Movie Review: Five Nights at Freddy's 2

 

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my Movie Review.

Back in 2023, I covered Five Nights at Freddy’s movie, which, after all these years of waiting and “won’t they won’t they”, its definitely about time to what we have, while the critics are rather… Nitpicky on this movie, but it didn’t matter for the general audience (mainly FNAF fans) love this movie and of course, it made a LOTTA money at the box-office. As for me, I did see a potential that I was hoping this could be a fairly decent film, but alas, despite it has a few redeeming quality and some presentations that il give credit, but everything else is a complete letdown that I left a lot of question in my disappointment. And yet, despite the success, its no stranger that both Blumhouse Productions and FNAF creator, Scott Cawthon work together again to make a sequel in today’s review.

“Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” is a 2025 supernatural horror movie based video game that was directed by Emma Tammi, written/produced by Scott Cawthon (yup, the creator FNAF franchise) and co-produced by Jason Blum.

While they were in long development hell before the official release of the first FNAF movie, the creator of FNAF, Scott Cawthon was told that if the movie is a success, there will be a sequel, which his honesty is predicted that when the first one came out, again, it made a lot of money, so its no surprising that the sequel were planned. Supposedly, if you’re familiar with the games, FNAF2 isn’t really a sequel, but rather a prequel from the first game, whereas the second one took place in the 80s, while the first one takes place in the 90s, which is exactly what we hoped for when Scott mentioned that the sequel follows the event of his game, despite in the middle of the writing, it required between 4 to 5 drafts while the first one had 14 drafts (Jesus, Scott, over complicated for the draft much??). Though even if I was curiously if they show us the trailer for the sequel, but after saw it, it feels more like a sequel than a prequel.

Normally, I wanna do a Movie Review after I watch a movie in the theater, but it would’ve been fine if this one comes out on November, rather than December (due to busy celebrating Christmas). But the craziest part is three weeks after it came out on the big screen, they immediately released the movie in digital market, which I eventually bought it a week ago before New Year.

So, with all that said, will this movie can get better than the first one, or is this film should be abandoned and withered?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

Though I might do the comparison between the movie and the game, mainly I’ve seen couple of videos about the complicated lore and even the setting. BUT, you think the story could be like a prequel as I mentioned before? Well, not really, it goes into follow-up story, but good lord… Where the hell am I begin…?!

Okay, so the movie begins in the flashback of 1982 where we had the very first Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, where it used to be not just decorative, but also a fascinating place with boat river ride, marry-go-round and couple other fun stuff, however, one child named Charlotte Emily has witnessed a boy being lured by SpringBonnie (SPOILER ALERT, he’s actually William Afton in a bunny animatronic suit, the owner of the pizzeria and child murderer) that she had to going in the back rooms to rescue the boy, but despite her best effort to save him, she was startled by SpringBonnie for a chase and backstabbed her to death and collapsed on the trap door to death in front of the guests (including Vanessa Shelly, who happens to be Will’s long lost daughter, if anyone who haven’t seen the first FNAF movie), with dead Charlotte lays on The Marionette's arms, causing the restaurant being permanently shutdown and the murder was blamed to Charlotte’s family for un-checking her before she was killed, right before we have the rebooted Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza and of coursed, five more kids being “disappeared” to death (im sure you already know that, right?). Fast Forward to 2002, where Vanessa is living on her own (while still as local police officer) in attempt to going back to normal, despite having a nightmare from her childhood memory. Meanwhile, Mike Schmidt is retired from security guard to keeping his young sister Abby to be back to normal too, but alas, Abby really missed her “friends, aka the OG animatronics. After desperately going back to the abandoned pizzeria with unable to receive the respond from the OG animatronics, Abby and Mike discovered a talking toy called “FazTalker”. But little did Abby knows, FazTalker possesses to talking to her to come to the very first pizzeria, which is nothing but a red flag from insecure warning about the possession from Marionette, which its up to Mike and Vanessa to stop before the nightmare is coming back.

