scott Cawthon, convolute things a bit. Yes, fans of the game series will be happy that the horror basics of story remain intact. That’s probably due in no small part to Cawthon’s presence as a screenwriter. Yet somehow the creepy idea that fuels the series lands with a thud in the movie. Much of the mythology comes courtesy of an exposition dump in the final act. Though dream sequences tease some of the backstory, they quickly become repetitive. As it stands, Five Nights at Freddy’s feels more clumsy than scary in its execution.

Much of the mythology comes courtesy of an exposition dump in the final act.

In addition, Tammi et al. add a backstory for its main human character, Mike Schmidt, that saddles down the pacing. A character from the original video game series, Schmidt obviously needed more story for a feature-length movie. But the story draws too many unnecessary connections and becomes repetitive as it explores Schmidt’s past. It also draws away from the interesting premise underlying the movie. More time with Matthew Lillard (Scream) would have been a lot more fun.

Five Nights at Freddy’s Lacks Scares, Mayhem, and Fun Worthy of Its Premise

Arguably, Five Nights at Freddy’s suffers from a bigger problem than an unnecessary backstory. It’s just not a scary movie. At all. On one hand, Tammi crafts some good visuals and everything about the video game movie looks technically solid. That includes the special effects for the animatronic baddies. There’s just not an ounce of suspense to be found at any point. Even the best scene from the trailer – set in a children’s ball pit – feels rushed and clumsily executed. Lackluster pacing also keeps things from ever feeling fun or urgent. Neither Josh Hucherson (Tragedy Girls) nor Elizabeth Lail (Countdown, You) have interesting characters. And the relationship between the two characters is even less interesting.

There’s just not an ounce of suspense to be found at any point.

Perhaps what’s missing from Five Nights at Freddy’s is some wacky, over-the-top fun and splatter one would assume would define a movie about killer animatronic mascots. Instead, we get an utterly humorless effort that’s a slog to get through at times. Maybe The Banana Splits Movie and Willy’s Wonderland were a bit odd and lower budget, but they had a better understanding of what could work with their premise. every horror movie needs to be Rated-R – and the studio likely wanted kids in theater seats. Nonetheless, Five Nights at Freddy’s really needed some R-rated mayhem.

Five Nights at Freddy’s Only the Third Best Horror Movie at Killer Animatronic Robots

Despite a wealth of creepy source material and potential for silly mayhem, Five Nights at Freddy’s is an absolutely pedestrian effort. There’s no scares to be found, not even a cheap jump scare. If ever there was a horror movie that needed an R-rating, this was it. The lack of over-the-top splatter leaves a void. Moreover, Tammi fails to create any sort of atmosphere or suspense. Though the backstory supplied to Mike Schmidt creates more of a narrative purpose for the character, it also disrupts the movie’s pacing. What’s left is a completely unremarkable movie that’s watchable and instantly forgettable.

THE PROFESSOR’S FINAL GRADE: C+