MY CALL: Eh, it’s okay. If you love the game then I guess this is something you’ll see either way. But if you’re only interest is in the “murderous Chucky Cheese animatronics”, then you should just watch Willy’s Wonderland (2021) instead—it’s more mature, gritty, funny and dark. MORE MOVIES LIKE Five Nights at Freddy’s: For more Chucky Cheese animatronic horror, try Willy’s Wonderland (2021) or The Banana Splits (2019).
Down on his luck and struggling to raise his kid sister, Mike (Josh Hutcherson; Ultraman, Red Dawn) accepts a crappy job as an overnight security guard at the long-shutdown Chucky Cheese-like establishment Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. The job sucks and the hours are worse, but it’s the best his boss (Matthew Lillard; Scream, Thirteen Ghosts) can do.
The writing and acting are good. But there’s nothing particularly compelling about the story, characters or relationships. Although it’s quite curious as to why a local cop (Elizabeth Lail; You, Countdown) would take such an interest in the security of Freddy’s. There’s clearly some kind of Scooby-Doo mystery afoot, and we’re left enough clues to cultivate intrigue. Unfortunately, this leads us nowhere interesting, shocking, satisfying or fun.
The horror action and effects toe the line between well-produced (for its budget) and campy. Once the animatronic characters begin stalking and killing, the antics are cartoonish and deliver B-movie tactics. Yet the behavior, movement, expressions and demeanor of the characters is very well done and thoughtfully executed (i.e., not very “B-movie” in execution).
We don’t see much happen on screen; blood, stabs, gore and the like seem to only be implied. Halfway through the movie, I’m not entirely sure I’m watching a horror movie. I mean, it’s clearly horror-ish. This is more kids’ horror; like Chucky Cheese-themed horror-lite. Sure, some people die. But this is horror for beginners.
This wasn’t exactly boring or unentertaining. Still, I’d say this just felt toothless for what I was expecting. Nothing gritty or gory or particularly violent (i.e., for a horror movie) ever happens. Director Emma Tammi (Into the Dark, The Wind) could have been going for that, I guess… a horror movie for preteens. My best recommendation would be that if you want to see this movie, you should probably watch Willy’s Wonderland (2021) instead.