Five Nights At Freddy's Movie Review: Josh Hutcherson Starrer About Killer Robots Is An Underwhelming Horror Thriller

About Five Nights At Freddy’s

The Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson headlines the film adaptation of Five Nights at Freddy’s, a popular video game franchise. Mixing in elements of paranoia, abandonment and good old-fashioned slasher elements, the horror thriller takes viewers into an abandoned diner where killer robots come to life at night. Hutcherson plays a traumatised security guard who tries to make sense of his surroundings before it’s too late. Released theatrically last year, Five Nights at Freddy’s is available on OTT through Jio Cinema.

Five Nights at Freddy’s: Narrative

Mike Schmidt (Hutcherson) is a troubled young man who is never the same after his little brother Garrett’s disappearance when he was 12. He is also caretaker to his 10-year-old sister Abby (Piper Rubio) and gets pushed to hold down a steady job after his aunt Jane (Mary Stuart Masterson) challenges him for custody. Mike lands a job as the night security guard at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, a former diner and arcade that shut down allegations of missing children. The diner is the source of several unanswered supernatural events as Mikey finds himself drawn to the madness.

Five Nights at Freddy’s: Writing and Direction

Video game creator Scott Cawthon has collaborated with Seth Cuddeback and director Emma Tammi to get the story across. And while the story remains intact, the mood doesn’t. There isn’t enough drama or chills involved to keep you invested. Younger fans may be satisfied but knowing this was a Blumhouse production, the overall output left me a bit underwhelmed. Tammi also teases the gore off-screen as the victims are pursued and then neatly disposed of. Even the threat to the lives of Mike and Abby feels a bit meh. The only thing that worked for was the flashback and dream sequences where Mikey imagines trying to save Garrett repeatedly.

Five Nights at Freddy’s: Performances

Hutcherson turns in a sad-eyed performance as the older brother who can’t get anything right. Elizabeth Lail is also sincere as the local police officer Vanessa who keeps looking out for the Schmidts. The casting of Matthew Lillard is a big tip-off to horror fans and the actor’s presence hints at a larger role in the film. However, the film is led by animatronic killer robots named Freddy Fazbear, Bonnie, Chica, Foxy, and Mr Cupcake who are the real ‘stars’ as the long-standing residents of the diner. Their design gives more menace than cuteness, though they still lack the overall scare to pull it off.

Five Nights at Freddy’s: Critique

At under two hours, Five Nights at Freddy’s is distracting for the time being but won’t be enough for fans fond of blood and added drama. This one is strictly for the game fans who might enjoy the little Easter eggs strewn about for added fun.

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