Five Nights at Freddy's

I recently watched Five Nights at Freddy’s (FNAF 1) and, honestly, I was pretty disappointed. The story itself is decent and the investigation part is interesting, but I expected way more scares and tension. Instead, it felt more like a children’s movie than a real horror film. Some scenes are well-shot and visually appealing, but overall, the movie fails to deliver the thrill that the franchise is known for. The pacing was uneven at times, and several moments that should have been scary felt predictable or underwhelming. In short, while there are some good elements, such as the plot and the investigation, the film doesn’t live up to the hype and ends up being a bit of a waste of time. If you’re looking for genuine horror, you might be better off with Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, which clearly does a much better job at creating suspense and excitement.

Alright, so I just saw "Five Nights at Freddy's," and I gotta say, it was... interesting! If you're a fan of the video games, you'll definitely find some familiar faces and creepy vibes, but even if you've never played, there's still a decent horror story to be enjoyed. Let's start with the atmosphere. They really nailed that unsettling feeling you get from the games. The abandoned Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria is super creepy, with its dim lighting, dusty arcade games, and those... animatronics. Seriously, those things are unsettling! The movie does a good job of building tension, especially when you're waiting for something to jump out at you. There are a few moments where I definitely jumped in my seat! The story follows a new security guard, Mike, who takes a job at the closed-down pizzeria. He's got some personal stuff going on, which adds a bit of emotional depth to the story. It's not just about jump scares; there's a real human element to it, which I appreciated. Some of the characters were pretty cool, and I enjoyed watching their interactions. Now, where things get a bit... mixed. The plot can be a little slow at times. There are moments where it feels like it's taking its time to get to the scary parts, and some of the dialogue felt a little clunky. Also, if you were expecting non-stop, intense horror, you might be a little disappointed. There are definitely creepy moments, but it's not a super gory or overly scary movie. It's more of a suspenseful thriller with some horror elements. The special effects were pretty good, especially the animatronics. They looked really realistic and moved in a way that was both cool and unsettling. The visuals definitely added to the overall creepy vibe of the movie. Overall, I'd give "Five Nights at Freddy's" a solid 6/10. It's a decent horror film with a cool atmosphere, some good jump scares, and a story that keeps you somewhat engaged. If you're a fan of the games, you'll probably enjoy it more, but even if you're not, it's still a fun, spooky watch. Just don't go in expecting the scariest movie ever made, and you'll have a good time! It’s a fun spooky movie to watch with friends.

Serviceable. I feel like more could've been done with the mascots via the animatronics as well as giving them each some sorta creepy voice, though this is of course based on a video game so if that's how they are in the game (which I've never played nor heard of) then I guess this is not a valid 'criticism'. Just as a film, I think that would've made it more lively. 'Five Nights at Freddy’s', as it is, is a passable supernatural horror. Josh Hutcherson does an acceptable job as lead, as Elizabeth Lail and youngster Piper Rubio do well too. More could've perhaps been done with Matthew Lillard's character, though Lillard is himself is alright. Evidently, the reception to this 2023 movie has been mixed, I can tell that from both the average rating chart and from those that I follow. It worked for me, that's all there really is for me to say.