[FILM REVIEW] FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S Review (2023)

November 9, 2023November 9, 2023 Dave Alex First, Bailey Winston, Central Coast Radio, Chris Lee Hill, Christian Stokes, David Griffiths, David Lind, Elizabeth Lail, Emma Tammi, Five Nights At Freddys, Joseph Poliquin, Josh Hutcherson, Julia Belanova, Kat Conner Sterling, Kyle McGrath, Lucas Grant, Mary Stuart Masterson, Matthew Lillard, Michael P Sullivan, Piper Rubio, Scott Cawthon, Seth Cuddebacks, Tadasay Young, The Popcorn Conspiracy Radio Show, Theodus Crane, Tyler MacIntyre, USA, Wyatt Parker

Summary: A troubled security guard begins working at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. During his first night on the job, he realizes that the night shift won’t be so easy to get through. Pretty soon he will unveil what actually happened at Freddy’s.

Year: 2023

Cinema Release Dates: 26th October 2023 (Australia), 2nd November 2023 (Thailand), 25th October 2023 (UK), 27th October 2023 (USA)

VOD Release Dates: TBA

Country: USA

Director: Emma Tammi

Screenwriter: Scott Cawthon, Seth Cuddeback, Emma Tammi, Chris Lee Hill, Tyler MacIntyre

Cast: Julia Belanova (Cindy), Theodus Crane (Jeremiah), Lucas Grant (Garrett), Josh Hutcherson (Mike), Elizabeth Lail (Vanessa), Matthew Lillard (Steve Raglan/William Afton), David Lind (Jeff), Mary Stuart Masterson (Aunt Jane), Wyatt Parker (Young Mike), Joseph Poliquin (Carl), Piper Rubio (Abby), Kat Conner Sterling (Max), Christian Stokes (Hank), Michael P. Sullivan (Doug), Tadasay Young (Dr. Lillian), Bailey Winston (Kim)

Running Time: 109 minutes

Classification: M (Australia), 13 (Thailand), 15 (UK), PG-13 (USA)

OUR FRIDAY NIGHT AT FREDDY’S REVIEWS

David Griffiths’s Five Nights At Freddy’s Review

David’s rating Out Of 5

Kyle McGrath’s Five Nights At Freddy’s Review

Kyle’s rating Out Of 5

Alex First’s Five Nights At Freddy’s Review

Toys that run amok, killing and maiming.

That, in a nutshell, is at the heart of Five Nights at Freddy’s.

Mike (Josh Hutcherson) is a troubled soul.

A shopping centre security guard, his massively aggressive treatment of the father of a young son sees him fired and looking for a new job.

At that stage, we – the audience – don’t know Mike’s back story, which is, indeed, a traumatic one.

A long time ago, as a 12-year-old, he was asked to look out for his younger brother, Garrett (Lucas Grant), only to see him snatched.

Neither Garrett, nor the perpetrator of the crime, were ever found.

And now, with Mike’s mother dead and his father no longer on the scene, he is left to look after his primary school aged sister, Abby (Piper Rubio).

An avid drawer, although pleasant, she is hardly cooperative.

Mike continues to have nightmares about the fateful day when his brother was taken.

At the same time, his manipulative aunt Jane (Mary Stuart Masterson) is looking to wrest custody of Abby from him.

After fronting up to a decidedly dodgy career counsellor, Steve Raglan (Matthew Lillard), Mike is told his prospects are severely limited.

You see, notwithstanding his latest run in, he has struggled to hold down any job.

His only way out is to accept a dead-end role as an overnight watchman at a long-abandoned children’s themed venue, Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria.

What he doesn’t count on is the giant-size animatronic toys at the establishment coming to life and ripping people apart, but that they do.

A local cop, Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail), certainly seems to know more than she is letting on, as in no time Mike and Abby are targeted.

Based on a video game series of the same name, Five Night’s at Freddy’s is creative, creepy and strangely compelling.

While I can’t say all the acting is top shelf, Josh Hutcherson acquits himself well as the film’s driving force.

He comes across as sympathetic, but disturbed.

Elizabeth Lail does a decent job as the police officer who means well, but has more than a little skin in the game.

The screenplay by Scott Cawthon, Seth Cuddeback and director Emma Tammi is crafted as a gradual reveal. That is, pieces of the puzzle come together as the film develops.

As much as he wants to, Mike is unable to turn back time, so it is then a case of how he can move forward.

In a portent of what is to follow, tension is built from a dramatic opening scene.

Evocative lighting and sound help establish the dark and twisted tone of the movie.

Blood is spilt and more will be, but it is a question of where and when. An inventive, if farfetched, mystery, horror, thriller, Five Nights at Freddy’s got me involved from the get-go and kept me interested.

Alex’s rating Out Of 5

Average Subculture rating Out Of 5

Other Five Nights At Freddy’s Reviews:

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