Let’s look back at the highly rated film adaptation series that horror fans should not miss.
Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023)
Debuting in theaters this October, in Five Nights at Freddy’s (original title: Five Nights at Freddy’s), it’s easy to see the crossover from the hugely popular video game to the live-action film. They both chose a location that was inherently creepy for children – the dilapidated Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria. The film increases the horror by focusing on the killings of toy robots that appear at night.
Five Nights of Terror takes the idea of creating fears that seem to be very “child-friendly” but are extremely haunting. The father of the original game Scott Cawthon acted as the film’s screenwriter, ensuring the spirit of the original work was intact. It’s great to see iconic models Freddy Fazbear, Bonnie the Bunny, Chica the Chicken and Foxy the Pirate Fox make their big screen debuts in a midnight rampage. Meanwhile, director Emma Tammi brings a breath of fresh air by creating a story that reaches the majority of audiences, not just fans of the game. The work was produced by Jason Blum – the big man of the famous horror film studio Blumhouse Productions.
Werewolves Within (2021)
Fans of the game Ghost Wolf have the opportunity to be proud of the horror-comedy movie with surprising “crazy turns”. The story of a group of villagers and evil wolves is transformed into a group of people trapped in a wooden house because of a snowstorm, each person in turn “disappearing” because of being attacked by the werewolves. Led by a postal worker and ranger, the group not only tries to survive the night but also tries to find out if the monster is outside or one of them.
Viewers have the opportunity to speculate who the villain is and are startled by a series of bloody details. The film explores themes of division, paranoia and distrust, all of which are very relevant to the current world. Horror comedy is not an easy genre to make, but the film’s humor about small-town life portrays humanity’s own prejudices, forcing audiences to reconsider themselves.
Detention (2019)
This Taiwanese supernatural horror film is adapted from the famous game title by Red Candle Games. Detention is a horror game that combines Taiwanese culture and mythology, making players shudder because it is so “real”. The 2019 adaptation, directed by John Hsu, is creepy, scary, and well worth enjoying if you’re into mystical spiritual stories.
Set during the Martial Law period in Taiwan in the 1960s, a group of students join an underground book club organized by their school counselor. When a mentor mysteriously disappears, it’s up to the student to find him, while facing disturbing spirits.
Silent Hill (2006)
One of the representatives of horror film adaptations, Silent Hill did well in many aspects. The film possesses a fascinating story, complex characters inherited from the original game, building a dense and breathtaking atmosphere. The film brings the town of Silent Hill back to life on the screen with scary monsters faithful to the original such as Pyramid Head or faceless nurses. The film’s script also pleased fans by delivering an intriguing, strange nightmare about a mother having to find her child in a scary abandoned town.
Resident Evil (2002)
The Resident Evil franchise is an example of great commercial success whether it is a game or a film adaptation. Even though more than 20 years have passed, the mark that Resident Evil (2002) created is still very clear. The work captures the spirit of video games, building a fictional world of survival and fighting zombies.
Under the direction of Paul WS Anderson, Resident Evil envelops viewers in a sense of suspense and fear, while the technical and practical effects are optimized to bring a horror and bloody action experience. The film was a launching pad for Milla Jovovich, bringing the beautiful actress into the ranks of A-list actresses at that time. The success of Resident Evil opened up a series of sequels and reboots later, becoming a popular movie franchise worthy of a hit video game.