Anyone who is steeped in the world of video games was not shocked that the filmed adaptation of Five Nights at Freddy’s was such a huge success (box office more than critically). A massive game series in the mid-2010s that has cultivated a devoted fan base as rabid as any other fan base. Over a dozen games in the series, with even more Novels and Comic books has a deep reservoir of lore to pull from. That said, the sequel breaks the surface of the lore and feels less ponderous than the original, but it will find only a film for fans of the video game, and the original film, even then, may find fans’ patience tested, as the larger mythos really never drives the story.
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 picks up months after the first film. Mike (Josh Hutcherson) is still dealing with the events of the first film. Ally (Piper Rubio) his sister, wants nothing more than to see her “Friends” and talk with them again. Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail) is no longer a sheriff (wonder why???), and is trying to rebuild her life in the aftermath of the realization that her father was the serial killer that plagued their town for years. No sooner do both the children and Afton (Matthew Lillard) begin to haunt Ally and others in the town, forcing Mike and Vanessa back into action. The duo having to dive into Vanessa’s past and events tied to Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza and her best friend Charlotte, which may have ties to not just Afton but others.
The sequel is a mixed bag of both good and not-so-good. The film feels like a streamlined, less ponderous version of the original film. Part of the original issue was that for every bit of good (the animatronics, Lillard, Hutcherson), there was equally bad or inane (the story, the pacing, the lack of any true scares or action). Here it feels less weighted in the bad. Though the story still seems to be an issue. Between the two films is a great story.
The greatest aspect of the film is the effects work done by Henson Creature Shop. If anything, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is a showcase for what the puppet effect house can do. The work is simply jaw-droppingly good. One finds oneself wanting to rewatch these scenes with the knowledge that this is all practical work. It aids the film tremendously during its big set pieces, which there are plenty of now, including a showstopping third act that feels like it’s plucked out of an early 2000s sci-fi action horror film (which is definitely the reference point, think Small Soldiers). The work by returning director Emma Tammi feels more fluid and stylish than it did in the first film.
Josh Hutcherson also continues to be a huge asset to the now ongoing series. His work as the shell-shocked Mike grounds the entire enterprise, making even the most ridiculous scenes work like clockwork. You can’t help but laugh and applaud as Hutcherson holds up an animatronic bear face to his own in order to fool the haunted techno monsters in the finale. Again, Matthew Lillard is just not given enough screentime, as he truly is the best part of the film as the now deceased Afton. Also, the biggest crime may be that the film casts Skeet Ulrich in a pivotal role, and they do not find a way to pair him in ONE SCENE with Lillard. Considering how great Ulrich is in the film, and the fact that these films have a logic issue regardless (which I will not digress into), they could have found a reason… maybe in the next film.
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is definitely a better film than the original, but one finds themselves wanting more of the lore and mythos from this strange, arresting world. Though one cannot be too upset in a film that has a giant animatronic bear killing Wayne Knight in full jerkoff Newman/Nedry mode.
The Transfer
Universal has done an excellent job at bringing Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 to 4K UHD. They continue to go above and beyond for their 4K UHD discs. The image beautifully fluctuates between poppy colors of the animatronic characters and the dark, haunted interiors of the abandoned pizzeria, showcasing the masterful work done to bring this film to home video. The Dolby Vision/HDR mastering only enhances those specific aspects of the film, creating a more immersive experience on Home Video. The Dolby Vision/HDR mastering gives depth to the black levels and contrast that just can’t be accomplished with SDR mastering, allowing for a much more detailed, luminous, subtle image. Another winning transfer from Universal Home Entertainment.
The Extras
They include the following;
EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH: THE CAST
BRINGING FREDDY & FRIENDS TO LIFE
MANGLE MAYHEM
HIGH-STRUNG: HANGING WITH THE MARIONETTE
SENSORY OVERLOAD: EXPLORING THE SETS
EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH: THE CAST (12:31) – a surprisingly in-depth look at the cast, both new and old, and how they approached returning and joining the hit now franchise series. Each of the actors discusses the series, their character, the production, and their respective approaches. There is a great amount of behind-the-scenes b-roll footage. Featuring director Emma Tammi, producer Jason Blum, actors Josh Hutcherson, Matthew Lillard, Skeet Ulrich, Wayne Knight, McKenna Grace, Piper Rubio, Elizabeth Lail, Freddy Carter, costume designer Whitney Anne Adams, and others.
