Spoiler-Free Review of “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” in Theaters: An Underwhelming Sequel

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“Are you ready to start the show?”

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 released in theaters on December 5th 2025. Based on the popular video game, the horror film stars Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, Piper Rubio, Mckenna Grace, Skeet Ulrich and Matthew Lillard. The film runs for an hour and forty-five minutes.

After the horrific events at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria, Mike, Abby, and Vanessa learn that a new threat has emerged at the original Freddy’s, threatening to destroy them all.

Here is the trailer:

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is an exhausting sequel with little charm, but it does feature two legendary scream kings on the big screen. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Billy and Stu are back! Well…kind of.

Look, I’ll take what I can get! I really didn’t enjoy the first film that much, but I was happy that Matthew Lillard was in it. The only reason I showed up to see the second one was to witness both Matthew Lillard AND Skeet Ulrich on screen. I mean…talk about a dream come true!

Sure…they needed more screen time, but it was fun seeing them both in this even though I’m pretty sure that the majority of the audience (kids under 14) had no idea who they were.

A cool new addition.

I thought the addition of the Marionette worked well for the most part. This movie didn’t have any major scares to it, but the creepy factor was there and I think that she was a cool character to explore. Things would have felt completely stale if we were just dealing with the same exact characters again so there’s that.

Unfortunately the pros stop here…

The Cons:

Forced character side plots…

This is one of those sequels that would have benefited from a completely new cast. Having Mike, Vanessa, and Abby back in the mix may have seemed like a good idea, but the execution didn’t come across well. Everything felt exhausting, boring, and drawn out. Every major plot point had a convenient solution and I lost the partial investment I had in these characters from the first film.

Silly scares.

I know this is more of a kid-friendly horror film, but it’s still horror so I would have liked a few more authentic scares. The jump scares felt gimmicky and I think they wasted the potential of the Marionette. The reveals at the end felt so desperate and I honestly couldn’t wait for this to be over. I sprinted out of the theater…

So am I in or out?

Unfortunately I’m out on this one…

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 exhausts everything from the original film, proving to be a completely unnecessary sequel with not much to say at all…

Sure, there were a few fun moments and I loved seeing Lillard and Ulrich in this, but this was lacking in some major fun.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Until Dawn” in Theaters: A Forgettable Horror Flick

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“That’s where people get in trouble…”

Until Dawn released in theaters on April 25th 2025. Based on the video game of the same name, the survival horror film stars Ella Rubin, Ji-young Yoo, Belmont Cameli, Odessa A’zion, Michael Cimino, and Peter Stormare. It runs for approximately an hour and forty-three minutes.

One year after her sister’s disappearance, Clover and her friends head to the spot where she vanished looking for answers, leading them into a never-ending trap that causes them to relive the same day over and over again after facing horrific deaths.

Here is the trailer:

Until Dawn has an eerie enough premise and some decent kills, but does it do enough to stand out in the horror genre? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Playstation Productions

Solid premise.

I was hooked by the trailer and thought this one had a lot of potential. I’m familiar with the game, but I wouldn’t say that I am that knowledgeable on it so I went into this with no real expectations. I thought the setup was a decent one and our cast did a good enough job with what they were given.

Peter Stormare!

He voiced Dr. Hill in the game and I thought it was genius that they cast him in the movie. I’m a huge fan of his since Prison Break and thought he was the BEST part of the movie.

He embraced his role (even though it wasn’t a large one) and just went with it, bringing us plenty of creepy vibes.

Ella Rubin gave us a decent performance as well as Clover, but she needed some more layers. The backstory was there, but it wasn’t fleshed out enough. I liked her though!

The Cons:

Cheesy jump scares and too many forced tropes.

Ugh, I really wanted to like this movie. It wasn’t bad, but it really wasn’t good either. It was just kind of meh…?

I didn’t jump once despite all of the overused scares. I thought it was cool that they had some Easter eggs for fans of the game, but I think they could have used more of them.

The reliving the same day over and over plot has been done a million times before and I don’t think this film did anything that unique or new with it. Some of the effects were cool, but everything just felt really safe and by the numbers.

I wanted this movie to just break some barriers and go for something extreme, but we never reached that point.

So am I in or out?

