PHOTO BY PATTI PERRET / UNIVERSAL

Some adaptations transcend their source material and become something greater, delivering an experience that newcomers can appreciate as fully as devoted fans.

“Five Nights at Freddy’s” is not that kind of movie.

I saw the long-gestating film, based on the massively popular series of horror video games, in a crowd full of devotees. They jumped; they laughed at inside references. They cheered when key characters made unexpected appearances.

Did any of that transfer over to my experience? No. But the fans seemed very happy.

The games and the film are set at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, a fictionalized version of Chuck E. Cheese, the enduring chain that attracts kids with arcade games and ball pits — and, decades ago, featured animatronic, singing animals. Those mechanical warblers are the antagonists of the games, coming to life at night and stalking an unsuspecting security guard.

Here, that guard is troubled 20-something Mike (Josh Hutcherson), mourning the loss of most of his family in a series of unfortunate incidents. He’s trying to keep custody of his much younger sister (Piper Rubio), but his traumatic past has made it hard to keep a job. Desperate, he accepts an offer from a smarmy career counselor (Matthew Lillard): Guard a creepy, abandoned pizza joint that’s home to some angry animatronics.

Mike eventually finds an ally in Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail), a police officer with a mysterious past, one of many story points that’s endlessly dragged out to prolong the running time. “Five Nights at Freddy’s” somehow moseys to 110 minutes; if every character simply revealed their history and motivation when first asked, it would’ve been done in 80.

The fear, such as it is, derives from noticing the hulking beasts in the background — and occasionally seeing them around a blind corner. Jump scares are the raison d’être of “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” and several are effective; they make for a more silly than unsettling experience, but perhaps that’s the aim.

If the crowd I watched the film with is any indication, “Five Nights at Freddy’s” will likely satisfy those who know Freddy Fazbear and his maniacal cohorts. If my personal experience is any indication, newcomers will be by turns underwhelmed and bored. I’m happy for the diehards that will enjoy it, but I’d caution novices to stay away.

My Rating: 4/10

“Five Nights at Freddy’s” is now playing in theaters and streaming on Peacock.