The Paw Print

By Cameron Smith

About Five Nights at Freddy’s

Five Nights at Freddy’s is a supernatural horror film created by Blumhouse Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures. Based on the world-famous franchise surrounding the point-and-click survival horror video game series by Scott Cawthon (who was also credited with producing and writing this film’s plot), this chilling terror show crept into theaters on October 27, 2023, as well as being streamed on the Peacock streaming service a day prior.

Plot: B+

The main character of the film, security guard Mike Schmidt

After troubled security guard Mike loses his job from a misunderstanding, he is given a new job as an overnight security guard at an abandoned family entertainment center known as Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. However, as he begins his new night shift, Mike begins to succumb to traumatic dreams, haunting mysteries, and end up threatened by a group of murderous animatronics! Alongside his younger sister Abby and police officer Vanessa, can Mike last five nights at this seemingly humble building?

Cast: A

• John Hutchinson as Mike Schmidt, a security guard working at Freddy’s Fazbear’s Pizza
• Piper Rubio as Abby, Mike’s younger sister
• Elizabeth Lail as Vanessa, a local police officer who befriends Mike and Abby
• Mary Stuart Masterson as Jane, Mike and Abby’s estranged aunt
• Other roles include Matthew Lillard, Kat Connor Sterling, David Lind, Christian Stokes, Joseph Poliquin, Grant Feely, Asher Colton Spence, David Houston Doty, Liam Hendrix, Jophielle Love, Tadasay Young, Micheal P. Sullivan, Lucas Grant, and Theodus Crane.
• Two popular YouTubers make hidden cameos throughout the film, such as Matthew “MatPat” Patrick, and Cory “CoryxKenshin” Williams.

Reception: B-

Five Nights at Freddy’s was panned by critics, but was more well-received by fans of the franchise’s games. Critics regarded the film for its plot, pacing, lack of scares, and perceived shoehorning on the fan service. Additionally, critics also argued that the limitations of a PG-13 rating diminished the film’s expectations. The film earned a 33/100 by Metacritic and a 4.5/10 by Rotten Tomatoes. The film grossed over $296 million in its worldwide theatrical box office run despite some competition. The film also set numerous records, including the biggest release day box-office revenue for a simultaneous streaming release, second-best opening weekend box-office revenue (behind Marvel’s Black Widow) and the second-highest grossing video game-based film (also behind Illumination’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie). Additionally, Five Nights at Freddy’s also became the most successful film for Blumhouse Productions, topping the $278 million record of 2017’s Split, and took the lead in the box office weekend of November 4-5. Here is a comment made about the film by Rotten Tomatoes: “Loaded with Easter eggs, Five Nights at Freddy’s may be fun to watch for fans of the game, but most viewers of any other persuasion will find this adaptation muddled and decidedly unscary.” Benjamin Lee, a reviewer for The Guardian, gave this comment along with a ⅖ star rating: “The low-stakes, late-night thrill we expect from the material never arrives, held back by a mixture of indecisive restraint and misplaced self-importance. Five Nights at Freddy’s is somehow a slog to get through and will be promptly forgotten by morning”.

Jam along to this techno-powered hit by the Living Tombstone, Five Nights at Freddy’s, which is (SPOILER ALERT) promptly featured in the film’s end credits.

MPAA rating:

Rated PG-13 for strong violence, language, and bloody images.