Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is shaping up to be one of December’s biggest releases, as it serves as the direct continuation of one of 2023’s most popular films. Although success isn’t guaranteed, director Emma Tammi and the rest of the production team poured significant effort into taking the sequel to the next level.
The first film received very negative reviews from critics and general audiences, but it captivated its target demographic: fans of Scott Cawthon’s video game. The 2025 film aims to win those fans over once again while also capturing the attention of a broader audience.
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 will be darker
One of the most persistent criticisms of the 2023 film was that it wasn’t scary. Director Emma Tammi heard that loud and clear, and promises the sequel will tackle that problem head-on. In an interview with Dexerto, she stated that the follow-up will be much darker than the previous movie.
“I think audiences who wanted the first movie to go to scarier places will be very satisfied. It’s funny: Matthew Lillard already watched the movie the other day, called me, and said, ‘It’s really scary… is it still PG-13?’” she said.
Despite being part of the horror genre, the 2023 film received a PG-13 rating in the United States and the equivalent in other countries. Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 will stick to that mold and retain the PG-13 classification for a key reason: allowing as many people as possible to see it in theaters.
A darker tone, even with a PG-13 rating
Even with the same rating as the first film, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 will be much darker and more frightening.
“We wanted to be inclusive of younger audiences while also not limiting how dark and scary it can be for older viewers,” said the American filmmaker. Fans can therefore expect a very frightening experience despite the age rating.
Emma Tammi reaffirmed that Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 will honor its name and draw heavily from FNAF 2, the second game in Scott Cawthon’s franchise. She assured that, just like the source material, there will be many “very effective jump scares” designed to frighten viewers.
FNAF 2 will draw heavily from the games
The film, starring Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, and Matthew Lillard, aims to build a terrifying atmosphere without relying on excessive on-screen violence. The director emphasized that Mike Schmidt’s journey won’t be very gory, aligning with the general tone of the original games.
“It’s more about the feeling it gives you than what you see graphically. Of course, the animatronic scares are incredible, and we tried to enhance them as much as possible this time too,” Emma Tammi explained. She added that the production team also borrowed several elements from the original work.
Specifically, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 attempted to incorporate more elements considered part of the gameplay, something visible in a moment from the trailer where Mike Schmidt uses a Freddy mask to protect himself from an attack. “I think it’ll be fun for fans to recognize that.”
Just like in the 2014 game, the live-action film will use the mask as protection against the animatronics.
Finally, the director hopes fans and general audiences will go see the sequel in theaters, assuring that if they enjoyed the first movie, they will be even more satisfied with this new installment.
FNAF 2 will premiere in the United States on December 5, 2025, while Mexico and other regions will get it a day earlier.
But tell us—are you excited for the new entry in the franchise? Do you think it will be scarier? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
