But the director didn’t forget the fear factor. It’s there, just in small doses. The motion picture aims for the same demographic as the original game, making this a gateway horror entry for the tween crowd. When a person named Jeff breaks in and is killed, it is off camera. But the bloody handprint he leaves on the glass of a door is very visible. While more eerie and suspenseful than full-on terrifying, children also need horror. They enjoy the pulse-pounding and blood rushing as much as any adult, but showing them something too intense (Occulus, for example) could traumatize them. Chica leads Abby to a room she’s never seen, and the tension could be cut with a knife. Allowing the wee ones the opportunity to face their fears and come out the other side will only strengthen them as they get older (plus, more horror hounds are never a bad thing).
Admittedly, Freddy and his pals are not in Five Nights At Freddy’s very much. But when they do appear, they make a lasting impression. The Jim Henson Creature Shop puppets for the killer Chuck E. Cheese-esque robots are beautiful. Freddy is hulking and moves slightly jerkily, as an aging piece of technology should. Mr. Cupcake is a terrific bit of machinery that gets some of the best scares after someone opens a refrigerator. Then, of course, their endgame is revealed (no spoilers), and the animatronic animals become much creepier.
“…the scene-stealer is Rubio…”
But the real reason the film works isn’t the smooth editing or solid score. No, it is the performances. Hutcherson, who was so good in the demented Detention, is excellent as Mike. His love for Abby contrasts nicely with how annoyed he gets with her. The actor plays his need to change the past as a gnawing hole, serving that part of the plot perfectly. Lail is good as the no-nonsense cop. When she throws Mike’s sleeping pills into the river, it feels like it is because she wants to help her new friend. Masterson doesn’t have many scenes, but her contempt for Mike is never in question. Matthew Lillard is great in his minor role. However, the scene-stealer is Rubio in only her eighth credited role. She is pure delight and sweetness and turns Abby into more than just a mentally unstable child. Rubio gives her role depth, such as in a scene about wanting pizza and spaghetti for dinner. Her astonishment over Freddy and all is felt the instant she meets them. When she takes a crayon to Mike’s face in her drawings, it is more than just a tantrum. Rubio wholly deserves the acclaim and credit this movie brings to her.
Kids need that level between Monster House (which I adore) and Black Phone (also excellent). Thanks to the strong characters and the time spent establishing their relationships, viewers, young ones especially, will be invested in what happens to them. The actors are splendid, especially Rubio, who is a natural. Five Nights At Freddy’s has flaws, but it is an excellent adaption. It feels like the game while still being accessible to any newcomers by crafting an original story. This is a flawed motion picture, but it offers families the chance to be scared together, and when it works, it is both creepy and fun.
"…offers families the chance to be scared together, and when it works, it is both creepy and fun."
