The concept of a movie based on a group of nightmarish animatronic pizza parlor robots who have a penchant for terrorizing children might not seem like typical Hollywood fare. Nevertheless, the much-anticipated Five Nights at Freddy’s film is set to haunt your nightmares starting on October 27.
A True Fan Service
This cinematic creation, born out of the collaboration between Universal and Blumhouse, appears to be a faithful tribute to the acclaimed video game franchise. Initially introduced in 2014, the Five Nights at Freddy’s game became an instant sensation and successfully traversed the boundary from indie gaming to mainstream culture. The game is renowned for its classic and nostalgic horror elements, featuring eerie empty buildings, corridors that become sinister after dark, and an abundance of heart-stopping jump scares. The franchise centers around Freddy, a colossal animatronic teddy bear, and his cohort of fun animal friends – all with a shared mission to eliminate you. They could be lurking around any corner, ready to strike fear into your heart.
While the idea of translating this spine-tingling premise into a movie may seem straightforward, it’s surprising that it took this long to make it happen. The game inherently possesses the fundamental elements of a horror movie, woven seamlessly into its setting and structure.
FNAF: A Deeper Dive into the Lore
Five Nights at Freddy’s, often colloquially known as FNAF, is more than just a typical horror game. It has had a profound impact on gaming fandom and YouTube culture, embodying the rising popularity of games that keep their audience guessing not only about what will happen but about the deeper meaning behind the narrative. The franchise’s ability to build an expansive world while subjecting players to a standard horror scenario has only grown over the years. It now boasts eight main games, including a virtual reality version, five spinoff games, numerous books and graphic novels, and a soon-to-be-released movie.
A decade after FNAF’s debut, its “lore” has become immensely intricate. What initially appeared to be a story about menacing robotic animals has, according to its dedicated fanbase, transformed into a labyrinthine murder mystery.
Unveiling the Horror of Freddy’s Pizzeria
The origins of this saga lie with Scott Cawthon, a seasoned game developer. He revealed that the idea for FNAF came about after a previous game he developed received criticism for featuring a character that resembled a terrifying animatronic. Much like the game’s antagonist, Cawthon underwent a transformation, unleashing his dark side to prove just how terrifying he could be. Interestingly, Cawthon, a devout Christian, spoke in an interview of being guided by God, a parallel to how fans navigate the signs and clues within the game’s design, attempting to decode its enigmatic narrative.
According to Cawthon, the film predominantly draws inspiration from what he dubs “the Mike script.” This script revolves around the character of Mike Schmidt, portrayed by Josh Hutcherson in the movie. The core concept of FNAF is to survive five nights in the eerie pizzeria while being pursued by murderous animatronic dolls. The film adds a twist by introducing Mike’s daughter, Abby, into this nightmarish scenario.
In the game, you assume the role of Mike Schmidt, the lowly night guard responsible for overseeing Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. By day, the place is adored, featuring gigantic robotic dolls and an arcade-style galleria. However, when night falls, the animatronics go “free-roaming,” meaning they can move freely throughout the establishment. The problem lies in their perception of humans as animatronic robots who have lost their suits. If they spot a human, your supervisor informs you at the game’s start that they’ll attempt to stuff the person inside one of the animatronic robot suits – a decidedly unfavorable outcome.
The “five nights” in FNAF signify the five nights you must survive in the building after everyone else has departed. Succeed, and you win the game; fail, and you meet a gruesome fate. Yet, survival is easier said than done. The principal animatronic crew comprises an aggressive purple rabbit named Bonnie, a towering yellow chicken named Chica, a pirate fox named Foxy with a hook for a hand, and the slow-moving yet menacing Freddy, a brown teddy bear. Together, they roam the premises, and if they find you, your doom is sealed.
The Night Guard’s Dilemma
You might think that the solution is to simply stay locked in the guard room, keeping the doors secure. But it’s not that easy. The guard room consumes power to monitor the animatronics’ locations, illuminate the hallways, and maintain the security doors. As the night progresses, you consume more power. Running out of power means you can no longer lock the doors, and Freddy will inevitably locate you. Additionally, each passing night escalates the danger. The fifth and final night is the stuff of pure nightmares, offering classic horror movie scares.
