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After many years of waiting, Five Nights at Freddy’s is finally getting a movie adaptation. The popular game series took the world by storm and is among the most popular horror games of all time. With the film nearly upon us, there are several movies the FNAF movie can learn from. From survivors isolated from others to possessed objects, Blumhouse has a plethora of films to choose from. While waiting for the film’s release, here are ten horror movies with valuable lessons Freddy and Co can learn from.
10. Willy’s Wonderland
While the Five Nights as Freddy’s movie was stuck in limbo, there were several films released to cash in on the lingering hype. Of them, Willy’s Wonderland was among the best. The film is essentially a blatant FNAF clone, but it has some valuable lessons for the official movie. The film follows a janitor, played by Nicolas Cage, who becomes trapped in a family amusement center overnight. While there, he must fend off the bloodthirsty animatronics that have come to life. While obviously based on Five Nights at Freddy’s, the film is still a bloody fun time, which is exactly what the official movie should be.
9. Banana Splits
Another blatant rip-off of FNAF, Banana Splits, is very loosely based on the ’60s television series for kids. Like Willy’s Wonderland, the movie follows children’s animatronics that develops a lust for blood. What makes this movie so entertaining is the Banana Splits gang were actual children’s mascots from the 60s. Those who grew up with these characters seeing them in such a violent manner could either ruin childhoods or enhance them. Banana Splits is a gory movie that isn’t afraid to have fun. This is where Blumhouse can learn as the FNAF movie can be ory and dark, but you shouldn’t be afraid to have fun with the source material.
8. Annabelle
When it comes to movies about inanimate objects becoming possessed, Annabelle almost has the market cornered. The film takes place in the Conjuring universe and features one of the most recognizable horror characters from the modern era. Annabelle has been featured in four total movies and is supposed to appear in more. This first film shows what happens when a family buys a seemingly harmless doll with a dark secret. An object that shouldn’t be alive yet gaining evil tendencies is something fans of FNAF know all too well. While the FNAF creatures are far more animate than Annabelle, they can still learn a thing or two from these films, particularly regarding expectations.
7. M3GAN
One of the more recent releases in this list is M3GAN. The movie follows a doll with advanced AI technologies. The doll is made to befriend a recently orphaned girl and to protect her. The more the doll learns, the deadlier she becomes. Soon, she makes it clear she will do anything to protect the girl, even kill. The FNAF movie can learn much from fellow Blumhouse movie M3GAN. For starters, the effects on the titular character are fantastic. The film uses a mix of practical and computer-generated effects to give M3GAN an uncanny valley appearance that messes with the audience’s heads. These effects would look great in Freddy’s movie, and it looks as if the effects will match, if not exceed, M3GAN’s.
6. IT
Fans of the FNAF series know just how dark the story can get. In particular, some children meet their ill-fated destinies at the hands of the animatronics. In the 2017 adaptation of Stephen King’s IT, kids are also put in perilous situations. The film’s opening, in particular, doesn’t shy away from showing exactly what happens when children cross Pennywise. Young Georgie is running down the street, playing with his paper boat. He is unfortunate enough to cross paths with Pennywise, who dispatched him in brutal fashion. The film doesn’t cut away from this violence, letting the audience know exactly what to expect. Blumhouse could also do this with FNAF, keying audiences into the carnage found within the film.
5. Silent Hill
Silent Hill is yet another popular horror game franchise that made the jump to the big screen. While far from a masterpiece, the first Silent Hill movie has plenty of fans that sing its praises to this day. The movie has elements from the games while still being a mostly original story. This is exactly what the Freddy movie can do. Along with Silent Hill, the FNAF games have a deep story and tons of lore for the films to explore. The first movie can reference this lore while still being a unique story to keep even hardcore fans on their toes. Staying true to the games while still being original is something FNAF will be smart to take from Silent Hill.
4. Chopping Mall
While not directly connected to the 2023 FNAF movie, Chopping Mall could have some valuable lessons to teach the new movie. This cult classic follows a group of people trapped in a mall with killer robots on the loose. Chopping Mall is definitely an acquired taste, but offers a fun time to the right audience. The robots in the film are ruthless and gory killers, something Freddy and his animatronic family could take inspiration from. Chopping Mall is cheesy, but once again isn’t ashamed of what it is. FNAF will, by all odds, be a much better-made film. Still, it could take some cues from these classic killer robots.
3. Alien
Horror movies about isolation are some of the scariest. As fans of the games know, the original FNAF follows a security guard trapped in a pizzeria by himself. For inspiration, Blumhouse can look at the king of the isolation genre, Alien. This classic horror film is a masterclass in making the viewer feel as alone as the characters. Like many other horror movies, FNAF can learn a lot from Alien. What makes Alien so scary is knowing the creature could be around any corner, and no help is able to arrive. If FNAF follows this same concept, then audiences are in for a scary good time.
2. The Black Phone
Yet another film about isolation with evil is The Black Phone. A young boy is kidnapped by a man simply known as The Grabber. While physically alone with the killer, the young boy has help from beyond the grave from the Grabber’s previous victims. Thinking on your feet while trapped with killers is exactly what the FNAF games are all about. This film is recent but is already seen as a fantastic horror movie with lots to offer. It is very likely The Black Phone will inspire FNAF because Blumhouse produces the two films.
1. Saw
Rusty metal designed for murder is commonplace in the FNAF franchise. It is also a common theme found in the Saw franchise. While there isn’t a ton the FNAF movie can take from Saw plot-wise, the look and feel of the movies could transfer well. The dark and grungy feel of the bathroom in the original movie would feel right at home in FNAF. While certain aspects of the film will be bright such as the sign or play areas, certain aspects would need to be grungy as they are in the games. Looking to Saw for inspiration could benefit Blumhouse and the FNAF film well.
