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Initial Thoughts

Withered Chica in ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’, directed by Emma Tammi. Photo: Universal Pictures.

One of the biggest issues with ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ was that it had a hard time delivering on the scares while giving the long-time fans the lore drops and Easter eggs that they wanted. Many newcomers to the franchise ended up feeling alienated and like they needed to research in order to fully understand what was happening. This time around, Blumhouse was sure to make a movie that everyone could enjoy, no matter how much they know about the Freddy’s games, books, and comics. They also did not hold back when it comes to the scares, offering up a truly terrifying film at times.

Story and Direction

(L to R) Josh Hutcherson and Director Emma Tammi on the set of ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’ is a tall order for director Emma Tammi and writer/creator Scott Cawthon, especially when you consider what a massive fan base this franchise has. There are many things that need to be done right, but it is a delicate balance to make sure that newcomers are able to understand the story without leaving feeling confused and frustrated. This movie pulls that off tenfold.

‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’, directed by Emma Tammi. Photo: Universal Pictures.

Now that the groundwork has been laid with the previous film, ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’ is able to hit the ground running from the start – and it never lets up. The story moves at a fast, but digestible, pace. It never wastes its time and it crams in a lot of Easter Eggs from the games that will have long-time fans jumping up and down in their seats. At the same time, it goes harder in terms of scares. There are multiple, perfectly timed, jump scares and the new villain is downright creepy.

Cast and Performances

(L to R) Abby (Piper Rubio), Mike (Josh Hutcherson) and Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail) in’ Five Nights at Freddy’s 2′, directed by Emma Tammi. Photo: Universal Pictures.

While the animatronics are not only cool to look at, but extremely impressive, if the human aspect of these films doesn’t work, the movie falls apart. Josh Hutcherson once again proves why he is a great lead actor. He is a very important part of the story, essentially being the eyes and ears for the audience, and portraying the character that everyone plays in the video games. His chemistry with Piper Rubio, who plays Abby, is not only believable, it is unmatched.

Piper Rubio has a lot of ground to cover in ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’. She plays a very important role and does so brilliantly. Abby’s is Mike’s younger sister and both Hutcherson and Rubio do a wonderful job of showcasing that, rather than making it feel like a father-daughter relationship.

Elizabeth Lail in ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

Without giving too much away, this script gives Elizabeth Lail a lot to chew on, right from the first moment we see her. Considering that she is William Afton’s (Matthew Lillard) daughter, it should come as no surprise that she has a lot of trauma to deal with. She delivers a stellar performance, especially in that final scene.

Mckenna Grace doesn’t have a lot of screentime, but when she is on screen, she steals the show.

Final Thoughts

Matthew Lillard in ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’, directed by Emma Tammi. Photo: Universal Pictures.

‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’ gives fans exactly what they want, without making newcomers feel like they have no idea what is going on. This movie is equal parts scary and entertaining. The animatronics are nothing less than impressive and while certain characters could have used more time on screen (looking at you Skeet Ulrich) it was all for a good reason.

There is a massive cliffhanger at the end of the movie that will have viewers begging for more. Of course, there is also a tease at the mid-credit point and at the end of the credits. While Blumhouse has not announced a third film, it would be pretty shocking if a ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 3’ isn’t greenlit.

‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’ receives 80 out of 100.

(L to R) Elizabeth Lail, Piper Rubio and Josh Hutcherson in ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’. Photo: Universal Pictures.

What is the plot of ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’?

One year since the supernatural nightmare at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, the stories about what transpired there have been twisted into a campy local legend, inspiring the town’s first ever Fazfest. With the truth about what transpired kept from her, Abby sneaks out to reconnect with Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy, setting into motion a terrifying series of events that will reveal dark secrets about the true origin of Freddy’s, and unleash a long-forgotten horror hidden away for decades.

Who is in the cast of ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’?

• Josh Hutcherson as Mike
• Elizabeth Lail as Vanessa
• Piper Rubio as Abby
• Matthew Lillard as William Afton
• Mckenna Grace as Lisa
• Teo Briones as Alex
• Theodus Crane as Jeremiah
• Freddy Carter as Michael
• Skeet Ulrich as Henry Emily

Elizabeth Lail in ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’, directed by Emma Tammi. Photo: Universal Pictures.

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