In the past decade, Five Nights at Freddy’s (FNAF) has become one of the largest horror video game franchises worldwide. For those who have not heard of the lore of FNAF, it follows a spooky animatronic-filled pizzeria, like Chuck E. Cheese, where players play as security guards who must survive five terrifying nights. In theory, this sounds like a piece of “cupcake,” but playing the game has very scary elements especially if you play at night.
With the new movie finally being released, fans from all over the world were ecstatic for Scott Cawthon’s newest production. For years fans have been on the edge of their seats eagerly awaiting the release of a movie adaptation, with it being a teased idea in April 2015. While some fans were thrilled about the upcoming film, others expressed their disappointment and skepticism, fearing the movie might not live up to the grand expectations of the games.
Some students from Steinbrenner saw the film and expressed how they were scared for how the movie would portray the plot, “I didn’t care for the movie as much as I thought I would. The plot was extremely slow and overall, it was hard to watch. The critics reviews were a lot more honest than the fan reviews,” sophomore Katie Sumner said.
On the other hand another student, junior Kevin Simpson adored the movie, “I really loved it, one of my favorite movies I’ve watched recently. The plot moved perfectly with the runtime.”
For certain viewers, the nostalgia associated with FNAF not only amplifies the fear factor but also gives a sense of connection and warm memories towards the game. The thought of dimly lit security cameras, ominous robotic movements, and the thought of getting caught by an animatronic elicits a mix of fear and excitement of late-night gaming sessions.
“When I was younger me and my friends used to play FNAF 1 together. It took us a long time, like a month or so, to just beat the first game. Looking back on it I shouldn’t have gotten so scared,” freshman Kevin Reyes said.
Whether prior knowledge is necessary for enjoying the FNAF movie depends on individual preference and viewing experience.
“To fully appreciate the FNAF movie you would need a little bit of prior knowledge. It makes the experience more enjoyable,” freshman Chase Pidala said.
Powers adds on, “I saw the movie 3 times. It had a lot of hidden easter eggs and YouTubers who influenced that time on YouTube like MatPat. Knowing what I know about FNAF it made me appreciate it a lot more than if I just went headfirst into watching.”
The release of the extremely anticipated movie marked a significant moment for fans worldwide, producing a spectrum of reactions from excitement to disappointment. As the diverse perspectives from students at Steinbrenner High School illuminate, the movie’s success skyrocketed because of fans’ own memories of the games.
