Story: Left with little choice, Mike (Josh Hutcherson) is forced to take up a job as a security guard at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria, but he soon realises it’s a lot more than he signed up for.
Review: Mike is struggling to make ends meet. Not only can’t he keep a job, but he’s trying to connect with his little sister Abby (Piper Rubio), who’s becoming increasingly distant and lost in her own world. So when he is offered a dead-end job keeping watch over an old, worn-out pizza joint, he has no option but to sign up for it.
Unaware of the history of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria, Mike soon finds himself caught in twisted circumstances.
Based on the video game franchise of the same name, ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ (FNaF) became a fan-favourite for its simple yet effective gameplay.
The film expands on the game’s basic premise by adding a lead character, Mike, with an intriguing backstory that explores childhood trauma. Josh Hutcherson tries his best to work with this convoluted plot by adding a lot of humanity to Mike. Watching him try to deal with the frustrations of trying to get his life together while battling his childhood demons is engaging. Equally captivating is his fractured relationship with his sister, Abby.
That’s where the young Piper Rubio is impressive, as she manages to make their relationship charming despite their challenges.
But then the screenplay moves back and forth to the pizzeria while trying to integrate Mike and Abby’s story with the film’s main antagonists – the animatronic characters. Unfortunately, this is where FNaF loses its grip. Although these characters are certainly creepy, the tone shifts into a somewhat humorous space.
While often intentional, it doesn’t quite do the horror/ terror elements any favours. Subsequently, the A and B plots don’t add up and feel quite disjointed, making for an unsatisfying and eventually predictable climax. Even hardcore fans may be left wanting more, other than some prominent nostalgic elements that tie into the game. Casual moviegoers may enjoy the dynamic between Mike and Abby but shouldn’t expect much from the disjointed screenplay beyond the odd jump scare and perhaps some chuckles.
