I was honestly not expecting much from this series, but I have to say it surprised me. The story is well written and feels very sincere. The character development for the main cast is great, however the antagonists seem a little shallow. They don't seem to really have any rhyme or reason for the evil acts that they commit and they honestly all seem like the same person, just with a different character design. I also just can't believe the other students would accept the rampant bullying that takes place in either of the schools as normal. Maybe it's a cultural difference, but otherwise I think the show is a great watch.
It's not as bad as some people say it is. It's very lighthearted and, although some of the jokes didn't land very well in my opinion, it definitely had some genuinely funny moments (and not in like a so bad it's good type of way). One thing I didn't like was that the story was very generic and forgettable, but it's not really supposed to be a serious film. I recommend you watch the original film first before you watch this one.
I really liked it, but I'm heavily biased. You could tell Scott Cawthon had oversight over everything that happened in this film and the story is very faithful to the games, just altered for a new audience. If you've played the games or are very familiar with them, you will most likely enjoy this film, like I did. If you're not familiar with the games, I can understand if you are left confused and possibly disinterested and that's okay, it's not going to be for everyone.
I will admit that the acting was hit or miss. Josh Hutcherson and Piper Rubio did a great job as their respective characters throughout the film, though it was a little iffy at the very end. Matthew Lillard was just okay, but I can see how Afton would be a difficult character to act. Elizabeth Lail's performance as Vanessa was honestly not very convincing to me, but to be honest her character isn't even that fleshed out in the games either, so maybe there wasn't much to work off of.
The production and set/costume design was really great in my opinion and should be appreciated. They really made the world of Freddy's feel realistic and dynamic. I also loved the cameo appearances!
Good entertaining and family friendly movie. Watched it with my little sister for her birthday. Thoroughly enjoyed it and hope Nintendo makes more movies using their many beloved franchises. If you haven't seen the movie in theaters yet, I'd recommend you stick around after the full credits.