Southern Indiana Mom Prepares to Face Fear of Horror Movies Thanks to 80s Pizza Place

I have plans to see my very first scary movie in the theater at the end of October. Yes, I know, I'm a 40-something mom and I have never seen any Halloween movie. Name any horror flick and I can guarantee you that I have not seen it.

What is Five Nights at Freddy's?

If you have kids you might be slightly familiar with the video game or toys that go along with Five Nights at Freddy's or FINAF as the cool kids call it. My son has been into this for years, and now his dreams and my nightmares are coming true with the theatrical release of the Five Nights at Freddy's movie.

Take a look at the trailer and see if it reminds you of anything.

The film follows a troubled security guard as he begins working at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. While spending his first night on the job, he realizes the night shift at Freddy’s won’t be so easy to make it through.

Showbiz Pizza

Showbiz was what we now know as Chuck E. Cheese. Man, it was a great day to actually see the Rock-afire Explosion perform. I will admit though, if I had to be around the characters after closing, it would creep me out. So, basically, they have taken something delightful from my childhood and turned it into a scary movie!

Showbiz Still Exists - Sort of

Wait, what? My son actually came across this YouTube video featuring Billy' Bob's Wonderland. What is very exciting for us 80s kids is the The Rock-afire Explosion that still performs daily!

Yes, that's right, the entire gang is alive, well as alive as animatronics can be, in West Virginia. This is how I would like to remember the characters, not the creepy way they are depicted in FINAF.

Cult Following

There is certainly still a fan base for slightly creepy, yet entertaining animatronics. In fact, back in July of 2023, Billy Bob's Wonderland hosted the third annual Billy Con. Yep, a convention dedicated to the bear that paved the way for Chuck E. Cheese.

There are some pretty cool photos on their Facebook Page.

Prepare to be Jump-Scared

As the Five Nights at Freddy's movie hits the big screen and Peacock later this month, it brings a unique blend of horror and nostalgia. It's not just a thrilling adaptation of the beloved game; it's also a nod to the Showbiz Pizza era that so many of us hold dear. So, say a little prayer for us kids from the '80s who will be watching FINAF with our kids. I'm pretty sure that it will haunt us way more than them.

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