Five Nights at Freddy's (2023) is a major feature film that falls within the horror/thriller genre, and its primary goal is to create maximum fear and suspense. The story revolves around a character, Mike Schmidt who is told to watch over a spooky, deserted restaurant, which is also evident through camera techniques that make the viewers feel alone and always being watched by someone. The director skillfully manipulates the audience's emotional responses and creates suspense for each jump scare by utilizing a variety of shots, angles, composition, and movement.
The opening of the film immediately establishes a tense atmosphere through specific shot choices. The first scene, shows a security guard getting killed, which begins with a Close up of him putting in a screw at a vent which instantly forces the audience to focus on a small, anxious detail rather than the bigger picture. This immediate intensity is often followed by a rapid Pan and Zoom In movement as he runs and tries to escape through the facility which quickly pulls the viewers into the environment. When showing the vast exterior of the building, the camera uses a combination of Tilt and Pan movements in the Establishing Shot (1st Scene). These controlled movements slowly reveal the size and ominous nature of the location, visually preparing the audience for the scale of the threat. Similarly, when introducing the mall (2nd Mall Scene), a wide Pan combined with Deep Focus is used to ensure everything in the background is sharp. This Deep Focus is a deliberate choice, emphasizing that danger is not confined to one spot but could emerge from anywhere in Mike's surroundings. The use of static camera movement also creates an eerie stillness, briefly lowering the audience's guard before the action starts.
The way elements are arranged, or the composition, is very essential for building suspense in this movie. The film frequently uses the Rule of Thirds and Negative Space together like Mike is often placed on the left or right line of the Rule of Thirds, leaving a large area of dark, empty Negative Space next to him. This is a good technique because the dark, empty space causes the audience to constantly anticipate that a threat, an animatronic or monster will suddenly enter the frame from that void. The movie also uses Framing to guide our attention. In a few important moments, the camera uses a Deep Focus and a Close Up on Mike, but the background remains perfectly clear. This combination forces the audience to manage two types of information simultaneously: Mike's immediate emotion and the surrounding danger, which maximizes tension. A simple yet powerful example of Framing is the final shot on the animatronics' Eyes, which cuts out all other information and isolates the focus entirely on the source of the danger. For dialogue, the Over-the-Shoulder Shot (OTS) at Eye-Level is the standard for scenes like the one with the counselor. This shot is relatively neutral but, when paired with a Medium Close-Up (MCU) on the counselor, it maintains the tense, formal atmosphere of a confrontation.
The manipulation of the camera's angle and movement is essential to show Mike’s state of mind and his lack of control. Shots taken from above, such as the frequent Bird's-Eye View, make Mike look incredibly small and controlled by his environment, perfectly conveying his loss of power and isolation within the vast pizzeria. This effect is also achieved with High Angle Shots, which subtly minimize the subject. In direct contrast, Worm POV and Low Angle Shots are used to look up at the animatronics, which instantly makes them look overwhelmingly large, powerful, and threatening, maximizing the audience's fear. When Mike is shown watching or observing (e.g., at the campsite), the Profile Shot (PS) is used. This angle emphasizes his personal thought process and his careful, detached role as an observer. For action and panic, the camera movement becomes erratic; when Mike runs across the tile room, the camera uses a Tracking Shot, following him closely to increase the sense of urgency. This contrasts sharply with intense psychological action, like the flashing scene, where Random Movement (Man's POV) is used, shaking the frame to mimic Mike's confusion or fear, making the scene feel raw and chaotic.
As the film moves toward the climax, the dynamic camera movement increases the psychological stress on the audience. The Arc Shot is used during moments of massive realization or high emotional stress, where the camera circles the subject. This intense movement signifies that the character is undergoing a massive shift in reality, and the world is literally spinning around them. The most visually jarring technique is the Dolly Zoom (as the officer approaches or after the store scene), which visually distorts the background (often accompanied by a Push In + Pan). This effect symbolizes the character's psychological shock and creates a dizzying sense of panic that pulls the audience directly into the character's distress. In summary, the film's success in building fear relies on this blend of technical choices, from the isolating Bird's-Eye View to the terrifying Tracking and Arc Shots, which are all key reasons why Five Nights At Freddy's creates suspense throughout the entire movie.
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