Yeah, despite its meant to be FNAF2, but this movie just completely messed up the plot from the get-go with all the subplots and plothole that left myself with so many baffling questions. One of which is where we introduced ghost hunters called “Spectral Scoopers” (subtle…) that they’re the first group who broke into the first pizzeria and met Michael Afton. Does these guys have to do with the plot? NOTHING! They’re just group of idiots for being the bodycounts, while Michael is watching them to suffer, let along one of the group being possessed by Marionette, I mean, I get its meant to be a built up for the second act, but its just dumb way to introduced the first abandoned Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. Not to mention, the movie also feels like we’re going backward that all because Abby missed the animatronics, she left herself to meet the Toy Animatronics, despite she didn’t even recognized them (unless if its the similar possession from five dead children, that’s just my guess), she just weirdly befriend with Toy Animatronics and break them free without warning and causing trouble, like does it nearly sounds like the first film, don’t ya?? And not to mention, the movie also have a subplot about the horror themed festival called “FazFest”, just because some people are weirdly fascinated about the legend of the murders, which again, it would be a bad idea for exploitation, and again, does this festival have to do with the plot? “NOTHING! Absolutely Nothing!”. Jesus, this movie has a mishmash of subplot and fillers left to nothing (for the most part), along with plothole that left us as “is there anywhere to stop Marionette other than music box?”, “Where Michael have been after the ghost hunters?!”, or even “Is this make any sense to bring Toy animatronics free!?”. So many unanswered questions that left myself into frustration for what kind of stupid writing was that?? And don’t even get me started on the final act, because… You don’t want to know from SPOILER, it is just so stupid to explain…! I mean sure, the movie does trying to replicate from the game like wearing animatronic mask or even being distracted by the dreaded Balloon Boy with Withered Animatronics, but that was is just a tease… Like, im just disappointed that they couldn’t replace almost everything from FNAF2 the game, especially didn’t even brought the game’s protagonist Jeremy Fitzgerald.

The writing and the story are a convoluted mess that it just completely missed the plot with so many messy plotholes, subplots and fillers that left myself so many questions and frustations in left and right…!

The Presentation

While the writing and the direction are a broken down mess, but what about the presentation, you asked? Well, the movie’s budget costs between $36M to $51M, possibly doubled than the first film’s budget. And despite the flaws, it has a few redeeming quality that il give some credit.

For starter, the filming is actually look pretty nice, sure it still looks like a low budget film for how it looks, but still, it looks fairly decent from the school of science fair, the small town to pizzerias. Yes for the latter, it seems that we have a brief moment to going back at the first film’s pizzeria, though its for small plot device before we’re going to the one that started it all before the one from the first movie. Speaking of which, what about the first Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza? At first for the outdoor, it may sounds like odd with trees growing behind the pizzeria, I mean yes, since its been abandoned, its been overground by nature, which im pretty sure this place being listed as part of “forbidden area” due to dark history of Charlotte’s death. As for the indoor, its a pretty nice spot that it has arcade and marry-go-around, but it also has a river boat ride, which il give credit to be something creative, though perhaps could’ve add a bit more colors in the interior, maybe flashy and colorful, though not as glamorous as FNAF: Security Breach, but that’s just my complaint.

But I think the biggest highlight and the focus of the budget is, without a doubt, are the animatronics. Like the first game, the animatronics are pretty much played by the people in animatronic costumes to do slow and stiff movement and for their presentation, once again, they look pretty good and faithful from the game that we all know, which im pretty sure this is what Scott wanted, the animatronics looks not only the same, but faithful from the game, ranging from the Toy Animatronics to the old prototypes known as Withered Animatronics, they’re ranging from the aforementioned people in costumes, the animatronic heads and some are fully down in animatronic effects like some of Withered ones, the annoying Balloon Boy, and even Mangle (who’s meant to be Toy Foxy, but abandoned). But then there are other times some were done with few CG, like that im easily assuming is the scene where Mangle is clinging the roof of the car. Like the first movie, the animatronic costumes and some animatronics were done by Jim Henson's Creature Shop, so shout out for these guys for coming back for more. However, when it comes to Marionette, while it looks accurate from the game, but I find it rather odd for being portrayed as a puppet dangling around and possessing humans on her way, I like the design, but as a vengeful possessive ghost? Not so much. Although, im also surprise it also including Easter Eggs that we all know, but I won’t give details from SPOILERS, maybe its just a setup for future movie installments, but again, that’s just me.

