The highly anticipated sequel, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, has opened to a wave of critical disapproval, with many reviewers branding it “overstuffed” and deeming it worse than its predecessor. Directed by Emma Tammi, the film arrives in theaters on December 5, 2023, but early reactions suggest that fans may be disappointed with the latest installment in the horror franchise.
Returning to the unsettling world of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria, the sequel features Josh Hutcherson reprising his role as Mike, the ex-security guard. Alongside his sister Abby and Vanessa, Mike grapples with the aftermath of the first film while facing new threats within the haunted pizzeria. Critics agree that while the film is filled with Easter eggs and lore from the original video game series, these elements do not compensate for its shortcomings in storytelling.
Reviewers have highlighted the film’s excessive exposition. Jason Pirodsky from Prague Reporter notes that the film “doesn’t know when to stop delivering exposition” and continues to pile on lore even as it reaches its conclusion. He suggests that only dedicated fans may appreciate the extensive backstory, while casual viewers might find it tedious.
BJ Colangelo of SlashFilm echoes this sentiment, commenting that the film features “about 15 minutes of genuinely terrific thrills,” yet is marred by convoluted plot threads that complicate the narrative more than the source material did.
Tim Grierson from Screen Daily emphasizes the film’s standout elements, particularly the work of Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, describing it as the franchise’s most significant asset. However, he criticizes the film for lacking the necessary fright and drama, calling it as “inanimate as its predecessor.”
Concerns about the film’s horror level have also surfaced. Jacob Oller from AV Club remarked that the film has “the energy of a full movie constructed from those boring scenes where the final girl goes to the library to do research,” suggesting a lack of genuine suspense. Owen Gleiberman from Variety adds that the way violence is depicted feels sanitized, comparing it to a “bowdlerized network-TV version of a horror film.”
Despite some improvements in terms of scares and animatronics, as noted in a review, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 struggles with its crowded narrative. The article states that by cramming multiple storylines and characters into its relatively short runtime, the sequel comes off as messy and unresolved, leaving fans of the franchise feeling shortchanged.
As of now, Universal has not scheduled any further fan screenings, leaving audiences eager to see how general viewers will react. An official score on Rotten Tomatoes is also pending. For those keen on the genre, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is set to hit theaters on December 5, 2023.
