Gabriela Danger | Opinion director
On Dec. 4, the second Five Nights at Freddy’s movie came out in theaters, and the internet hasn’t been able to put it down.
That makes sense, considering the first film, released in 2023, is Blumhouse’s biggest hit to date, grossing $300 million globally and making Freddy’s an instant success, regardless of critical acclaim.
With that being said, it’s a no-brainer that we got a sequel (and even a setup for a third film) with FNAF2. There’s already a TON of Freddy content out there, from the original video games, to spin-offs to book series and Halloween-themed VR modes.
But how does FNAF2 compare to its predecessor, and are either of these movies even good? Well, the answer to that really isn’t a simple yes or no.
If you consider yourself a true cinephile and log your movies on Letterboxd based on genuine critique, production value, and other quality-indicating factors, you’ll probably say these movies are straight garbage. And while I wouldn’t correct you outright, I would urge you to open your heart and maybe play a little FNAF before giving these another try.
Because at the core of these movies are the fans. The fact of the matter is that Freddy’s is a game that defined a generation of “indie horror” content, and continues to have a massive influence on the genre today, for both kids and adults. The people yearn to see their childhood obsession as a movie!
People who grew up playing FNAF are just excited to see their favorite characters created in real life and put on the big screen. That alone is enough to draw a significant adult crowd, and let’s face it, kids today love Freddy too. While this creates a bit of an awkward situation marketing-wise, meaning they can’t get too graphic at any point (both FNAF movies were rated PG-13, a happy middle ground for “OG” adult fans and more recent younger ones), the numbers don’t lie: people turned out to see them.
The most impressive parts of both movies (but even more so FNAF2) were the animatronics and the sets! To any FNAF fan, seeing the locations from the game blown up and brought to life in excruciating detail was a dream come true. There’s even a sequence in the movie where Mike (Josh Hutcherson) basically plays FNAF2 in real life, using all the in-game mechanics to not get killed.
From the YouTuber cameos to the throwaway lines referencing Freddy’s memes, it’s clear that the cast and crew of this movie are once again appealing to their fans, and honestly, I wish more franchise-based movies would do this. After all, they’re what made the original IP so great, so why not throw them a bone and do right by them?
And the crowning jewel of FNAF2 is, of course, the animatronics. Created and supplied by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop once again (yes, that Jim Henson!), they were absolutely impeccable. The attention to detail on each one of them, and the way the movie was able to give each animatronic a few moments in the limelight to show off their work, was just fun!
On the other hand, the pacing of FNAF2 was a little all over the place, and as was the case with the first movie, the script could use some work. But this movie isn’t up for best screenplay either, which is why, as a fan of this series and an amateur cinephile, I find it easy to just let go and have fun.
Of course, I want to see Toy Chica (voiced by Megan Fox) crush some guy’s skull! Obviously, I want to see CoryxKenshin drive the animatronics in his taxi again! That’s why I’m here! This isn’t The Godfather.
In short, if you’re a FNAF fan, FNAF2 is for you and I can’t recommend it enough.
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