‘5 Nights at Freddy’s 2’ evaluation: Sequel will solely delight obsessives

Greenlighting a sequel to 2023’s “5 Nights at Freddy’s” — the mega-popular horror movie based mostly on Scott Cawthon’s hit online game franchise — was a no brainer. In any case, the primary image grossed almost $300 million worldwide, regardless of largely poor critiques and a day-and-date launch on Peacock. Propelled by a teen-friendly PG-13 ranking and the sport’s cultish fan base, it turned producer Blumhouse’s most profitable launch, besting firm record-holders equivalent to “Get Out,” “Cut up” and 2018’s “Halloween.”

However “no-brainer” takes on a twin which means with regards to “5 Nights at Freddy’s 2,” a laughably tacky, empty-headed follow-up that makes the mediocre prior movie shine compared.

For the uninitiated, the primary film follows the career-challenged Mike (Josh Hutcherson), who lands a last-ditch job as in a single day safety guard at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, an deserted Chuck E. Cheese-like joint. Seems, the place homes a gaggle of homicidal animatronic mascots — bear Freddy, rabbit Bonnie, rooster Chica and fox Cunning — possessed by the ghosts of murdered youngsters. Mike unravels the restaurant’s thriller with the assistance of Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail), a horny cop whose father, William (Matthew Lillard), is revealed to be a serial killer with ties to Mike. As well as, Mike should defend his withdrawn 10-year-old sister, Abby (Piper Rubio), from the mascots, whom she has weirdly befriended.

With me thus far?

The sequel opens in 1982 on the unique flagship Freddy’s location, a website by no means talked about within the first movie. There, a baby named Charlotte (Audrey Lynn-Marie) is killed throughout a party after trying to warn a criminally dismissive group of fogeys that one other teen is lacking. We’re additionally launched to Marionette, a strong puppet mentioned to regulate the opposite robots by way of some early type of Wi-Fi. (OK, no matter.)

Flash-forward 20 years to after the top of the earlier movie. Mike, Vanessa and Abby (Hutcherson, Lail and Rubio reprise their roles) are attempting to maneuver on after the murderous occasions of the previous. Mike’s apparently unemployed once more (and nonetheless incapable of an in depth shave); Vanessa stays traumatized by her father’s violent dying and the quirky Abby is lacking her schizy animatronic “mates” (the ever-protective Mike tells her they’re “damaged”).

However after a crew of ghost hunters (led by Mckenna Grace’s Lisa) meets a grisly finish whereas filming on the long-closed Freddy’s, the animatronics enlist Abby’s assist to set them free. Are they utilizing her? Perhaps, however additionally they appear to belief her, in contrast to their deadly disdain for the city’s mother and father and different intrusive adults.

A wave of robotic mayhem follows, embroiling Mike, Vanessa and different locals in a sequence of messy if thrill-free set items on the flagship Freddy’s, a number of houses and Abby’s college, the place an inexplicably merciless trainer (a scenery-chewing Wayne Knight) thwarts her participation in a coveted science truthful. Unhealthy transfer, Train!

In the meantime, creepy-looking Marionette is now host to Charlotte’s vengeful spirit, whereas the spider-like Mangle puppet (the toy model of Cunning) does its share of ambushing, the shuttered pizzeria’s night time guard (Freddy Carter) can’t be trusted and Skeet Ulrich pops in as Charlotte’s grieving dad. Lillard (Ulrich’s “Scream” co-star, for trivia buffs) returns because the brutal William, however solely in a nightmare sequence.

In contrast to the prior installment, which had three credited writers (together with director Emma Tammi, again on the helm right here), the brand new film was scripted solely by Cawthorn, proving to be his personal worst enemy. Saddled with a mishmash of Freddy’s-verse lore, clunky exposition and pancake-flat dialogue, the narrative turns into careless and convoluted. Logic is ditched for franchise callbacks and Easter eggs, doubtful subplots and laying observe for the inevitable subsequent sequel.

Director Tammi is definitely hamstrung by the slapdash script. Nonetheless, the pacing lags and he or she hardly ever builds a lot pressure or fright past a number of predictable leap scares (although a number of will seize you). Subpar appearing and cringey line deliveries additional bury the image.

As for the animatronics, Jim Henson’s Creature Store has taken apparent care and ability in re-creating the movie’s lumbering robots and evoking their sport origins. However within the context of a horror film, even a milder one geared toward youthful viewers, they too typically come off as foolish and toothless.

This one’s for die-hards solely.