Five Nights at Freddy's and Hamnet (what to expect)
Double Feature Scorecard & Watchlist Worthy
At this point, it feels like a universal law that if you put a dude on a podcast he’s going to say something crazy. The latest example comes from a friend of the newsletter, Quentin Tarantino, who slammed Paul Dano for no apparent reason, by calling him the “weakest actor in SAG.” Even those in the crew who think Dano’s face is hard to look at and voice is hard to listen to (literally only New Mexico Drew) have to admit that he can act his hind side off.
What do you all think? Are you Dano Defenders? Or do you side with the Foot Fetish Filmmaker?
Here’s what we have for you this week:
Concession Stand Scorecard: Five Nights at Freddy’s 2
Concession Stand Scorecard: Hamnet
Watchlist Worthy: Jesse Plemons and Kieran Culkin…SEATED
This week’s movie - Five Nights at Freddy’s 2
Letterboxd Description:
You there?
One year since the supernatural nightmare at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, the stories about what transpired there have been twisted into a campy local legend, inspiring the town’s first ever Fazfest. With the truth about what transpired kept from her, Abby sneaks out to reconnect with Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy, setting into motion a terrifying series of events that will reveal dark secrets about the true origin of Freddy’s, and unleash a long-forgotten horror hidden away for decades.
Best Watched With
Fans of the game or anything related to Mr. Fazbear
End Credit Thoughts
Okay—many of you probably saw the Rotten Tomatoes score of 14% for Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (it might even be lower now) from critics.
Well, we’re here to tell you that just like the first movie (33% for Critics and 86% for Fans), the sequel from Emma Tammi is another round of the same shit. Critics HATE it, fans will LOVE it.
The theater we watched this movie in was JUMPING. Everyone was hooting and hollering the whole way through. Easter eggs here, easter eggs there, callbacks to the game, lore, and inside jokes run rampant. A group of youths next to the S&C crew repeatedly said, “Bro is COOKED. BRO IS COOKED. Bro is NOT LOCKED IN. OH BRO is NOT locked.” Seriously—most crowd interaction we’ve seen all year (and we just watched Wicked: For Good!).
Set one year after the supernatural nightmare at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, former security guard Mike has kept the truth from his 11-year-old sister, Abby, concerning the fate of her animatronic friends. When Abby sneaks out to reconnect with Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy, she sets into motion a terrifying series of events that reveal dark secrets about the true origin of Freddy’s.
Sorry, Ms. Tammi—this movie was really a rough ride. If you aren’t a fan of FNAF, you are going to struggle watching this. There was no coherent story, brutal performances (sorry, y’all), and the screenplay... BOY oh BOY was it brutal. Again, take what we’re saying with a grain of salt if you are a fan. You will most likely enjoy it.
Now we WILL say, the animatronics are awesome. Truly leveled up from the first film, and without too many spoilers, we get an awesome look at the Marionette and Circus Baby - the fans in the crowd went NUTS.
SO—I’ll say, please stay home if you’re just looking for something to watch. Wait for streaming.
BUT if you are a fan of FNAF in any way, shape, or form—played the games, like the characters, liked the 1st movie... then spend the money and see this with a crowd. We’re telling you—the crowd pops were wild.
Want to know more about our individual rankings of movies?
Follow us on Letterboxd:
@justjoshperez
@ericharrison
@kellyharrison
@newmexicodrew
This week’s movie - Hamnet
Letterboxd Description:
Keep your heart open.
The powerful story of love and loss that inspired the creation of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, Hamlet.
Best Watched With
Feelers, criers, and those who want to be told a moving story.
End Credit Thoughts
Hament is a film adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s critically acclaimed book with the same title; a historical fiction drama about the early lives of the small English village dwelling Shakespeare family focusing on the late 16th century. It spans from the early life of Anges (Jessie Buckley), a healer, and Will (Paul Mescal), a writer, as they fall in love despite the societal challenges and barriers that stand before them to the tragic death of Will’s only son that inspire his theatrical works.
In real life, the cause of death is unknown, and it is only speculated what truly inspired the playwright William Shakespeare. O’Farrell’s creative imagination fills in the blanks, and writer and directer Chloé Zhao brings her words to life on the silver screen with this story of love and loss.
The set decorator and hair and makeup folks went full throttle for this production. The woodsy vibes with greens, browns, and earthy tones contrasts beautifully with the greyscale and darker tones of the small English village showcasing the two different worlds the young lovers come from. The visuals harmonize with the magical soundtrack that pulls out and tugs on strings of curiosity within us, inviting us into the world and explore the depths of humanity within ourselves.
The performances are nothing short of grand and powerful. Hamnet demands a lot from its actors as the story spans the full spectrum of emotions. There is joy and adventure in young love, as well as fear and hesitation to safeguard one’s heart. Giving love and having love taken, the characters go through mountain top experiences and tragic loss on the way down, forced to wrestle with decisions made and how to grieve. Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley as asked a lot of as Will and Agnes, but deliver award-deserving performances.
Mescal fits the role well, and has the chops to captivate. He does a job well done. However, it is Buckley who truly shines. She acts when she’s still and speaks when she’s silent. We felt her joy and shared her grief as the story unfolded and the emotions expanded beyond verbal expression.
We have to shout out the young star, Noah Jupe (Hamlet). Young in age not in experience, Jupe has been acting since he was a child. He has limited screen time in this one, but he acts his ass off and wastes not one second of each minute he is given. His career is opaque and will not be fading any time soon.
Hamnet is gorgeous to watch, with frames that feel like fine art paintings. The big screens serves it well, and the loud sound systems do the film score and sound design justice. We feel any motion picture that deals with such source material that regards history like Shakespeare can be Oscar-bait and pretentious, with trailers leaving viewers not wanting to participate in theatrical screenings. Perhaps it is, maybe its not. But either way, this story was moving and the filmmakers made sure we would see, feel, and hear it. It is not one we will forget anytime soon.
Watch it on the big screen.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping by Francis Lawrence
The Hunger Games franchise was already massive, but their budget must still be growing immensely because the latest installation has a slew of top talent. Ralph Fiennes, Glenn Close, Jesse Plemons, Elle Fanning, Kieran Culkin, Maya Hawke, Mckenna Gracem and more.
While reading the original trilogy, I wondered about the 50th Hunger Games where Haymitch won. It sounds insane and I was left to my imagination to create the blood bath in my mind. But now I don’t have to. I don’t expect anything but a good time when it comes to these movies, and I have faith this one will deliver that good time.
-jp :)
Letterboxd Description:
These games are going to be different.
Return to the world of Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games for the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.
Also Directed by Francis Lawrence:
I am Legend (2007)
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (2014)
The Hunger Games: Mackingjay Part 2 (2015)
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023)
The Long Walk (2025)
Tune in next week for | Ella McCay
Follow us on:
Instagram: @_sweetandcondensed_
TikTok: @SweetAndCondensed
Youtube: @SweetAndCondensed