BRINGING FREDDY & FRIENDS TO LIFE (9:46) – this insightful featurette focuses on the puppet design and the challenges and limitations of the new suits faced by the performers, the design changes made, why they were changed, and the new character additions to the sequel. There is a great amount of behind-the-scenes b-roll footage, including looks at the creature shop as they begin to preproduction. Featuring director Emma Tammi, producer Jason Blum, actors Josh Hutcherson, Skeet Ulrich, McKenna Grace, Piper Rubio, Freddy Carter, Stunt Doubles Kevin Foster, Jess Weiss, Jade Kindar-Martin, Wrangling/Puppet Build Lead Supervisor Robert Bennet, Lead Puppeteer Amanda Maddock, Puppet Wrangler Jack Kendall, and more.
MANGLE MAYHEM (4:39) – this featurette focuses on the design, construction, production, and puppeteering challenges of the iconic Mangle, a creature that features prominently in the finale. There again is a great amount of behind-the-scenes footage, storyboards, and concept drawings. Featuring director Emma Tammi, actor Piper Rubio, Josh Hutcherson, McKenna Grace, Puppeteer Sarah Sarang Oh, Wrangling/Puppet Build Lead Supervisor Robert Bennet, Lead Puppet Wrangler Andrea Detwiller, 2nd unit director/Stunt Coordinator Mark Rayner, and more.
HIGH-STRUNG: HANGING WITH THE MARIONETTE (7:02) – this featurette focuses on all of the challenges to bring the Marionette’s haunting look and movement to life using multiple different disciplines. There is some truly great behind-the-scenes b-roll footage enlightening how they brought this iconic character to life. Featuring director Emma Tammi, producer Jason Blum, actors Piper Rubio, McKenna Grace, Elizabeth Lail, Lead Puppet Wrangler Andrea Detwiller, Wrangling/Puppet Build Lead Supervisor Robert Bennet, Lead Puppeteer Amanda Maddock, costume designer Whitney Anne Adams, and more.
SENSORY OVERLOAD: EXPLORING THE SETS (10:15) – this featurette looks at the pains the production took to ensure the level of detail in the sets, specifically the Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria, ensuring the accuracy from the video games and all of the in-jokes and easter eggs within the sets to the larger world of the video game. Again, there is some great behind-the-scenes footage of the actual set, both the aged run-down version and the new pizzeria of the 1980s. Featuring director Emma Tammi, actor Piper Rubio, Josh Hutcherson, McKenna Grace, Matthew Lilard, Freddy Carter, Elizabeth Lail, production designer Marc Fisichella, Puppeteer Sarah Sarang Oh, Lead Puppet Wrangler Andrea Detwiller, and more.
The Final Thought
Universal Home Entertainment continues to produce truly beautiful 4K UHD editions. Recommended
Everyone’s favorite haunted animatronics are back in Five Nights at Freddy’s 2. New to 4K UHD from Universal Entertainment.
The Film
Anyone who is steeped in the world of video games was not shocked that the filmed adaptation of Five Nights at Freddy’s was such a huge success (box office more than critically). A massive game series in the mid-2010s that has cultivated a devoted fan base as rabid as any other fan base. Over a dozen games in the series, with even more Novels and Comic books has a deep reservoir of lore to pull from. That said, the sequel breaks the surface of the lore and feels less ponderous than the original, but it will find only a film for fans of the video game, and the original film, even then, may find fans’ patience tested, as the larger mythos really never drives the story.
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 picks up months after the first film. Mike (Josh Hutcherson) is still dealing with the events of the first film. Ally (Piper Rubio) his sister, wants nothing more than to see her “Friends” and talk with them again. Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail) is no longer a sheriff (wonder why???), and is trying to rebuild her life in the aftermath of the realization that her father was the serial killer that plagued their town for years. No sooner do both the children and Afton (Matthew Lillard) begin to haunt Ally and others in the town, forcing Mike and Vanessa back into action. The duo having to dive into Vanessa’s past and events tied to Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza and her best friend Charlotte, which may have ties to not just Afton but others.
The sequel is a mixed bag of both good and not-so-good. The film feels like a streamlined, less ponderous version of the original film. Part of the original issue was that for every bit of good (the animatronics, Lillard, Hutcherson), there was equally bad or inane (the story, the pacing, the lack of any true scares or action). Here it feels less weighted in the bad. Though the story still seems to be an issue. Between the two films is a great story.
The greatest aspect of the film is the effects work done by Henson Creature Shop. If anything, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is a showcase for what the puppet effect house can do. The work is simply jaw-droppingly good. One finds oneself wanting to rewatch these scenes with the knowledge that this is all practical work. It aids the film tremendously during its big set pieces, which there are plenty of now, including a showstopping third act that feels like it’s plucked out of an early 2000s sci-fi action horror film (which is definitely the reference point, think Small Soldiers). The work by returning director Emma Tammi feels more fluid and stylish than it did in the first film.
