Rating: 2.5/5
Synopsis:
After the original “Five Nights at Freddy’s” hit theaters, the success was unprecedented. The large and dedicated fanbase made it a roaring success at the box office. The sequel finds our characters grappling with the events from the first one year later. Abby longs for her animatronic friends, being sheltered from their sinister nature by her brother Mike. But the arrival of Fazfest helps them discover the origins of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria by leading them to the original location. What they discover leads them to even darker secrets as another set of animatronics exist with ties to the terrifying Marianette. Can Josh and Abby survive another confrontation with these killer animatronics?
Positives:
I had never played the “FNAF” games much before seeing the first film. But my roommates at the time were massive “FNAF” fans. I decided to give it a whirl to get invested in the extensive lore surrounding the game. I’m glad I did because I would have been lost without this exposure. While the first film was mediocre, I still enjoyed the outstanding practical effects and dedication to following the game lore. “FNAF 2” acts in a similar way, leaning more into the extensive lore and worldbuilding fans have come to love. Luckily, I played the second game to understand the significance of different locations and characters. The film essentially tells audiences that it is doubling down on the fanfare, giving the target audience strong correlations to the games. This is great for the fans, where teenagers looking to get into gateway horror will love the format of the film. The practical effects are strong once again. The toy versions of the main animatronics add a nice contrast to the design of the originals. But the addition of the Mariannette is the standout, providing an unsettling twist to the lore and elevating the worldbuilding of the “FNAF” storyline.
Negatives:
Unfortunately, while “FNAF 2” improves in the areas that were already good, it gets even worse in the areas it lacked. The story is incredibly messy and convoluted. Those unfamiliar with the winks and nods of the game are going to be gasping for air, hoping for the film to end so they can escape the niche nature of the story. The plot meanders in areas that will frustrate both fans and regular viewers. For fans, the film deviates from the gameplay of the second game due to it being a sequel to the original. The second game is actually a prequel to the original game, so the filmmakers have to tie in elements of the other games to make it a complete story. So the purity that the first film maintained is now gone. But nonfans will be even more lost, wondering how any of the events unfolding make any sort of sense. It is shockingly dull in certain segments. But to the film’s credit, it is a bit scarier and makes good use of the animatronic characters. The acting and script are also weak (again). I believe the cast is capable of so much better, so a better script for the next film is a must. This is a great example of a film franchise leaning into the appeal of the target audience, which isn’t a bad thing. But other audiences will likely loathe this experience.
Conclusion:
Although I’ve played the games (to an extent), I still cannot in good faith recommend “FNAF 2”. It is a sequel that doubles down in everything created in the first. The animatronics and lore expansion are all great, making me curious where the story goes from here. But the acting, script and overall story are lackluster. It’s hard to enjoy a film that struggles in so many areas where the potential is clearly there. There will inevitably be a third film, so hopefully some course correction is made because this is a franchise that clearly has appeal.
