After being stuck in movie hell for almost a decade, the film adaptation of the Five Nights at Freddy's video game, was finally completed over two months ago in April of this year. Five Nights at Freddy's is the official title of the project and a couple of days ago, the trailer dropped, and we were in absolute bliss. It's not that animatronics horror hasn't been done in the past, but it never looks this good. With a big studio behind it, the film promises to be a shift in the subgenre that's been the source of many podcasts, creepypastas, and Internet wikis for so long.
We always get excited for horror. It's one of those genres that give audiences something to talk about months before films get released. The anticipation of a good scare can only be compared to the excitement of watching your favorite superhero on the big screen one more time. This is why we've come up with a list of the ten reasons why Five Nights at Freddy's could be the scary movie of 2023. If the trailer wasn't enough for you, come along.
10 The Source Material Is Scary Enough
Who hasn't been creeped out by playing a video game in complete dark? If your thing is Five Nights at Freddy's, chances are you had to stop playing a few times, turn the lights on, and wait for the ghouls to drift away from your mind. Every time a horror video game is adapted, it's all about trust. Trust that the material will be cleverly adapted to film, and scare everyone out of their wits. Even if the past speaks for itself (there aren't many scary films based on video games), we believe this time it will be different. Why? A perfect dose between humor and scares was hinted at in the trailer, but it still looks like a strict approach to horror.
9 The Video Game's Creator Is a Co-Writer
Creative control is risky when you're not familiar with the film business and the rules of movie adaptations. Scott Cawthon is the creator of the FNAF franchise, and he's been on the adaptation endeavor from day one. He's gone through the roadblocks, studio interferences, and changes of directors, and he's still standing. This can only mean the passion is there, and the eagerness will result in a great selection of the many franchise elements for the film adaptation. If this were your baby, you wouldn't want it to go bad, right?
8 Josh Hutcherson and Matthew Lillard
It's Peeta and Stu Macher! Nothing can go wrong with these two. Matthew Lillard's relationship to horror is as solid as ever, and we're still waiting for Stu to show up again in the Scream franchise. And Josh Hutcherson has proven to be capable to leading films of any nature. When it comes to casting in horror films, it doesn't get any better than the leads in Five Nights at Freddy's. Hutcherson will play Mike Schmidt in the film (one notable alias as the character's name is Michael Afton). Lillard will play William Afton.
7 Backed By Blumhouse and Their Franchise-Making Abilities
Jason Blum and his Blumhouse blueprint for horror have been part of this project for almost five years, and it's very curious that the film hasn't been part of their microbudget horror schedule that the studio is most famous for. In any case, we're sure there's a good reason for Blumhouse delaying and not hurriedly producing. This is the studio behind Get Out, the only horror film that's won an Academy Award in recent years, so we need to trust them.
6 It’s Got an '80s Horror Vibe
Didn't you guys feel in some kind of '80s horror universe when watching the trailer? We know we did. The practical effects and the family entertainment center aesthetics were enough to awaken the nostalgic feeling that's been countlessly used in recent years in TV shows and films. Oh, and the trailer has a great line that instantly connected us to the basic premise of animatronic horror: This place was huge in the '80s with the kids.
5 Emma Tammi Is the Director
Other directors were attached to the project and honestly, they were pretty good. From Gil Kenan to Chris Columbus, every change was exciting. But then Blum pivoted again, and Emma Tammi became the perfect pick. She's mostly known for directing a couple of Into the Dark episodes, but also for nailing the western-horror film The Wind a couple of years ago. If you haven't seen that one, please do. And if you have, then you know we're in for a treat, as she seems to perfectly understand the horror atmosphere to make you feel uncomfortable.
4 Jim Henson’s Creature Shop Is In Charge of Practical Effects
The visual effects company created by the master of puppets Jim Henson has never been involved with a full-blown horror film. Yes, creepy stuff like Return to Oz and Labyrinth are part of their resume, but horror? That's a new one. We can imagine Jason Blum pulling some strings to make this a reality. The creature shop was in charge of designing the animatronics and practical effects of the film that will heavily rely on that aspect. This can't go wrong.
3 Surely, Hollywood Has Learned From Other Animatronic Films
As we said before, this isn't the first time. Willy’s Wonderland and The Banana Splits Movie completely fell under the radar and many people thought they were straight-up ridiculous films. We trust Blumhouse, the writers, and the director, to learn from the industry's mistakes and not make the same generic horror films again. Hutcherson is no Nic Cage, but he's good enough to elevate this film above its peers.
2 It Will Do Well With All Audiences
In today's industry, horror is huge with teenagers and adults alike. Kids like to have a good scare, and if it's something associated with a video game they surely have played, it'll be successful in that niche. Regardless, the horror element seems serious enough to also satisfy the genre's purists who don't always accept a downgrade inspired by something they're not familiar with.
1 It’s Definitely Not Your Average Video Game Adaptation
It's pretty simple. The video game is interesting enough to work in a similar approach to others of its kind, but the storyline and gameplay are a little bit different and much more cinematic than we think. The fact that it works as a mystery video game and not exclusively as a shooter means that the film could make good use of this. Hopefully, they do. And from the trailer, we can already sense the script digs deep into the psychology of characters whose emotional range will definitely work as a change from what we usually get with video game adaptations.
Five Nights at Freddy's will be released in theaters and on the streaming service Peacock on October 27, 2023.
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