Unfortunately I’m out on this one…

Until Dawn ultimately misses the mark, relying too heavily on cheesy jump scares and overdone plot gimmicks.

This was a boring and frustrating watch and I was really disappointed.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Until Dawn in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

CHECKING OUT WAS NEVER AN OPTION…

A weekend getaway goes horribly wrong when Charlotte suspects that a guest at her bed-and-breakfast has gone missing. A heart-pounding thriller that will keep you guessing until the end. We Hope You Enjoy Your Stay is available below! I hope you enjoy!

We Hope You Enjoy Your Stay is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Five Nights at Freddy’s” on Peacock: Welcome Back to Horror, Matthew Lillard!

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“I have a job for you…”

Five Nights at Freddy’s released in theaters and on Peacock on October 27th 2023. Based on the popular video game, the horror film stars Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, Piper Rubio, and Matthew Lillard. The film runs for an hour and forty-nine minutes.

A security guard with a troubled past takes a job at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria, quickly learning that the performing animatronics may have a few dangerous tricks up their sleeves.

Here is the trailer:

Five Nights at Freddy’s has some fun moments for fans of the video game, but it ultimately takes itself too seriously instead of indulging in some needed camp. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

All hail, Matthew Lillard!

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Matthew Lillard and that Stu Macher from Scream is one of my all-time favorite horror characters. I was thrilled to see him in this one and he was the main reason why I tuned in. He delivered his role perfectly. I hope he appears in some more horror films soon because he’s always a blast to watch.

Josh Hutcherson from The Hunger Games did a solid job as well with what he was given and I truly believed the bond between his character and his little sister, which helped me invest in this film a little bit more.

Impressive design on the animatronics.

I was worried that they would seem outrageous and really silly, but I was personally impressed by the animatronics coming to life on screen.

I also thought that this film was a nice step up from kids horror. Pre-teens will probably love certain parts of this film and I think that it’s a fun introduction to the horror genre. I’d recommend kids under twelve watching it with supervision, however.

The Cons:

Too much set-up…

I could have personally done without the repetitive flashbacks and dragged out set-up in the beginning. This film wasn’t scary at all and it tried to be like too many other films. It would have benefited from some campy, ridiculous fun, which would have been pure B movie magic gold, but this route was very forgettable.

Willy’s Wonderland did a much better job of this…

The pacing was also really sluggish at times and the dialogue was uninspiring. I’d say that wouldn’t really matter if we had some inventive kills in the mix or some dry humor, but everything was really watered down.

So am I in or out?

I’m 50/50 on this one…

Five Nights at Freddy’s takes a safe and mostly bland route instead of just having fun with this material. There were some entertaining moments sprinkled into the mix, but I’m not sure that I would watch this again.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Five Nights at Freddy’s in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Free Guy” in Theaters: A Genuine Feel-Good Film

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“Don’t have a good day, have a GREAT DAY!”

Free Guy released in theaters on August 13th 2021. The film stars Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Joe Keery, Taika Waititi, Channing Tatum and Lil Rel Howery. It runs for approximately an hour and fifty-five minutes.

A bank teller stuck in his familiar routine soon discovers that he is actually a non-player character in a video game after bumping into the girl of his dreams. He decides to change things up by becoming a hero while inspiring those around him.

Here is the trailer:

Free Guy has the potential to be lots of fun with Ryan Reynolds leading the way, but is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Ryan Reynolds and Jodie Comer are a dream team!

I am a huge fan of Jodie Comer and I absolutely adore her on Killing Eve. I was really excited that she was going to be in this film and it was fun to see a different side of her. I thought these two made a great team. They had lots of chemistry and it helped elevate the movie even more for me.

Heartwarming and hilarious.

I found myself smiling throughout the entire movie. I just felt happy watching this and there were so many little moments in-between that really spoke to me. I expected this movie to be funny, especially with Ryan Reynolds leading the way, but it was also really charming and inspiring.

Awesome cameos and references.

There will be no spoilers in this review, but the cameos and references were so much fun. I was literally cheering with one of them and I think you will thoroughly enjoy them as well!

The Cons:

I don’t really have any…

The movie just worked in every way. As long as you don’t take it too seriously and expect an extreme action movie, you will enjoy it. Don’t go into it with any expectations. I loved every aspect of this movie and I would watch it again.

