Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (dir. Emma Tammi)
By: Dave Hughes
Five Nights at Freddy’s began as a simple indie game that has since evolved into a massive marketing machine. Spanning books, toys, and numerous sequels, the franchise has become a staple 'gateway horror' experience for a younger generation. While the first film was panned by critics upon its simultaneous release in theaters and on Peacock, it was an undeniable success with its fanbase. Now, director Emma Tammi and the haunted animatronics return in Five Nights at Freddy’s 2. While the film will no doubt appeal to its intended audience, the scope and reach of the film is very limited and will not resonate with those outside of that audience..
The world of Five Nights at Freddy’s is rich with complex lore and history. At its core, the story revolves around abandoned restaurants where the animatronics come to life at night, seeking vengeance for the past. Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 moves the action to a new location with its own dark history of tragedy. Abby, played by Piper Rubio (For All Mankind), and her brother Mike, played by Josh Hutcherson(The Hunger Games), return to the franchise. Abby once again feels a supernatural pull toward the animatronics, who appear to be searching for a friend even as their true intentions remain clouded.
The animatronics seem significantly more frightening than those in the original film. They are led by the terrifying Marionette, a spindly entity that provides the movie with its most genuine scares. The Marionette uses the other toys in the arcade to do her bidding, seeking to right wrongs that occurred decades ago. She also possesses the ability to influence or control humans, which introduces a dangerous new set of problems for the protagonists.
Beyond the core fanbase, the appeal of Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is fairly limited. The film relies heavily on fan service and constant references to game lore, which is a choice that often restricts the movie's overall effectiveness. At one point, Mike (Josh Hutcherson) places an animatronic head over his own to hide. This is a clever nod to a central mechanic of the video games that fans will surely applaud, but general audiences may find such moments confusing or poorly explained. Additionally, while it is exciting to see Scream(1996) alumni Skeet Ulrich and Matthew Lillard in the same project, it is a shame they never truly share a scene together. An outsider to the franchise will likely struggle to connect with these events because the film assumes the viewer already has an emotional investment. This makes it difficult to build genuine empathy for the protagonists as the story progresses.
Despite the narrative hurdles, the puppeteering and visual design are executed well. In an era dominated by CGI and AI, the tangible care given to the construction of these animatronic figures is refreshing. Director Emma Tammi makes a valiant effort to maintain visual fidelity to the games, ensuring the world feels authentic to longtime fans. Furthermore, some of the imagery early in the film possesses a grit typically reserved for 'Hard R' horror. Seeing these more intense visuals integrated into a PG-13 framework provides the movie with an unexpected and welcome edge.
Target Score: 3/10 Despite some promising visuals and inspired casting, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is defined by missed opportunities. While the film’s core audience will likely find plenty to love, its reach beyond the existing fanbase is incredibly limited and feels like an inside joke.