Five Nights At Freddy’s (2023) Movie Review

The horror video game genre has become one of the most played in recent years, with franchises like Resident Evil, Silent Hill and Alone in The Dark paving the way for modern gaming franchises. The most played game in the genre in recent years has been the very popular ‘Five Nights At Freddy’s’ which sees you play as a security guard at an old restaurant chain, where the band made up of Freddy Fazbear, Chica, Bonnie, Cupcake and Foxy played for the guests. Mechanical nightmares possessed by the spirits of deceased children. It all sounds pretty grim but trust me it’s terrifying and a lot of fun! 

After spending years in development hell, the film finally found distribution with popular horror film company Blumhouse and Universal Pictures, with director Emma Tammi (The Wind & Into the Dark) at the helm and Josh Hutcherson (Peta from The Hunger Games films) in the lead. In October 2023, we finally saw the film hit cinemas cross the globe, with remarkable success, grossing an impressive $291 million worldwide, becoming not only the most profitable film of 2023, with a reported $20 million budget, but also the highest grossing horror film of the year, beating out films such as; The Exorcist: Believer, Saw X, Scream VI and M3gan. As a fan of this new sub-genre in horror, I am of course talking about animatronics coming to life and attacking people, thanks to Banana Splits and Willy’s Wonderland, I was really excited to see the adaptation of the IP that inspired this trend and Five Nights at Freddy’s did not disappoint! 

Five Nights at Freddy’s was a pleasant surprise. When you hear a film has had a turbulent journey to the big screen, it’s always a concern and a worry to see the finished product, but thankfully Five Nights at Freddy’s manages to defy the behind-the-scenes noise, to provide audiences with a faithful adaptation of the games, whilst never isolating the general moviegoer. The film has a great balance of tone as well. It manages to have fun with its absurd premise, but without ever making fun of it. It’s a fine line, but the film does this exceptionally well. 

Director Emma Tammi does such a great job with handling the scares. The film’s setting is inherently spooky to begin with an abandoned restaurant being the main setting. If you were paying me good money, maybe I would take up the job of a security guard in an abandoned restaurant, populated by creepy, animatronic animals, haunted by ghost children, but otherwise I think I would pass. The setting and the way the environment is captured is the real strength of the film. 

The characters are all brought to life exceptionally well. For Freddy and friends, we have a combination of animatronics and people in suits that were used to bring these beloved characters to life. The dedication to practical effects rather than CGI was an inspired choice and one that benefits the film. It adds to the overall scope of the film and really does make these characters feel real. Actor Josh Hutcherson’s casting as security guard and loving older brother Mike, was a great choice. The actor has been experiencing a resurgence as of late, and Five Nights at Freddy’s helped solidify this. Matthew Lillard as the films human antagonist was also great casting, showcasing his versatility as a performer and proving that he still has it. Hopefully with the success of Five Nights at Freddy’s, Paramount Pictures and the ‘Scream’ team will look at Lillard for a potential return as Stu Macher in Scream VII. Please Paramount, me and the collective horror community beg you!

Overall, Five Nights at Freddy’s was an absolute blast from start to finish. It has all the hallmarks of a horror classic, bolstered by great direction from Emma Tammi, proving that she is one of the most unique voices in horror working today. With a sequel already in the works and Tammi slated to return, we can’t wait to see what she does with a sequel. The scares are fantastic, and the cast are all wonderful, with Hutcherson and Lillard stealing the show. If you’re a horror fan or a fan of the video game franchise, this is a must watch! Be sure to secure your copy from Sanity on DVD, Blu-Ray or 4K Ultra HD today below and for all things movies, television, video games and pop culture, be sure to check out Sanity’s insane range. 

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Christopher Pattison wrote this blog post for Sanity. See more from Chris here