Exploring the establishment through hidden cameras, you begin to piece together the puzzle about the animatronic characters and the dark events at Freddy’s. The games introduce scores of new, malevolent animatronics, while also revealing details that contribute to a complex metanarrative. This in-depth exploration, coupled with the contributions of the fanbase, has transformed FNAF into a notoriously interactive experience, even though the first game involved a single player alone in a room.
The Impact of FNAF on Internet Culture
Five Nights at Freddy’s found its niche by adopting a minimalist approach. Its stark simplicity and the chilling atmosphere of being in a dark, deserted building at night effectively captured the mounting dread and suspense reminiscent of a horror movie. The game maintained this tension throughout, keeping players on edge – or at least, as long as it took for the animatronics to claim their first victim. For the full impact, picture the jump scares from a movie, but experienced alone in your room, headphones on, in the dark, while you are the character facing imminent danger.
This immersive quality is closely linked to FNAF’s role in YouTuber culture. When the game was released, the platform was just beginning to embrace Let’s Play videos. This format involved gamers sharing their screens and offering commentary as they played, enabling audiences to follow along and enjoy their reactions. FNAF reaction videos elevated Let’s Plays to new heights of visibility. YouTubers like PewDiePie and Markiplier, who would go on to become well-known names in the gaming world, garnered their initial fame through their FNAF reaction videos, which went viral, reaching millions of casual gamers and horror enthusiasts. These videos thrived on the experience of watching players encounter the game’s horrors for the first time, reacting dramatically to each jump scare.
While the jump scares served as an entry point, the game’s enduring appeal lies in its cryptic narrative. FNAF qualifies as a cryptographic narrative, akin to a detective novel where the player assumes the role of the detective. It offers a plethora of secrets and hidden clues, forging a puzzle-like relationship between the game and the player. Players are not required to understand the story to enjoy the game; the narrative’s primary function is to create a sense of immersion.
The bits of information fans uncover as they play FNAF significantly enhance their comprehension of the game’s universe and its underlying mysteries. You can experience the game as a straightforward horror fest, but if you aim to comprehend the “why” behind the terrors, the games are laden with nonlinear hints that help you construct a comprehensive picture of the FNAF narrative. It is a universe full of mysteries and riddles, where answers are few and questions are plentiful.
Fans Unite in Unraveling the Story
Fans guide one another, forming a robust community of problem solvers and sleuths. Matthew Patrick, creator of The Game Theorists YouTube channel, started posting analysis videos of FNAF in 2014, becoming the central hub for FNAF fan theories. His channel serves as the ultimate decoder of the game’s lore. His FNAF playlist boasts over 60 videos, with nearly 800 million views. His most popular FNAF video, offering an introduction to the first game and its many mysteries, has amassed over 100 million views. These videos thrive on the enjoyment of exploring the game world’s mysteries and immersing oneself in its puzzles, extending the gamer’s experience beyond competition and success. The journey is just as significant as the destination.
This trend has extended beyond FNAF to become a defining characteristic of modern gaming. In games like Hello Neighbor and Disco Elysium, the element of competition is no longer the primary goal for players. Instead, players embrace the universes, exploring the game worlds, delving into secrets hidden throughout the games, and immersing themselves in the mysteries. Fans are no longer content merely to play games; they want to solve them or, at the very least, enjoy the process. Fan theories and communal problem-solving and detective work have become integral parts of the gamer experience.
As the FNAF movie makes its debut, the community is already abuzz with elaborate theories about how it ties into the existing lore and what new enigmas it introduces. The film’s director, Emma Tammi, has emphasized the importance of staying true to the lore while adding fresh elements to the story. Furthermore, she has hinted at her willingness to helm a potential film trilogy if the first movie is a success. This prospect could mean more rabbit holes and mysteries for fans to explore.
In the end, the release of the Five Nights at Freddy’s film could signify the birth of a new set of enigmas for fans to unravel. Regardless, if you walk out of the cinema with more questions than answers, you’ll know you’re onto something big.
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