‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’ is a mess, but an enjoyable one

Withered Chica jumps toward the camera during a jump scare in *Five Nights at Freddy’s 2. Photo courtesy of Ryan Green/ Universal Pictures via AP.*

Was “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” incredibly better than the first one? Well…not exactly. It improves in places, but ultimately settles into a familiar pattern of being entertaining for longtime fans while feeling disjointed as a horror sequel.

The sequel picks up one year after the supernatural chaos at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. When Abby (Piper Rubio) returns to visit the animatronics at a newly discovered location, she inadvertently triggers another chain of events that exposes the sinister origins of Freddy’s and awakens a long-buried evil tied to the franchise’s lore.

“Five Nights at Freddy’s” began as a survival horror game released in 2014 by developer Scott Cawthon. Players take on the role of a night security guard at a haunted family pizza restaurant, where murderous animatronics come to life after hours. Known for its jump scares and cryptic storytelling, the franchise garnered a massive following and has since expanded into multiple sequels, spin-off games, books and now a film series.

In my review of the first film, I said it lacked horror. That remains true here, but at least the sequel tries harder. “FNAF 2” includes more gore, sharper tension and a handful of jump scares that, admittedly, almost got me. When it comes to Cawthon’s extensive game and book lore, the movie does a tolerable job. It’s clear the filmmakers are interested in branching off to create their own interpretations of the story, which could pay off in future installments. This is apparent in the film’s portrayal of the Marionette, whose antagonistic presence may puzzle longtime fans because her motives differ from those in the games. For now, though, the plot continues the FNAF tradition of being a confusing narrative.

What’s most interesting about this franchise is that it rejects the normal scale of mediocrity. These movies do not need to be good to succeed; they just need to feel like FNAF. This sequel does exactly that, leaning heavily into fan service and embracing that identity more than ever. Beloved animatronics make several appearances, and people in my theater were cheering the same way many did during “Avengers: Endgame” (if Marvel replaced superheroes with murderous machines).

Fan loyalty is driving much of the film’s success. As of Dec. 20, “FNAF 2” has earned more than $183 million globally. The first movie was the highest-grossing horror movie of its year, so expectations for the sequel were understandably high.

The movie also sprinkles in fandom inside jokes and long-running memes, some so niche that only viewers who follow deep-cut theory channels will recognize them. Remember the “Together we are FNAF” joke I explained in my first review? Before the release of the first movie, fans joked about a leaked clip of animatronics behaving uncharacteristically friendly. Somehow, the sequel essentially makes this meme canon. It’s a true testament to how committed this franchise is to giving fans exactly what they want, and honestly, I respect the hustle.

Performance-wise, there are some rocky moments. Mike Schmidt (Josh Hutcherson) and Abby (Rubio) have noticeably weaker dialogue this time around. Hutcherson, typically a strong actor, feels flat in some high-stakes emotional moments that should carry more weight. This is especially noticeable given that a main critique I had of the first film was its heavy focus on his character. In the sequel, it feels like the filmmakers overcorrected, failing to fully develop Mike through the script and character design. As a result, Hutcherson’s skills as an actor can’t compensate for the lack of depth.

And it’s not just the acting — it’s also the film’s storytelling choices. Although the story shifts toward Vanessa Shelly (Elizabeth Lail), the film adopts a less character-driven approach, prioritizing backstory over emotional depth and character development. While I appreciated the deeper dive into the lore, it comes at the expense of weaker, underdeveloped performances. It’ll be interesting to see how they balance these elements in the next film.

That emphasis on backstory also spills into the plot itself. A few story points feel corny or too easily avoidable, but considering the franchise is building toward future lore-heavy films, viewers may just have to overlook the bumps for now.

Despite the film’s flaws, there are bright spots. Megan Fox delivers an unexpectedly solid voice performance as Toy Chica. Matthew Lillard and Skeet Ulrich reunite in this cinematic universe, a fun nod to their iconic pairing in “Scream” (1996) that horror fans will appreciate. McKenna Grace also joins the cast, although she receives less screen time than I anticipated.

Beyond the performances, the animatronics themselves remain the film’s greatest triumph. Jim Henson’s Creature Shop once again delivers stunning character designs that make the world feel real, bringing Cawthon’s imagination to life.

All things considered, “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” is a fun time — confusing and flawed, but undeniably entertaining. It is not a cinematic masterpiece, nor does it try to be. It is a film made for fans, for memes and for the sheer joy of watching animatronics wreak havoc on the big screen. Flaws and all, I can’t wait to see the third movie.