Mike Schmidt (Josh Hutcherson) is a chronically jobless guy trying to support himself and his much-younger sister, Abby (Piper Rubio). His career counselor, Steve Raglan (Matthew Lillard) offers him a night watchman job at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, a rundown family restaurant with a sordid past. He takes the job to help keep his evil aunt, Jane (Mary Stuart Masterson) from getting custody of Abby. A friendly cop, Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail), warns him to get out while he can.
Why's that? It's because the animatronic mascots - Bonnie, Foxy, Chica, Mr. Cupcake and Freddy himself - like to come alive at night. They're also a bit homicidal, but Abby bonds with them pretty easily. Mike, meanwhile, has recurring nightmares about his brother, Garrett's abduction, and five ghostly kids. It soon becomes clear that the animatronics are haunted by those kids, and they want Abby to join them.
Director Emma Tammi (The Wind) collaborated with series creator Scott Cawthon and Seth Cudeback on the screenplay. It's an entertainingly spooky story. The mascots' murder sprees are inherently goofy, especially when they sic Mr. Cupcake on some victims. Mike's nightmares are quite haunting, the running gag with the Balloon Boy figurine popping up is darkly funny, and it's downright nightmarish when William Afton, the human ringleader of the mascots, shows up. There are a few strong plots involved, such as the mystery of Freddy Fazbear's Pizza & Mike and Abby's strained relationship. All in all, it's a good job at expanding the games' concepts to feature length.
Jim Henson's Creature Shop does a great job at visualizing the mascots. Freddy, Chica and Bonnie are played by actors in animatronic suits, while the withered Foxy and Mr. Cupcake are all-animatronic. They're perfectly cuddly and terrifying robot monsters. Them befriending the Schmidts and Vanessa is pretty endearing, especially when they build a chair fort with them. Their kills are mostly off-screen, but still unnerving, with Afton's death being the most gruesome. Golden Freddy, the leader of the mascots, and Springtrap, Afton's alter-ego, are the most unnerving of the creatures.
Mike's nightmares are as sad as they are creepy. We're on edge when the mascots target him and later, Abby. His and Vanessa's relationship makes for another compelling dynamic. That only intensifies when she reveals her connection to Afton. You just know Afton is trouble with his booming entrance theme scored by The Newton Brothers. His defiant speech when the mascots turn on him is masterful acting. Abby's a funny and sympathetic kid; we feel for her when Aunt Jane nearly takes custody. Jane chews up the scenery with relish, while her hapless and ethical lawyer, Doug (Michael P. Sullivan), is actually my favorite supporting character here.
You just need to spend 109 minutes, not Five Nights at Freddy's, for a unique horror experience. I'm a bit hesitant to play the games because of its signature jump scares (all is quiet ... and then, THEY JUMP IN YOUR FACE AND SCREAM!). The film version is spooky, but a lot better on my nerves than the game. Of course, you're welcome to have the opposite opinion. This is a good introduction to the video game horror phenomenon of the last decade. Come right in, they'll be waiting for you.
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