They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Willy's Wonderland is an eccentric film that embraces its similarities with Five Nights at Freddy’s, the independent horror video game that took the world by storm in 2014. It feels like a production designed to fill—and capitalize on—the void left by the absence of the official adaptation of Scott Cawthon's work for many years.
While far from perfect, the film starring the always charismatic Nicolas Cage exudes an inexplicable charm that prevents us from looking away from the screen.
It's an uneven movie, filled with questionable effects and annoying characters driving a cliché and superficial story. However, it emits glimpses of greatness that make it the ideal choice for fans who wanted to see an adult version of FNAF.
Willy’s Wonderland is Five Nights at Freddy’s Unleashed
So, what is this feature film about? A silent man (Nicolas Cage) gets stranded in a remote town due to car trouble. Unable to afford repairs, he must take on a simple job: for one night, be the janitor of Willy’s Wonderland, a family restaurant that has seen better days. The task complicates when he discovers that the abandoned animatronics in the place have a life of their own and a thirst for blood.
From the silent protagonist taking on a mundane job to the terrifying anthropomorphic robotic animals, the premise will be extremely familiar to die-hard fans of the games and the recent adaptation of Five Nights at Freddy’s. Director Kevin Lewis (The Drop) and writer G.O. Parsons (Shark Week) acknowledge this kinship and present a work that aims to be a joke. Thus, the differences with the video game's concept lie in the execution.
Willy’s Wonderland acknowledges that possessed animatronics eliminating people is a ridiculous premise. Self-aware of its madness, it showcases clever moments bordering on parody, demonstrating that the best solution to a supernatural problem of this kind is violence. Is a robotic ostrich threatening to devour your head? Nothing a wooden mop can't handle. This more direct approach removes the subtlety and mystery of Scott Cawthon's work but compensates with action moments inspired by the shameless B-movies of the 1980s.
The film is transparent about its intentions. From the introduction scene adorned with synth-rock music, we know it will be a wild adventure with a tough protagonist. Nicolas Cage's character never utters a word; his actions speak for him. In that vein, he feels like the hero of a video game who, no matter how difficult and strange the situation, always maintains composure and moves forward to complete his goal: cleaning Willy’s Wonderland to retrieve his car and leave town.
Nicolas Cage is the pillar that sustains the entire experience. His performance always teeters on the edge of the absurd, but it works and is the engine driving a story that would otherwise fall apart. Watching him fight for survival and interact with a pinball machine is bizarre and highly entertaining.
The worst moments of the movie are when the protagonist exits the scene, and the plot revolves around bland secondary characters trying to superficially expand the backstory of the animatronics and the tragedy that befell Willy’s Wonderland. There is a tonal dissonance, as there are moments with two different story philosophies.
Turns out, there's a group of friends who know the legend behind the abandoned restaurant, so they go there to burn it down once and for all and prevent more victims. Among these young people is Liv (Emily Tosta), who could be considered the co-protagonist. None of these characters is interesting, and even the robotic animals have more personality.
When the storyline focuses on the young group led by Liv, the film becomes a generic slasher attempting to scare unsuccessfully due to its clichés. It's far from a disaster, but it's a shame that, at times, it abandons the irreverence that makes the scenes with Nicolas Cage so great and entertaining.
Time to address the elephant in the room. In Five Nights at Freddy’s, the animatronic designs are meticulously crafted and look impressive on screen. The robots in Willy’s Wonderland, however, look like mascots. Although they are supposed to be artificial beings, it is always evident that there is a human inside the costume. Is that a negative aspect? Not at all, as it aligns with the B-movie tone of the rest of the production. The staging is very simple and at times plays with slow-motion and shots emphasizing that Nicolas Cage is an action hero in a horror movie.
Victim of its low budget and some questionable narrative decisions, Willy’s Wonderland is an uneven product, but it exudes a lot of style and charisma thanks to its lighthearted concept. It is one of the best examples in this niche genre involving killer robots.
Considering that the adaptation of Five Nights at Freddy’s went through many directors and scripts before reaching the version that premiered in theaters during Halloween, it's amusing to think that, in a parallel world, it ended up as this irreverent, low-budget film.
But tell us, did you give this movie a chance? Do you think it's better than the FNAF adaptation? Let us hear from you in the comments.
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