Josh Hutcherson also continues to be a huge asset to the now ongoing series. His work as the shell-shocked Mike grounds the entire enterprise, making even the most ridiculous scenes work like clockwork. You can’t help but laugh and applaud as Hutcherson holds up an animatronic bear face to his own in order to fool the haunted techno monsters in the finale. Again, Matthew Lillard is just not given enough screentime, as he truly is the best part of the film as the now deceased Afton. Also, the biggest crime may be that the film casts Skeet Ulrich in a pivotal role, and they do not find a way to pair him in ONE SCENE with Lillard. Considering how great Ulrich is in the film, and the fact that these films have a logic issue regardless (which I will not digress into), they could have found a reason… maybe in the next film.
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is definitely a better film than the original, but one finds themselves wanting more of the lore and mythos from this strange, arresting world. Though one cannot be too upset in a film that has a giant animatronic bear killing Wayne Knight in full jerkoff Newman/Nedry mode.
The Transfer
Universal has done an excellent job at bringing Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 to 4K UHD. They continue to go above and beyond for their 4K UHD discs. The image beautifully fluctuates between poppy colors of the animatronic characters and the dark, haunted interiors of the abandoned pizzeria, showcasing the masterful work done to bring this film to home video. The Dolby Vision/HDR mastering only enhances those specific aspects of the film, creating a more immersive experience on Home Video. The Dolby Vision/HDR mastering gives depth to the black levels and contrast that just can’t be accomplished with SDR mastering, allowing for a much more detailed, luminous, subtle image. Another winning transfer from Universal Home Entertainment.
The Extras
They include the following;
EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH: THE CAST (12:31) – a surprisingly in-depth look at the cast, both new and old, and how they approached returning and joining the hit now franchise series. Each of the actors discusses the series, their character, the production, and their respective approaches. There is a great amount of behind-the-scenes b-roll footage. Featuring director Emma Tammi, producer Jason Blum, actors Josh Hutcherson, Matthew Lillard, Skeet Ulrich, Wayne Knight, McKenna Grace, Piper Rubio, Elizabeth Lail, Freddy Carter, costume designer Whitney Anne Adams, and others.
BRINGING FREDDY & FRIENDS TO LIFE (9:46) – this insightful featurette focuses on the puppet design and the challenges and limitations of the new suits faced by the performers, the design changes made, why they were changed, and the new character additions to the sequel. There is a great amount of behind-the-scenes b-roll footage, including looks at the creature shop as they begin to preproduction. Featuring director Emma Tammi, producer Jason Blum, actors Josh Hutcherson, Skeet Ulrich, McKenna Grace, Piper Rubio, Freddy Carter, Stunt Doubles Kevin Foster, Jess Weiss, Jade Kindar-Martin, Wrangling/Puppet Build Lead Supervisor Robert Bennet, Lead Puppeteer Amanda Maddock, Puppet Wrangler Jack Kendall, and more.
MANGLE MAYHEM (4:39) – this featurette focuses on the design, construction, production, and puppeteering challenges of the iconic Mangle, a creature that features prominently in the finale. There again is a great amount of behind-the-scenes footage, storyboards, and concept drawings. Featuring director Emma Tammi, actor Piper Rubio, Josh Hutcherson, McKenna Grace, Puppeteer Sarah Sarang Oh, Wrangling/Puppet Build Lead Supervisor Robert Bennet, Lead Puppet Wrangler Andrea Detwiller, 2nd unit director/Stunt Coordinator Mark Rayner, and more.
HIGH-STRUNG: HANGING WITH THE MARIONETTE (7:02) – this featurette focuses on all of the challenges to bring the Marionette’s haunting look and movement to life using multiple different disciplines. There is some truly great behind-the-scenes b-roll footage enlightening how they brought this iconic character to life. Featuring director Emma Tammi, producer Jason Blum, actors Piper Rubio, McKenna Grace, Elizabeth Lail, Lead Puppet Wrangler Andrea Detwiller, Wrangling/Puppet Build Lead Supervisor Robert Bennet, Lead Puppeteer Amanda Maddock, costume designer Whitney Anne Adams, and more.
SENSORY OVERLOAD: EXPLORING THE SETS (10:15) – this featurette looks at the pains the production took to ensure the level of detail in the sets, specifically the Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria, ensuring the accuracy from the video games and all of the in-jokes and easter eggs within the sets to the larger world of the video game. Again, there is some great behind-the-scenes footage of the actual set, both the aged run-down version and the new pizzeria of the 1980s. Featuring director Emma Tammi, actor Piper Rubio, Josh Hutcherson, McKenna Grace, Matthew Lilard, Freddy Carter, Elizabeth Lail, production designer Marc Fisichella, Puppeteer Sarah Sarang Oh, Lead Puppet Wrangler Andrea Detwiller, and more.
The Final Thought
Universal Home Entertainment continues to produce truly beautiful 4K UHD editions. Recommended
Universal Home Entertainment’s 4K UHD Edition of Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is out February 17th
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