The PG-13 rating is doing the film marvels, as it makes the film accessible to a wide range of “Five Nights at Freddy’s” fans. In its box office report for the project’s opening weekend, Deadline noted that the film scored best with those under 25, which isn’t surprising considering that’s the core audience that grew up with the franchise. The first game debuted in 2014 and the franchise has become a staple for Gen Z, those born between the late ’90s and early 2010s. Without a PG-13 rating, it would have been impossible for younger fans to catch the flick in cinemas.
Continuing her chat with Inverse, Emma Tammi pointed out how her film leans heavily into shadow work and highlights the darkness, something she picked up on from the classic vampire pic, “Nosferatu.” “When leaning into shadow work for something that feels creepier in the horror space, I always think of that film and pull visuals from it,” Tammi said. “Those are images that are seared into my brain in the best sense.”
Those who have seen the film will know that the project effortlessly skirts around violence and gore to create a thrilling experience that relies on the power of darkness and the unknown. Still, some older fans want that deadlier take on “Freddy’s.” Prior to the film’s release, Tammi made it clear that an R-rated, more mature version of the picture wouldn’t manifest. “We’re really happy with how the PG-13 tone landed; it felt like the right fit for this particular film,” Tammi told Forbes. “We’re sticking by it.”
