Five Nights at Freddy's movie: Why do fans love it, while critics hate it?

In case you didn't know, the Five Nights at Freddy's movie is doing ridiculously well. The film punched above it's weight with the biggest opening weekend for a video game adaptation, raking in $130 million despite its $20 million budget. But films, like life, are not all about money. In spite of its financial success, the film has torn fans in two and left critics scratching their heads.To understand why, some background is needed. Five Nights at Freddy's is a horror institution at this point. Several beloved games exist under its umbrella with a massive fanbase of young fright fanatics clamouring for everything FNAF. Crucially, all of this is built on a foundation on truly scary games. Jump scares sure, but really good ones.This is where the first tear in reception comes from. The Five Nights at Freddy's movie is a PG-13, and despite being sold in trailers as a film just as shocking as the games, it didn't lean into the horror too much. This is especially true for the animatronics themselves, whose characterisation missed the mark for many. Read more