Five Nights at Freddy’s 2gets a new tease from star Matthew Lillard, who reveals that screenwriter Scott Cawthon listened to fan concerns when writing the sequel. Based on Cawthon’s video game franchise of the same name, the firstFive Nights at Freddy’shit theaters in 2023, with Lillard starring as villain William Afton, alongside other cast members Josh Hutcherson and Elizabeth Lail. Despite poor reviews, the film was a major hit for Blumhouse, andFive Nights at Freddy’s 2is now confirmedto be arriving later this year with original movie director Emma Tammi back at the helm.
During a recent interview withComingSoon.net, Lillard speaks briefly aboutFive Nights at Freddy’s 2, teasing that learnings from the first movie have been incorporated into the second.The actor hints that audiences could be in for more scaresand potentially more action, though he doesn’t confirm any specifics. Check out his comment below:
But I do think that the movie learned first time around, I think Scott, as a primary storyteller, listened to the audience. [It’s] what he does best. He knows that community so well. And I think that he’s responded with a script that… maybe it has more jump scares. Maybe it’s a little more action-packed. I don’t know. I’m not here to say “yes it is”, or “no it’s not.”
What This Means For Five Nights At Freddy’s 2
The First Movie’s Poor Reviews Explained
Five Nights at Freddy’swas a major win for Blumhouse. Made on an estimated budget of $20 million, the film grossed $291 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing movie ever for the company. This commercial success didn’t accompany critical success, however, and the film has only a 32% score onRotten Tomatoes. In herFive Nights at Freddy’sreviewforScreenRant, Mae Abdulbaki awards the movie a lackluster five out 10, taking issue with the simple story and lack of any real scares:
I can’t compare the film to the game because I haven’t played it, butthe adaptation is fairly generic and very light on the horror. That said,Five Nights at Freddy’sisn’t a complete dud, and it’s quite enjoyable and interesting when it gets going.
Lillard’s comment, then, could suggest that, after theFive Nights at Freddy’sending, the sequel will be upping the ante with its scares. The follow-up could still have its hands tied somewhat, however, as it will likely carry a PG-13 rating like its predecessor.Without a PG-13 rating, the firstFive Nights at Freddy’sprobably would not have performed as wellat the box office, and the sequel won’t be looking to make any major changes in this regard. The sequel could, however, sport a larger budget, allowing for a higher production value, which could enhance the scares and action.
Our Take On Lillard’s Five Nights At Freddy’s 2 Tease
The Sequel Could Still Be Scary With A PG-13
It’s worth noting that, thoughFive Nights at Freddy’sonly has a 32% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes, the audience-driven Popcornmeter score is much higher at 86%. Combined with the box office performance, it’s hard to label the film as anything but a win, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement. An R-rated take on the game probably isn’t on the cards, meaningthose hoping for more blood and disturbing terror will likely be disappointed, but the sequel could still push some boundariesin fun ways.
Plenty of horror movies have succeeded and still been scary with a PG-13 rating, and an increased focus on building up to these moments in the script could definitely improve the sequel. A higher production value in terms of the animatronics themselves could also help. It remains to be seen ifFive Nights at Freddy’s 2will be an improvement over the first critically, but audiences can seemingly expect some upgrades from the first installment.
Well-received PG-13 horror movies includeDrag Me To Hell(2009),Split(2016),A Quiet Place(2018), andThe Boogeyman(2023).
