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tao and elle on a movie date in heartstopper season 2
tao and elle on a movie date in heartstopper season 2
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Culture > Entertainment

The Five Nights at Freddy’s Movie was a Trainwreck

The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Manhattan chapter.

An Expose on the New FNAF Movie

I’ve been a fan of Five Nights at Freddy’s since the first game came out when I was 12. Just like most FNAF fans, we’ve been hooked ever since. This game expanded the laws of video games, adding a new sector of possibilities. Five Nights at Freddy’s added lore and intricate storylines into gameplay. FNAF is more than a game. It’s a story, one that happened to pique the interest of millions. 

Nine games and twenty-eight books later, we have arrived at the present. The lore has expanded into hours of analysis, edits, and fan-made versions. The fandom has grown to a level Scott Cawfin, the creator, could’ve never imagined. For years, all the fandom wanted was a movie, a visual, fun, thrilling interpretation of the game and lore we all loved. And for a while, we never thought it would happen. Although a potential movie was announced in 2015, nothing came of it. That was until the most anticipated day in FNAF history occurred, the day the official Five Nights at Freddy’s movie was announced. For the next few months, the fandom was thrilled at the prospects of this film. Theories and funny jokes of what we thought the movie would consist of were everywhere. The fandom was finally getting what they always wanted. 

Flash forward to after the movie…well, it kind of sucked. I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but trust me when I say FNAF fans are even more disappointed than you. Although it was known that the movie wouldn’t be precisely like the lore, there were still crucial elements about the game that were missing. Exhibit A: the animatronics are not friendly and are meant to be scary. This was a big one for me. Right in the middle of the movie, they pull a ‘we are FNAF moment,’ I swear to you, my friends and I were so close to punching the TV. In no actual FNAF world would any animatronics build a fort with a child and give them a cute thumbs up. Then, Exhibit B: it wasn’t scary at all. The jumpscares and gore they included probably wouldn’t scare my five-year-old cousin. Compared to the games that can easily scare a grown adult, the movie barely scratches the horror surface. At that moment, I felt so disappointed, like my long-lived dreams for this film were crushed, and I am definitely not the only one. For the past three days, all of my for you page has been disappointed FNAF fans posting about how upset they are, too. 

Yes, the first movie was undoubtedly questionable, but I have yet to entirely lose hope. They still have two more films to listen to the fan’s and critics’ criticism and make a better movie. Let’s hope the disappointment ends with the first FNAF movie. 

Ashley Karlosky

Manhattan '27

Ashley Karlosky is a communications major with a concentration in advertising. She dreams of using her degree to head Social Media at a fashion or women's magazine. Ashley's been fascinated with recording her life through video blogs since she was twelve. Capturing the little moments life has to offer has always captivated her. Although she doesn't use her old point-and-shoot camera, she still loves documenting her life via Instagram and YouTube, especially with her recent start at Manhattan College as a freshman. Manhattan is only a train away, and she can't wait to write about her adventures and share her experiences in the city. Her interest includes fashion, music, social media, and food. She loves going on walks and debriefing with her friends about her day. She is obsessed with anything Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, and her dog Remi. She hopes to make a difference in this world through her work and leave it better than when she came. Ashley is excited to write for Her Campus and share her perspective on fashion, current events, and pop culture. She aspires to help at least one girl out there and answer the questions she wishes she had the answers to when she was young.