Five Nights at Freddy's 2: Too Many Scares, Not Enough Story

After all the hype, Five Nights at Freddy's 2 lands in cinemas as one of the most anticipated game-to-film releases of the year. Unfortunately, it quickly joins the list of 2025 horror misfires from Blumhouse. Much like Megan 2.0, this sequel is determined to outdo its predecessor in every way. The result? A jam-packed film overflowing with new faces, animatronics, and story threads, all squeezed into a brisk 1 hour and 45 minutes. Throughout, various villains repeat the line,

"I want to see what is going on inside of your head."

But honestly, the only thing running through your mind is confusion about what this chaotic sequel is actually aiming for.

Returning Faces and New Obsessions

Emma Tammi returns to direct, bringing back Josh Hutcherson as Mike Schmidt, the ex-security guard from Freddy Fazbear’s. Mike’s trying to move on—fixing up a house and half-heartedly chasing a romance with Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail). Meanwhile, his younger sister Abby (Piper Rubio) remains fixated on the infamous restaurant, her character seemingly stuck in place. Despite Mike’s best efforts to move forward, Freddy Fazbear’s presence is everywhere. The local community has gone all-in, launching the first ever Faz Festival.

For Vanessa, the festival stirs up memories of her childhood at the original pizzeria, sending her on a personal quest to dig up her past. This thread is probably the most engaging part of the film, nearly patching up some of the gaps left by the first instalment. The new Freddy fanatics also draw a group of paranormal investigators to the scene. If you’re hoping for a ghost-hunting adventure in the style of Grave Encounters, don’t get your hopes up. This subplot, like many others, is quickly dropped and forgotten.

Game Nods and Missed Opportunities

Fans of the original games will spot plenty of nods and hidden details. Still, don’t expect a ride as wild as the second game in the series. In fact, the film might have fared better if it had stuck closer to the game’s storyline, rather than trying to pick up where the first film left off.

To its credit, the sequel does ramp up the scares. Drawing on what made the games so popular, it delivers a string of proper jump scares, thanks to some clever new animatronic designs and the addition of the Marionette puppet. But this comes at a cost. The first film dragged on with a predictable plot and repeated explanations—especially about Mike’s missing brother. That made it feel like it would never end. This time, the sequel swings the other way, but not quite as the creators probably intended.

Rushed Endings and Unfinished Business

By the final act, the film is racing through its story, cramming in as many subplots, frights, and characters as possible. The upshot? None of the loose ends get tied up—Mike and Vanessa’s odd relationship, the Marionette’s revenge, and the purpose of new arrival Michael all remain unresolved. Even promising characters like Matthew Lillard’s Afton, Skeet Ulrich’s Henry Emily, and McKenna Grace’s paranormal investigator Lisa are left on the sidelines. Maybe Blumhouse is just keeping options open for more sequels, but it’s hard not to feel a bit ripped off, as if we’ve waited two years for what’s really just Five Nights at Freddy’s 1.5.

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 hits Aussie cinemas on 5 December.