Five Nights at Freddies; What do Students Think?

  Universal Studios’ “Blumhouse” studios released a horror movie based on Scottgames’ famous indie horror game “Five Nights at Freddy’s” on Oct. 27. 2023.

   The story follows Micheal Schmit, a young adult who picks up the night guard position at an abandoned Freddy Fazbears Pizzeria. At this location, the animatronics, who were once very popular with children, begin to move around at night and cause issues with Michaels’ attempt to support his nine-year-old sister. 

    The movie directly attempts to mirror Scottgames’ horror game “Five Nights at Freddy’s” (FNAF) which has players attempt to survive five nights as a nighttime security guard by watching security cameras and trying to not get attacked by the possessed animatronic animals who roam the premises at night. 

   The game quickly gained popularity through famous gamer YouTubers such as Mattpatt and Markiplier, leading the creator, Scott, to release more FNAF games over the years. 

   Over time, the games developed a very complex storyline which became harder to grasp for newer fans, since the games often went out of order and introduced new characters along with bringing back older ones.

   Many fans who anticipated the movie were hoping that it’d be exactly like the video game storyline; however, Blumhouse took some creative liberties, leading to various opinions on this new release. 

   The movie was originally planned to be rated R, with lots of violence and fear aspects, similar to the feeling the games originally provided fans. Over time the production changed and gave a more wholesome spin on the ending for FNAF. 

  This led to many people being extremely dissatisfied with the film, especially since it’s been anticipated for years. 

    The lack of horror elements may have led the film to fail to meet fans’ expectations, leaving them longing for the intense scares that made the franchise so popular.    

   Many negative reviews and reactions from disappointed fans have circulated online, and students at Aliso Niguel also made an effort to voice their opinions on the new release.  

   “I was extremely shocked at the difference, like I’ve played the video game before, and sorry but it wasn’t at all similar. The movie felt like you showed someone a rock and the Mona Lisa and called it the same thing. Completely different and not well executed at all.” says Joshua Acosta (12). 

   On the other hand, many fans really enjoyed seeing their favorite childhood horror game characters be shown on the big screen, and they didn’t mind the change at all.

  They recognize the film’s departure from the traditional jump scares as an opportunity for the series to delve into more thought-provoking territory. 

  The exploration of deeper themes adds a layer of depth to the FNAF universe. Which allows fans to engage with the storyline on a more intellectual level. 

   Departure from the typical horror elements opens up possibilities for character development and narrative complexity. 

   “They changed some stuff, but I honestly liked how they changed and adjusted the storyline for the film. It was sometimes cheesy, but regardless it was enjoyable for me,” says Eli Gunn (12).

  Positive reviews and reactions recognized the movie’s courage to go beyond the surface-level scares and dive into deeper ideas, allowing the franchise’s ability to captivate its audience in different ways.

     The release of the FNAF movie brought a very divided opinion to audiences and students alike. Most importantly, the franchise continues to provide fans with heart-thumping horror through psychological analysis and exciting games.