We’ve made it through October and the final weekend of the month ended with a record-setting film. But did I like it? Check out my take on this week’s new releases below. And if you want to keep up with all the movies I’m watching, follow me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734.

Five Nights at Freddy’s (Theaters/Peacock)
Starring: Josh Hutcherson, Piper Rubio, Elizabeth Lail, and Matthew Lillard
Synopsis: The big Halloween weekend release came simultaneously in theaters and on Peacock. Based on the video game, the film follows Mike (Hutcherson), who is down-on-his-luck and charged with caring for his sister Abby (Rubio). He needs a job to make it happen and the only job he can find is working nights at Freddy’s, a former children’s hangout that closed under suspicious circumstances. He makes a connection with Vanessa (Lail), a local cop working the beat who has history with Freddy’s. As strange things begin happening, it’s clear Mike needs to fight back or risk losing his sister forever. This film was a big hit in theaters over the weekend despite the Peacock release. It shattered records and grabbed audiences, many who were likely familiar with the game. Hutcherson and Lail are a solid lead pair and there are some nice shots here. It’s not particularly frightening, though the subject matter is unsettling. Mostly, the film is just OK. It has a few weird twists and a somewhat flat final act. It wasn’t my cup-of-tea, but it’s a decent seasonal offering.
Rating: Rated PG-13 for strong violent content, bloody images and language.

Pain Hustlers (Netflix)
Starring: Emily Blunt, Chris Evans, and Andy Garcia
Synopsis: When you have a film about the drug industry starring Blunt and Evans, you come in with a certain set of expectations. The film has played in festivals and opened on Netflix on Friday. It stars Blunt as Liza, who is near bankrupt and in need of money to help her daughter. She crosses paths with Peter (Evans), a hustler who gives Liza a chance. They both work for the drug company run by Dr. Neel (Garcia). After making a lot of money, Liza does some soul-searching. She sees the high cost of the drugs her company peddles and begins to have reservations. Can she do the right thing? The film is inspired by real people and real events, but it’s not a true story, per se. It also enters a market that has recently been saturated by stories of the real horrors of these drugs. This one is played more for laughs than for drama, which sets it apart but not in the most constructive way. It’s a great cast but they feel misused here. The film is OK but fails to meet its lofty potential.
Rating: Rated R for language throughout, some sexual content, nudity and drug use.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.