Surviving Freddy’s: Based on the popular video game, “Five Nights at Freddy’s” fails to recreate the magic of the games

A lesson I never seem to learn: video games make terrible movies.

A prime example of this is “Five Nights at Freddy’s” — an adaptation of the horror game series. The movie premiered on Oct. 27, and I am not impressed.

Although I thoroughly prepared myself for disappointment after seeing so many other failed video game adaptations in the past, I still gave “FNAF” a chance

The moment I saw Freddy come on screen after emerging from the shadows, I knew this lacked the teeth of most horror films — devoid of the blood and gore from the games — with the PG-13 rating that accompanies the movie only hurting its mission to frighten audiences. The jump scares barely made me flinch and the film’s utter lack of serious violence was a major disappointment. It failed to meet the creepy aesthetic that ital fans of the franchise have enjoyed.

Similar to the plot of the first game, the film follows Freddy Fazbear’s newest security guard Mike, played by Josh Hutcherson, after the old one goes missing. Fighting for custody of his sister, Mike needs to hold down the job, which provides a rational explanation why he takes the job despite the obvious red flags — especially considering the very public nature of the murders at Freddy’s.

I immediately recognized the game’s quartet of murderous animatronic mascots, primed with chainsaw heads and tattered appearance that feel like the game comes to life. While I did appreciate the film using live action shooting instead of atrocious CGI dependent films like the Marvel franchise. But despite the realism of the film, the practical animatronics just weren’t that scary, leaving the film devoid of the moments I would look away in horror while playing the game.

The story refuses to go too deep into the cat and mouse aspect of the games — running around the restaurant to avoid Freddy and company — that made them so great.

It became apparent to me halfway through the movie that I was watching a thriller instead of the spine tingling horror I expected to see the weekend before halloween. For such a beloved franchise the film isn’t made for fans — only glossing over the complicated lore of the games — instead focusing on attracting a new audience with a stereotypical setup, only showing a few forgettable easter eggs left for fans like balloon boy.

The plot’s slow burn was disappointing for fans of the games, with Mike finding out about the real danger of the stuffed machines through multiple shared dream sequences while he’s sleeping in the security. A direct rip off of movies like “Doctor Sleep” or “A Nightmare of Elm Street.”

The film is dull and slow just like the game, but watching it on screen takes away all the anxiety and thrills that make the game great. In this unoriginal and unnecessary film, like Mike, I can’t help but fall asleep watching it all unfold.