The video game franchise that had made its way towards teens everywhere has finally become a live-action movie. Was it worth watching over five years? Let’s find out.

Mike Schmidt is a down-and-out young man who has been caretaker to little sister Abby since the passing of his parents. Still feeling guilty for the disappearance of his little brother years ago, Mike has had trouble sleeping at times and he can’t keep a job. His aunt Judy feels like he is no longer capable of raising Abby, who spends her days drawing and having imaginary friends. Meeting with career counselor Steve, Mike is given a chance at redemption.

Mike’s new job involves working as a security guard at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, a once popular family restaurant that made its heyday in the 1980s. However, the pizzeria has since shuttered down, but is still in need of security due to possible trespassers. Mike spends his nights sleeping, but he soon learns that the animatronic puppets who were the heart and soul of the place begin to come to life especially after he is forced to bring Abby. With the help of Vanessa, a local police officer, Mike soon learns the puppets have an ultimate endgame and it is up to him to stop them before it’s too late.

In 2014, Scott Cawthon created the video game that would become a new force that would attract teens and young adults with the player being a security guard who must evade animatronic puppets that come to life at night. When it was announced a film adaptation would see the light, it caused many delays and even at one point had Home Alone director Chris Columbus attached.

While this particular film was still in development, an original concept for a FNAF movie would evolve in Danishka Esterhazy taking a Hanna-Barbera franchise and turning it into the underrated horror film The Banana Splits Movie. Two years later, Kevin Lewis unleashed his similar take in the form of the Nicolas Cage-led Willy’s Wonderland. Finally, we have the long awaited adaptation and the good news is that game creator Scott Cawthon actually co-wrote the screenplay, which makes this a plus.

Where the previous Banana Splits Movie and Willy’s Wonderland relied heavily on blood and at times, gore, this adaptation knows its audience and uses more implying rather than going for the jugular. Well, that is with one small exception but knowing who this is meant for, it is not too bad at all. It does start out a little bit of a slow burn, but it’s understandable. We learn our hero’s backstory and is wonderfully played by Josh Hutcherson. It is clear that Mike is an extremely tormented soul who is trying to do what he can to take care of his sister. Kudos has to go out to Piper Rubio, who helps drive the film in the role of Abby. Matthew Lillard and Vanessa Lail also bring support as career counselor Steve and police officer Vanessa.

The animatronics are well done thanks to Jim Henson Studios. With the exception of the character of Foxy, suit actors combined with practical animatronics to bring the characters to life. Kevin Foster plays the titular Freddy. Jess Weiss plays Chica, and Jade Kindar-Martin plays Bonnie. They bring a combination of cute and sinister to their roles, but once the backstory of the animatronics is revealed, especially those who haven’t played the games, it is quite interesting. The scares are more on the jump and anticipation side of things and are quite well done.

So while it doesn’t rely on the gore factor like similar films The Banana Splits Movie and Willy’s Wonderland, Five Nights at Freddy’s starts out a bit slow but it does know its audience and ultimately succeeds. Josh Hutcherson really brings his A-game here and the animatronics and scares are quite enjoyable with a more subtle mode of implication with one shocking exemption. Fans of the gam will definitely like it and those who haven’t seen it? It’s your call.

WFG RATING: B+

Universal Pictures presents a Blumhouse production in association with Scott Cawthon Productions. Director: Emma Tammi. Producers: Jason Blum and Scott Cawthon. Writers: Scott Cawthon, Seth Cuddeback, and Emma Tammi; story by Cawthon, Chris Lee Hill, and Tyler MacIntyre; based on the video game created by Cawthon. Cinematography: Lyn Moncrief. Editing: William Paley and Andrew Weisman.

Cast: Josh Hutcherson, Vanessa Lail, Piper Rubio, Mary Stuart Masterson, Matthew Lillard, Kat Conner Sterling, Kevin Foster, Jess Weiss, Jade Kindar-Martin.