The highly anticipated horror sequel, Five Nights at Freddy's 2, has arrived in theatres, but the reception is far from chilling. Released on December 5, 2025, and directed by Emma Tammi, the film has garnered a disappointing 2.0 rating from both critics and users, signaling a significant letdown for fans of the popular video game franchise.
A Story That Loses Its Way
The plot picks up a year after the events of the first film. Abby Schmidt, played by Piper Rubio, finds herself reconnecting with her possessed animatronic friends from Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. As the ghostly mascots run amok, the narrative attempts to delve deeper into the haunted pizzeria's dark origins. The story also follows Mike (Josh Hutcherson) and Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail), a cop haunted by her serial killer father, William Afton (Matthew Lillard).
While the premise holds initial promise, the screenplay, co-written by original game creator Scott Cawthon, quickly begins to meander. The film introduces multiple haunted locations, a slew of murderous robots, and new characters like a paranormal investigator (Grace McKenna) and Abby's science teacher (Wayne Knight). Unfortunately, these additions feel underdeveloped and contribute little to the core narrative, leaving subplots frustratingly unresolved.
Performances and Frights That Fall Flat
The cast delivers earnest performances within the constraints of the material. Josh Hutcherson and Elizabeth Lail try to anchor the film but are hampered by thin character arcs. Piper Rubio stands out, bringing a needed sense of emotion and urgency to her role as Abby. The scene-stealers, however, are Matthew Lillard as the sinister William Afton and Freddy Carter as an unsettling security guard, though the latter's intriguing track is sadly underexplored.
In terms of horror, the first half relies heavily on predictable jump scares and loud sound design to elicit frights. The second half becomes noticeably messier, bogged down by a cheesy plot twist and abrupt sequences that disrupt any building tension. Despite the animatronics' faithful design to the source game, they fail to evoke a sustained sense of menace, making the scares feel ineffective.
Final Verdict: To Watch or Skip?
The overall experience of Five Nights at Freddy's 2 is one of disjointed storytelling. Sequences and subplots are stitched together with poor narrative flow, resulting in a lack of cohesiveness. The film concludes on a cliffhanger, clearly setting up another installment, but this entry does little to build excitement for it.
With a runtime of 1 hour and 44 minutes, the film struggles to justify its length. The final assessment is clear: this sequel can be skipped by all but the most devoted franchise fans. If you do venture to the theatre, the only noteworthy advice is to stay back for the post-credit sequence, which hints at future developments. For now, the frights at Freddy's have fallen decidedly flat.
