“Five Nights at Freddy’s” is a film that never quite adds up to the sum of its parts.

This adaptation of a popular 2014 video game has some elements that really work well, but ultimately the latest entry to the horror genre falls short in large part to an uneven tone that can’t exactly decide how dark it truly wants to be.

The result is a film stuck somewhere in limbo, between a fun little thrill ride and a deeper, more sinister horror film that explores some dark supernatural elements.

“Freddy’s” follows Mike (Josh Hutcherson), a security guard who loses his latest job after a misunderstanding gone wrong. Mike is caring for his younger sister Abby (Piper Rubio), with their aunt Jane (Mary Stuart Masterson) trying to fight Mike for custody.

Desperate to find employment and prove capable of caring for Abby, Mike takes a job at the abandoned Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria. He soon discovers some strange happenings in the pizzeria, with the animatronic mascots capable of coming to life and creating havoc with anyone that crosses their paths.

It’s all further complicated when Mike is forced to bring Abby with him to work and the animatronic mascots set their sights on her.

If “Freddy’s” had just stuck to this basic storyline, there is probably a fun little film in the same vein as the “Gremlin” films. Unfortunately, the screenplay – credited to Scott Cawthon, Seth Cuddeback and director Emma Tammi – throws in a lot more.

There is a backstory with Mike still traumatized by the unsolved abduction of his little brother Garrett – with him revisiting the event in his dreams to try to find the kidnapper. This story only deepens when five children arrive in the dreams, perhaps providing clues to help Mike finally solve the mystery.

The spooky supernatural stuff feels like it belongs in another film – even though screenwriters manage to wedge this story into the main one with a lot of effort (perhaps too much).

Throw in Elizabeth Lail as a local police officer named Vanessa, who provides more backstory into the pizzeria’s shutdown in the 80s (several children disappeared) and the script only gets more convoluted and messy – with some horror elements that feel a little uncomfortable and out of place in a PG-13 movie where most of the violence occurs offscreen.

Despite its best efforts, “Five Nights at Freddy’s” can never quite find the balance between its two distinctly different tones. The result is a horror film that is kind of at war with itself, a hodgepodge of ideas that fails to deliver despite a few promising moments.

Starring: Josh Hutcherson, Piper Rubio

Directed by: Emma Tammi

Rating: PG-13 for strong violent content, bloody images and some language

Playing at: Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10, Highland Cinemas (Glasgow), available for streaming on Peacock

Grade: C-