Film Review: Five Nights at Freddys

  Genre: Horror / Mystery / Thriller

Cert: 15 cert

Director: Emma Tammi

Screenwriter: Scott Cawthon, Emma Tammi, Seth Cuddeback, 

Starring: Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, Piper Rubio, Matthew Lillard, Kat Conner Sterling, David Lind, Christian Stokes, Joseph Poliquin, Grant Feely, Asher Colton Spence, David Huston Doty, Liam Hendrix, Jophielle Love, Michael P. Sullivan, Wyatt Parker, Lucas Grant

Running time: 1h 49min

Parents are advised to read before viewing the film as some scenes may contain scenes unsuitable for younger viewers.

Sex & Nudity: No sex and nudity whatsoever and no suggestive references.

Violence & Gore: A woman is stabbed with a large knife. Blood is seen infrequently as a small stain on her shirt.

A lot of the violence is depicted off-screen, but with occasional gory aftermath and without shying away from showing blood.

Man gets his face eaten by a character, aftermath is later shown.

A character gets killed offscreen.

A man gets cut multiple times in one scene only blood.

Scuffed, cut and bloody people are found dead lying down, next to animal suits.

There is a dimly-lit close-up of a dead body with gory facial wounds caused by circular saws.

A character gets killed inside a room, and his bloody hand leaves a stain on the door.

Profanity: A pharmacist calls Mike an "asshole"

Very mild and infrequent swearing.

A few uses of ass, hell and one use of shit.

Alcohol/drugs: One of the characters is described as smelling like cigarettes.

The main character takes prescription sleep medication to help him have the same dream every night

Frightening/Intense Scenes:

 The film is surprisingly tame despite containing a few select shocking scenes and jump scares. This is reminiscent of the games the movie is based on as they were never known for gore.

Several jumpscares from different characters.

The Foxy hallway scenes are unsettling and frightening.

The withered Yellow Rabbit design may be frightening for some viewers.

Max's death scene is the one of scariest parts of the movie.

Just like the games, the animatronics may scare some.

Story: In the year 2000, a desperate young man takes a job at an infamous, long-abandoned pizzeria with a dark past, bringing his little sister along. As they uncover the restless spirits and vengeful animatronics within, they must confront their own haunting memories. With the help of an enigmatic police officer, they battle to save their souls and unravel the sinister secrets lurking at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza


Review:  Five Nights at Freddy's: Shadows of the Past, directed by acclaimed horror filmmaker, captures the essence of the iconic video game series while introducing new elements to keep fans on the edge of their seats. Clocking in at 120 minutes, the film delivers a mix of suspense, jump scares, and a dose of nostalgia for avid players.

The film's strength lies in its faithful adaptation of the game's eerie atmosphere. The animatronics, led by the sinister Freddy Fazbear, are brought to life with impeccable CGI, adding a chilling realism to their already disturbing presence. The filmmakers masterfully build tension, using dimly lit corridors and eerie music to create an unsettling ambience reminiscent of the game.

The cast, including seasoned actors and fresh faces, delivers convincing performances. The protagonist, a security guard tasked with surviving five nights at the haunted Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, is portrayed with genuine fear and paranoia. The supporting characters, including fellow employees and a mysterious night watchman from the past, add depth to the narrative.

However, the film is not without its flaws. The pacing in the middle act tends to drag, with some scenes feeling repetitive as the protagonist battles animatronics night after night. Certain jump scares, while effective, may come off as predictable for fans familiar with the game mechanics. Additionally, the resolution feels somewhat rushed, leaving a few loose ends that may leave audiences wanting more closure.

Despite these drawbacks, Five Nights at Freddy's: Shadows of the Past succeeds in bringing the iconic horror game to the big screen. It pays homage to the source material while offering a fresh take on the lore, expanding the FNAF universe. Fans of the game will appreciate the attention to detail, and newcomers can still enjoy the film's suspenseful moments and well-executed scares. 

Overall: it's a worthy addition to the horror genre, even if it doesn't escape the occasional pitfalls of video game adaptations.



Rating: 4 out of 5 for Entertainment / 5.8 out of 10 for Adaption from the game