In the realm of horror films, the blending of reality and fiction often creates an atmosphere of eerie suspense. Such is the case with the highly-anticipated “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” set to release on October 27, where Josh Hutcherson takes on the role of Mike, a security guard entangled in a supernatural battle against animatronic mascots within the confines of an abandoned theme restaurant. At the same time, the film’s premise delves into the uncanny; director Emma Tammi’s revelations about the production parallel the chilling narrative of her movie.
According to Tammi, the animatronic props employed in the making of “Five Nights at Freddy’s” had a life of their own, reminiscent of the story’s gigantic, autonomous robots. The animatronic characters, responsible for delivering both scares and moments of friendliness and communication, were not controlled by a single entity but rather orchestrated by a team of puppeteers. Each element of these animatronics, from their eyes and arms to ears and jaws, had a designated puppeteer to manoeuvre them. The experience, as Tammi recalls, was not devoid of surreal incidents where these lifelike creations appeared to move independently.
“I remember standing next to one of the puppeteers with a remote control in their hand,” says Tammi, “and the animatronic all of a sudden twitched its eye. I looked at the puppeteer and I was like, ‘Did you do that?’ And she said, ‘No.’ [Laughs] It just needed to let us know it was alive.”
These unpredictable moments, where the animatronics seemed to assert their presence, presented an unexpected thrill to the filmmaking process. Tammi humorously alludes to the animatronics as “imperfect” and intriguingly so. She shares that they wholeheartedly embraced these quirks when the animatronics occasionally veered off from their prescribed movements, turning such instances into valuable assets for the film. The film gained an added layer of authenticity as it grappled with the unpredictability of its animatronic cast members, akin to an actual live element that added depth and intrigue to the production.
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The animatronic characters in “Five Nights at Freddy’s” were skillfully crafted by the renowned Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, a visual effects company with an illustrious history that includes contributing to acclaimed projects like 2009’s “Where the Wild Things Are” and Netflix’s “The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance” TV show. As Tammi aptly notes, the animatronics needed to embody a duality—alternatively menacing and friendly, all the while maintaining seamless communication with the film’s 10-year-old character, Abby, played by Piper Rubio. Jim Henson’s Creature Shop’s unparalleled expertise made them the ideal choice to manifest this multifaceted vision into reality.
As “Five Nights at Freddy’s” prepares for its highly-anticipated premiere on October 27 in theatres and on Peacock, fans of the horror genre and the video game that inspired the film eagerly await the hair-raising cinematic experience. If the film resonates with audiences and performs well, there might be a compelling possibility of a sequel. Emma Tammi’s enthusiasm is evident as she expresses her interest in returning to the world of sentient animatronics, both within the confines of a fictional narrative and in the realm of reality. Her willingness to continue the tale further demonstrates the potential for endless chilling encounters with the uncanny animatronics from “Five Nights at Freddy’s.”
The film’s ensemble cast also features acclaimed actors Matthew Lillard and Elizabeth Vail. As audiences gear up to embark on the nightmarish journey with Mike and the mysterious animatronic mascots, one can only wonder what the animatronics will have in store as they blur the line between the real and the supernatural.
