Five Nights At Freddy’s 2 – I Was Disappointed. *Seriously Major Spoilers*

There were slight pacing issues in the first film with many moments feeling dragged on just a few seconds too long, but it didn’t really matter too much. But in 2 it was much more of a problem as it affected the whole pacing of the film, not just single seconds.

Also, did anyone else feel the beats were exactly the same as the first movie for long sections, or was it just me?

It also feels there are more gaps in the storytelling this time round too. I mean like not having quite enough context, grounding, or explanation a lot of the time. And I don’t think it’s just like that because of its genre or to me mysterious. It’s a lack of skill somewhere. Is the script written by someone who has an imperfect grasp of communicating via film, characterisation, and relationships? Possibly. There is an ever so slight amateurness.

It has what I call Second Book Syndrome (or film in this case!) – meaning it hasn’t added enough it to replace the interest and engagement created in the first film simply by everything being fresh and new.

The double ending makes it clear there will be a sequel, but it really suffers from Middle Film Syndrome (another one of mine) – as it feels like it is made to bridge the gap between two films, rather than being a film itself, and it struggles to stand well on its own because of this.

Mr Bird – he doesn’t get enough comeuppance considering how much you have come to hate him. It feels like he gets off lightly. Also, Abby never does (or it is too ambiguous to confirm) realise that he has taken a dislike to her and is deliberately undermining her confidence and ability to succeed. It doesn’t feel enough of a serves-you-right moment, certainly not a moment the audience can get into.

But my biggest problem with it by far is Mike, specifically how he reacts to and treats Vanessa – his attitude, to be more precise. He isn’t in denial, but it almost feels as if he is searching for an excuse to be in denial. He is trying to push away the past rather than process and move on naturally from or with it. It might not seem a big deal he’s pressurising Vanessa near the beginning to take this same toxic approach, but it does become important in how he react to her when the inevitable happens.

Let me stress that Vanessa is profoundly traumatised, and has been since she was born, over and over again. Even given what happened in the first film, Vanessa might not be able to speak about the worst of her experiences for years. And no, the importance of said information makes no difference to this capability. Mike’s “I can’t trust you” is completely and utterly inappropriate. It’s not Vanessa who’s the problem here, Mike’s not accepting the past will always be part of you, even if you do move forward, and all that sort of thing, is. Also, blame Afton if you must blame, not Vanessa.

I will also add that Vanessa not saying what she knew was (apart from being used as a plot device) not significant as often as you might first think. Not much of the plot would change if she had said something in advance.

This whole thing is made worse by seeing Vanessa’s trauma from her point of view. You are see through her eyes, and on her side, which leads me to me final point:

Much of the film feels depressing rather than scary or engaging, particularly the ending. Oh, sure Mike, you all share another big experience – which was inevitable – and then you just abandon Vanessa because she didn’t tell you things she literally could bring herself to say? Let me remind you that it was your not telling Abby the truth in the first place that started this chain of events, aside from the fact someone else stopped the music box. Really, he’s acting like the characters who you usually can be sure will be killed off at the first opportunity, at best. Oh, and then Vanessa is possessed moments after you leave, and is possibly now dead. Well done, Mike, well done.

I really hope this is deliberate and Abby’s going to put Mike right, rather than the script writer doesn’t get how a female or traumatised mind works beyond the obvious. Quite interesting really. Mike’s trying to deny the past to move forward, Vanessa wants to move forward but is struggling against an all-encompassing past, and Abby’s moves to embrace the past to move forward.