Reviews
Five Nights at Freddy's 2
Going into Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, I will admit my expectations were not very high. Blumhouse has produced some notable disappointments in recent years, but Black Phone 2 had restored just enough confidence to make me believe they might finally treat one of their most valuable IPs with some genuine care. I could not have been more mistaken. In spectacular fashion, Blumhouse has somehow managed to outdo even my bleakest assumptions about how poorly they could handle this sequel. What we are left with is a shameless attempt to cash in, one that gives last year’s Night Swim serious competition and stands as a contender for the worst film of the year.
For those who have been living under a rock for the past decade, FNAF as fans call it is a survival horror series set in a Chuck E Cheese style pizza restaurant known as Freddy Fazbear’s. It features eerie animatronics and places you in the role of a night security guard attempting to survive while these mechanical creatures stalk you. I adored the game growing up and have many fond memories of playing it in a darkened room, absolutely terrified. I also spent a fair amount of time watching Markiplier’s playthroughs, so when the first FNAF film finally arrived I was naturally excited. And you know what, even though critics were largely dismissive, I found enjoyment in its lore and the easter eggs. A sequel was always inevitable, but everything I appreciated in the first film feels lost here, with the lore and references in FNAF 2 doing little more than attempting to paper over the cracks. In truth, cracks feel generous because what we get instead are gaping chasms.
Most of the original cast return for this instalment, and honestly why would they not when this is quite possibly the easiest paycheck of their entire careers. The story picks up one year after the tortuous events of the first film and reacquaints viewers with former security guard Mike (Josh Hutcherson), his younger sister Abby (Piper Rubio), and Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail). All three are still dealing with the aftermath of the traumatic events caused by Vanessa’s serial killer father William (Matthew Lillard).
With Scott Cawthon once again writing, the sequel attempts to justify its existence by plunging straight into a prequel sequence that introduces the new supposedly formidable animatronic Marionette. This character was previously confined to the original Freddy Fazbear’s location where, unsurprisingly, a tragic incident had taken place that resulted in the death of a child. Given how small the town is, it is honestly miraculous that none of the characters appear to be aware of this history, but I digress. Aside from a couple of new features such as a river ride, the updated location looks virtually identical to the one used in the first film and adds nothing of interest.
After a painfully lifeless opening that follows the prequel scene, FNAF 2 introduces the first of several limp and unnecessary subplots by bringing in a supposedly well known ghost hunting group led by Mckenna Grace. They arrive at the Fazbear location in search of something supernatural, and supernatural things they certainly encounter. The animatronics appear to be possessed by the spirit of the little girl who is now determined to seek revenge on parents who failed to prevent her death. Naturally, despite Mckenna Grace and her team being at best, young adults, they are the first victims, something bizarrely spoiled in the trailer. I would love to say their demise was satisfying, but it is presented in the most family friendly manner imaginable with not a single drop of blood. FNAF has clearly been shaped to be as widely accessible as possible, which is a cardinal sin for a horror film. The result is not frightening in the slightest and instead becomes unintentionally hilarious.
The rest of the main plot and the bewildering array of unexplored side stories grow more tedious as the film continues. Abby is fixated on reuniting with her so called friends in the form of the animatronics seen in the first film such as Chica and Freddy Fazbear himself. However, the animatronics in this film are using Abby as their unfortunate tool to help them escape the restaurant and venture into the real world, even attending the Fazfest, a festival that literally celebrates the deaths of children. That is how absurd the writing becomes. What follows devolves into the same predictable beats as the first film but with far less charm. It also features some of the most painfully overused jump scares I have witnessed this year, with director Emma Tammi relying heavily on obnoxiously loud noises rather than building any genuine tension.
The phrase phoning it in is often used to describe uninspired performances, but I will give credit where it is due. The fact that any of the actors involved managed to deliver their lines without bursting into laughter at the sheer audacity of the dialogue is a minor miracle. And although I have already said it, it is worth repeating because it genuinely is that offensively poor. FNAF 2 is not scary at all. The magic of the games has completely evaporated, and despite the long list of disappointing video game adaptations over the years, this one may well take the biscuit.
There are easter eggs and bits of lore scattered throughout that will no doubt please some fans, but the overall experience feels like a box ticking exercise designed to assemble a sequel as quickly as possible and get it into cinemas regardless of quality. It even has the audacity to tease a third film which we will no doubt receive, since it will almost certainly be viewed as a much needed financial win for Blumhouse. However, the quality desperately needs to improve because Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is nothing short of diabolical.