FNAF 2 Delivers Bigger Scares But Forgets to Tell a Story
While the jump scares and animatronics are a definite step up, Five Nights at Freddy's 2 is bogged down by a convoluted and unresolved plot that will likely leave fans feeling cheated. The follow-up film attempts to juggle too many characters and side stories in its short runtime, creating a muddled and confusing final product.
What was poised to be one of the year's most thrilling video game adaptations has unfortunately become another misstep for Blumhouse in 2025. Much like other recent horror sequels, this follow-up tries to amplify everything that made the first film work. In its attempt to go bigger, however, FNAF 2 throws an overwhelming number of characters, robotic monsters, and plotlines into a tight 1 hour and 45 minute window. A recurring line from the villains is, "I want to see what is going on inside of your head." But by the end, the only thing you'll be thinking is what exactly this chaotic sequel was trying to accomplish.
A Story Bursting at the Seams
Director Emma Tammi brings back Josh Hutcherson as Mike Schmidt, the former security guard at Freddy Fazbear's, who is now trying to piece his life back together. He's fixing up a house and half-heartedly dating Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail), all while ignoring that his younger sister, Abby (Piper Rubio), remains fixated on the haunted restaurant, a detail that seems to have completely stalled her growth as a character. But Mike can't escape his past, as the town has been swept up in Freddy-mania, leading to the inaugural Faz Festival.
This city-wide obsession triggers Vanessa to explore her own childhood connection to the original pizzeria, a subplot that stands out as the film's most compelling element. It almost manages to patch up some of the narrative gaps from the first movie. The new wave of Freddy fans also draws a crew of paranormal researchers to the abandoned location. If you were hoping for a ghost-hunting thriller in the vein of Grave Encounters, you'll be disappointed. This storyline is introduced only to be abruptly dropped once it serves its immediate purpose, a fate shared by many other random ideas scattered throughout the film.
Improved Frights, Weaker Narrative
When it comes to paying homage to the source material, the movie sprinkles in a decent amount of Easter eggs and lore from the game series. However, fans shouldn't go in expecting an adventure as captivating as Scott Games' Five Nights at Freddy's 2. The film might have been more succesful if it had adapted the second game's plot instead of continuing the messy storyline from its predecessor.
To its credit, the sequel is undeniably scarier than the first installment. It leans into what makes the games so popular, delivering a barrage of genuinely startling moments that will make you jump. This is largely thanks to the well-crafted new animatronics and the creepy addition of the Marionette puppet. Unfortunately, these enhanced thrills come at the cost of a coherent story. The original film suffered from a predictable plot and repetitive exposition, particularly about Mike's missing brother, which made it feel drawn out. This new movie swings to the opposite extreme, but not for the better.
An Inconclusive Sprint to the Finish
As the movie nears its conclusion, the pacing accelerates to a frantic speed, desperately trying to cram in every last subplot, scare, and character. The result is a finale that resolves almost nothing. Key questions about Mike and Vanessa's confusing relationship, the Marionette's quest for vengeance, and the purpose of a new character named Michael are left unanswered. Furthermore, talented actors like Matthew Lillard as Afton, Skeet Ulrich as Henry Emily, and McKenna Grace as the lead paranormal investigator are completely squandered.
One could argue that Blumhouse intentionally left these threads dangling to build anticipation for future installments. Even so, it's difficult not to feel cheated, as if we've waited two years just to see a bridge episode. The film ultimately feels less like a complete sequel and more like Five Nights at Freddy's 1.5.
Five Nights at Freddy's 2 hits theaters on December 5.