So am I in or out?

I’m in 100 percent!

This movie was fun, hilarious, entertaining, and romantic. It had something for everyone in it. I loved all of the little moments sprinkled in and the entire cast did an exceptional job.

I highly recommend this movie and can’t wait to watch it again!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Free Guy in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

A harmless night of fun turns deadly for six college friends but the game has only just begun. Take a mystery thrill ride right from your own living room. Dash and Seek is out now!

Play if you dare…

Dash and Seek is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “The Witcher” on Netflix: Monsters, Magic and Melody

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

The world of a dark fantasy can be somewhat confusing, but with Henry Cavill’s portrayal of Geralt of Rivia, all bets are off. We are quickly immersed into a world filled with terrifying nightmares, dark magic, and war, as we are reminded quite often about the importance of destiny while bursting into some welcomed song.

The Witcher began streaming episodes on Netflix as of December 20th 2019 and currently features eight episodes for season one. Each episode is about an hour, so leave plenty of time to watch this. It stars Henry Cavill, Freya Allan, and Anya Chalotra. If you are worried about the cliffhanger ending at the end of season one, fear not!

The Witcher has already been confirmed and renewed for season two by Netflix.

Based on the popular video games and book series, The Witcher follows Geralt of Rivia on his monster hunting quest, as he tries to find his own purpose in the world while battling the forces of evil on a daily basis. His destiny is linked to Princess Ciri, who ends up on the run during the war, and to Yennefer of Vengerberg, a powerful mage with her own inner demons.

Does The Witcher measure up to all the hype? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The Witcher Netflix 1 — Images courtesy of Netflix

Wonderful characters and performances.

If you were worried about Henry Cavill, don’t be. He’s absolutely fantastic! Once you get over his tone of voice, you will thoroughly enjoy his performance. Some of my favorite moments include the dynamic between him and the bard, giving us a lot of unexpected comedy and fun banter.

My favorite character is definitely Yennefer of Vengerberg, however. Her story is so intriguing and interesting. I got some Melisandre vibes from Game of Thrones, but that is not a bad thing at all. I’m always more interested in the darker anti-hero rather than a character who is so obviously good.

Gore, action, and passion.

The Witcher is definitely not for the faint of heart. The battle scenes are intense and there are some disturbing images and moments that I am still cringing over. Of course these moments are also balanced out with a lot of sex scenes, but that’s to be expected. I don’t think that anything was overdone or over-the-top, however.

The Cons:

The Witcher Netflix 2 — Images courtesy of Netflix

A lot of characters and time jumps.

So, when you play a video game, you get a guide to reference and I often felt like I needed one of my very own to keep track of everyone. There is a lot jam-packed into eight episodes and you really need to pay attention.

I also thought the time jumps were slightly confusing. I didn’t get any text clues as to where we were in time and I had to figure it out on my own. Again, I don’t really think this was a huge issue, but I did feel like I needed to take notes to figure out some things…

So am I in or out?

The Witcher Netflix 3 — Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in 100 percent! Wow, this may be one of the best shows I have watched all year. I’ll be honest, I went into this show expecting to be confused and overwhelmed. I am familiar with the video games and books, but I wouldn’t say that I am that well versed in either.

From my understanding, the show fits in somewhere between these plots while giving us enough of a unique story, but you can watch this show without knowing anything about either one. Trust me.

If you are a fan of shows or movies like Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and Merlin, you will feel right at home, but I will say that you don’t need to be a fantasy fan to enjoy this series. The story weaving is so intricate and well done and this show is beyond addicting. Even though the episodes are long, I finished it in two days and as soon as I got to the end, I wanted more!

I highly recommend this show and I hope you enjoy it!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Witcher in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

**Do you love television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Once Upon a Time, Lost, Charmed, The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural? Do you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery? Then you may like my book series, Dreaming of Wonderland…available on Amazon! Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well. I really hope you enjoy!

Free Instant Preview of The Search for Alice is available here!

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Do you love horror series? Of course you do! Please also check out 12 Nights of Horror Series Coming Soon. It’s your home for everything you need to know about new and returning horror television series including new trailers, premiere dates, reviews, recaps, and renewals!