Anyone can survive five nights. This time, there will be no second chances.
Set one year after the previous film, Five Night’s At Freddy’s 2 follows Abby Schmidt (Piper Rubio), who sneaks out to reconnect with her animatronic friends, leading to events that reveal the true origin of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. Meanwhile, her older brother, Mike (Josh Hutcherson) attempts to move on with his life after the terrifying events of the first film, but is drawn back into the wild world of Freddy’s to protect his sister.
As Five Night’s At Freddy’s 2 prepares to scare in Australian cinemas on December 4 (tickets on sale now), Nick L’Barrow spoke with the film’s star, Josh Hutcherson, about how his character has evolved since the first film, and his favourite cinematic experiences.
Nick: Josh, it’s a pleasure to meet you, man. How are you going?
Josh Hutcherson: I’m good. I’m well. How are you?
Nick: I’m doing very well! Thank you so much for taking the time to chat. I just spoke to Emma about returning for this sequel, and she was excited about getting the chance to go bigger and scarier this time around. As someone who is no stranger to big sequels – was there a time on set for Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 where you kind of felt the feeling that this was bigger and scarier than the first film?
Josh Hutcherson: Oh, 100%. I mean, I was excited to come back, no matter what, because I think it’s really fun to make these movies. And the world of Freddy’s is weird and cool and scary. But, I definitely was hoping it was going to be scarier than the first one. I think the first one is a great movie, and a really fun ride. Not the scariest movie. I think there are some ways to push that, and it was mission accomplished in the sequel. It’s much scarier. It rides that line of being PG-13, but it’s pretty scary. It’s rough.
Nick: It’s funny you mention riding the PG-13 line, because the new cast in this film gave me a real The Goonies and E.T. vibe, which are fun adventure films that kind of push their ratings too. Both of those movies have some pretty intense moments even though they’re PG movies. I’m curious to know what sort of movies you were watching growing up that rode that line in the same way Freddy’s 2 does?
Josh Hutcherson: Oh, man. When I was growing up, I loved Indiana Jones. That had some intense stuff. But Indiana was big when we were kids. I also saw Fight Club when I was nine years old – which is psychotic! But I loved it. That was my real introduction to dark films. And I loved Lord of the Flies. That’s really pushing the limit.
Nick: I saw Pulp Fiction when I was like 10, so I get it. And we turned out alright! Speaking more about returning to the character of Mike, was there an element of him that you didn’t get to explore in the first film that you were excited to touch on in this film?
Josh Hutcherson: Yeah, I think Mike’s sort of evolution as a character, to me, was interesting because I think in the first film, he was very obsessive about the past, trying to find answers about his brother, and the guilt that he’s riddled with. And he kind of got a sense of closure in knowing what happened. So now, he needs to focus on what’s in front of him and step up to be that guardian, that bigger brother, that almost father figure to Abby. And that’s where we meet him in this film.
I was excited to play a version of Mike that was a bit more grounded in the physical, real world that’s happening around him and trying to be present in that. So, that was fun to explore.
Nick: I love horror films, and I love experiencing them with a crowd in the cinema. And when you have horror fans, plus the super passionate Five Nights at Freddy’s fans all in a cinema, that could lead to a really great cinematic experience. I’m curious to know if you have a cinematic experience that stands out for you in a way that reminded you how great going to the movies can be?
Josh Hutcherson: Two things come to mind. One, I was in Atlanta when, I think it was Paranormal Activity 2 came out. I went and saw it at AMC, and it was such an experience. Just everyone screaming, yelling at the screen, freaked the hell out! It was amazing.
And then, I also remember seeing Avatar for the first time in theatres. I literally left, I think it was around Christmas time and the whole family had come to see it, and it was the dead of winter and really cold, but I came out of that movie so jazzed! I scaled a light pole going like, “I’m a Na’vi! I’m an avatar!”
I love going to the movies. I think the movies, no matter what the movie is, just feels so much better seeing it in a packed theatre. It’s great.
Thank you to Josh for his time, and to Universal Pictures for organising the interview. Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is in cinemas December 4, and tickets are on sale now.
