Five Nights at Freddy's - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

The cult hit video game Five Nights at Freddy's took the world by storm when it was released back in 2014, It had kids, teens, and adults talking around the lockers and water coolers about the new, fun horror mobile game that had a super creepy nostalgic vibe to it. With the success of that video game and the multiple sequel games that followed, it was only a matter of time before when Hollywood adapted it for the big screen.

The result is a massive animatronic failure in story and character that is a big blemish on the horror genre that could have been avoided if given the proper team behind it. Despite the enormous box office success raking in $300 million on a modest $20 million budget, unfortunately, this waste of time and effort only seeks to elicit mild winks and nods to those super fans of the original video game.

This IP has been in developmental hell for several years and has gone through some big-name directors and writers until it stupidly landed on a no-name filmmaker to take the reigns. Five Nights at Freddy's was originally going to be directed by Chris Columbus. That name is a household name who gave the screenplays for The Goonies, and Gremlins, and who has directed Home Alone, Adventures in Babysitting, Mrs. Doubtfire, and the first two Harry Potter films. That director was signed on to take on Five Nights at Freddy's. The possibilities were immense. Instead, the producers and execs couldn't agree on anything and everyone dropped out and the job went to Emma Tammi, an unknown. Why? Because nobody cared anymore. 

At least great actors came aboard including Josh Hutcherson, the legend Matthew Lillard, and Mary Stuart Masterson to move this trite plot along. Tammi's camerawork is pleasant enough, but it's Lyn Moncrief's cinematography that makes the pizzeria and demonic animatronics look great. The new script failed to keep the suspense high enough by adding in some hazy tangents about Mike Schmidt's (Hutcherson) little sister and how their aunt (Masterson) wants to gain custody of her for the monthly state checks. If the film focused on a night or two of Mike dealing with the horrors and creepy elements inside the pizzeria, figuring out the clues as to why these beloved characters are now all of a sudden murderous robotic assholes, the film could have fared better and at least, been more fun. Instead, the movie crawls along as Schmidt has dream sequences about what happened and what could be in the future, taking any semblance of entertainment value right out of the horror landscape. 

And the fact that this film is rated PG-13 goes against any of the fun gore or horror that was given inside the video game. The whole story and vibe are dumbed down when all anyone wants is a bit of gore. Nic Cage in Willy's Wonderland did in just five minutes what the entire runtime of Five Nights at Freddy's could NOT accomplish. At least Lillard is living his best life in this film and it's always a joy to see him on screen. But this cinematic warp is best left for only the most hardcore fans of the video game because all it relies on is showcasing those easter eggs throughout. Perhaps with a better crew, the sequel will be leaps and bounds better. 

Vital Disc Stats: The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
Five Nights at Freddy's plays its way to 4K + Blu-ray + Digital Code via Universal. The discs are housed inside a hard, black plastic case with a cardboard sleeve. The artwork features the animatronic monsters in purple with the title of the film. There is an insert for a digital code. 

Five Nights at Freddy's comes with a 2160p UHD 4K transfer with HDR10. The whole look of the movie is steeped in darkness. It's drab, musty, and filled with tons of blues, greys, and greens. Interiors in the daytime are a bit warmer, giving way to some oranges, yellows, and more beige-like colors. The real spotlight is when the neon signage, eyes, and other colors pop up in the dark corridors of the abandoned restaurant. The HDR10 allows those colors to pop and look wonderful with each of those primary colors enhancing the darkness of each moldy room. It's not exactly a vibrant-looking film, but these upgraded neon colors really do bring the monsters to life. The detail is sharp and vivid, even in these darker sequences. facial pores, individual hairs, and textures in the wardrobe all look fantastic. The CGI sequences look a little flat, but this is a source issue for its lower budget. Still, the colors look great and for being a film steeped in darkness, this is a great-looking horror movie. 

This release comes with a Dolby Atmos track that sounds exquisite. The sound effects are robust when mechanical monsters move around and when weapons and rotating saws are hacking up the flesh. Vehicle engines and restaurant noises all sound wonderful. The score adds to the suspense even if it isn't memorable and always crescendos in the appropriate places. The low end of the bass brings in a good rumble without crossing into rocky territory. Dialogue is clean, clear, and easy to follow. This is a very good horror audio mix. 

There are only about 19 minutes of bonus materials that have the cast and crew talking about various parts of productions. 

• From Game to Big Screen (HD, 8 Mins.) - The filmmakers and actors come aboard and talk about working on the movie, the story, the adaptation, and more. It's quick and to the point. 
• Killer Animatronics (HD, 6 Mins.) - Hutcherson and some of the Jim Henson workshop creatives talk about making practical effects and working with the actors. 
• Five Nights in Three Dimensions (HD, 5 Mins.) - The director and other crew members discuss the production design and the big set. 

Five Nights at Freddy's is not the horror movie everyone was wanting or expecting. It's much worse than it could have been given its production history. Still, is it really bad if a movie made fifteen times its original budget? Without big scares, this movie serves nobody except for rabid fans of the video game series who want to see their favorite easter eggs play out on the big screen. For Fans Only. 

Order Your Copy of Five Nights at Freddy's on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray