One Fatal Decision Led to the Failure of Five Nights At Freddy's 2

This article contains spoilers for Five Nights at Freddy's 2. The creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, have long advocated for storytelling that connects events with "but" or "therefore" instead of "and then," ensuring each scene serves the larger narrative. Unfortunately, Five Nights at Freddy's 2, penned by series creator Scott Cawthon, follows the "and then" approach to an extreme.

While fans familiar with the franchise's intricate lore might not be surprised, Cawthons tight grip on the films creative direction appears to have hindered the adaptation. The journey to bring the game to the big screen was lengthy, with Chris Columbus initially attached to direct but leaving due to creative disagreements. Cawthon reportedly required the first films writers to restart entirely, and Blumhouse producer Jason Blum has explained that part of the delay stemmed from accommodating Cawthons vision.

Blum admitted, "I dont have the right to do anything Scott doesnt like. Basically, Scott has something akin to 'final cut,' which has slowed the process of finding the right story." While this level of control may have been necessary to secure rights to the franchise, Cawthons limitations as a screenwriter are increasingly evident.

Creative Control Highlights Screenwriting Weaknesses

In the first film, Cawthon shared writing duties with director Emma Tammi and writer Seth Cuddeback. In the sequel, he assumes sole credit, and the result is noticeable. Instead of focusing on character development for Mike Schmidt (Josh Hutcherson), his sister Abby (Piper Rubio), or revealing Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail) as the daughter of serial killer William Afton (Matthew Lillard), the film is overloaded with Easter eggs, fan service, and references to game lore.

The narrative feels as though it attempts to cram the depth of a long-form YouTube essay into a theatrical format, resulting in a disjointed experience. Additionally, the film introduces Michael Afton (Freddy Carter) to replace the original Mike Schmidt storyline from the games, but this character's significance is lost without prior knowledge of the lore.

A Step Back From Its Predecessor

The first Five Nights at Freddy's film managed to turn Cawthons complex world into a coherent story for both fans and newcomers. By comparison, the sequel feels like a regression, lacking clear story structure and focusing on moments of excitement rather than narrative cohesion. The third act fails entirely, functioning more as a teaser for a potential third installment rather than a proper conclusion. Lore-heavy reveals come rapidly without breathing room, and the ending contradicts both the storys internal logic and character behavior.

Much of this could work as supplementary material for the games or online discussions, but as a movie, it fails to maintain tension or coherence. The script seems driven by "wouldnt it be cool if" ideas rather than thoughtful storytelling, highlighting the need to trim excess elements.

Hope for the Future

Despite these flaws, fans still anticipate Five Nights at Freddy's 3. The franchise has beloved characters and a passionate fanbase, but the key to future success lies in Cawthon recognizing his strengths and collaborating with professional filmmakers and writers who can bring his vision to life effectively.

Five Nights at Freddy's 2 is currently playing in theaters.

Author: Riley Thompson