Now, since this is the horror, you think we wanna get to see something terrifying and some brutal kills in the movie? Well guess what? Not only its PG-13 like before, but this movie is suffered with the weakest kills I’ve ever seen. Such as the Spectral Scoopers are the only ones get a bodycount, but alas, they’re only in off-screen kills like one of them is simply drowned by those Marionette models from the river ride, which the incoming splash looks like something out of Amnesia the game or one of then gets caught by Mangle. But the only one that I like is where Toy Chica crushes Mr. Berg’s head, again, its ruined by off-screen, but I can’t help find it referenced from Friday the 13^th Part 3 and/or Part 6 where Jason crushes victim’s head (stay tune on February with actual Friday the 13^th that il review Part 6). Despite one okay kill, but im disappointed that it has less bodycount compared the first game, not because its rated PG-13, but its just the kills are forgettable, it focuses too much on Animatronics coming out around and some cheap jumpscares. And yes, the jumpscares are unfortunately predictable that I was easily guessing that it didn’t scare me at all (maybe im too old school, but again, predictable).

While the filming locations, the setting, one of the kills, some Easter Eggs and the animatronics are the best parts of the presentation, but its just flawed from the depiction of Marionette and the less and worst kills.

The Characters

While the writing and the direction are bad, you think the characters will make a new developments for sequel, right? None… 90% of them have no developments… For the most part…

Lets start off with Mike Schmidt (reprised by Josh Hutcherson, aka Peeta from The Hunger Game) the main protagonist of the movies who started out as a loser to now a protective to his sister. And… That’s pretty much it, he’s just a protective big brother while potentially going on relationship with Vanessa, it feels like he has a small development from the first movie, but now he’s an underdeveloped protag that it feels like we completely forgot about him. Im not saying im bashing on Josh, I think his performance is fine, but its just that im easily blame the writing that he’s been treated like an afterthought, otherwise, again, it just makes you wish if this movie has Jeremy Fitzgerald much like in the game, but here, Mike is our main hero, and yet he’s still forgettable for how he was badly written.

Next, we have Vanessa Shelly (reprised by Elizabeth Lail), the local police officer, William Afton’s daughter and the possibly love interest to Mike. Vanessa is the closest one to having her own character development, mainly she has a mental scar from her childhood memory from what happened back in the very first Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza where Charlotte was killed by her father as SpringBonnie, which it will be a good thing that she’s gotta overcome her trauma against the animatronics (both Toy and Withered). But alas, despite she’s gotta fight her traumatic past, but it seems that we nearly forgot about her, like one moment where she’s hold in hostage by possessed victim from Marionette, and especially she could’ve kept being the character with plot details how or why just happened. But here, she has a slightly upgrade on her role and… That’s pretty much it, despite she’s the closest character development she has after what happened. Though like Josh, I’ve nothing against Elizabeth, she did a nice work of her role, but the writing could’ve gone better.

And lastly we have Abby Schmidt (reprised by Piper Rubio), she’s Mike’s younger brother and the becoming a student of science fair, despite her animatronic friends are pretty much stuck in her mind instead of accepting the fate and moving on. But alas, despite she’s gotta be prepare to be in school, she’s been treated as an outsider, all because she cares in her mind is interacting with animatronics, but when again, she meets the Toy Animatronics, she could’ve learned that they’re completely different compared to the previous animatronics she met back then…! Yeah, I find her to be annoying and unable to change her mind to be back to normal, especially acknowledging the dark history about Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. Much like her big brother Mike, she’s pretty much in downgrade, for the most part. Again, im not saying I hate her, I mean, like before Piper did a fairly decent performance, but again, just blame the way she was written.

As for the new ones, they’re pretty much a waste of space that we just wish some new characters could’ve make more appearance, or maybe they’re just there to be killed, We have Michael Afton (played by Freddy Carter) is a the new security guard of the first pizzeria, despite he’s meant to be the main antagonist, but he barely make any appearances in the movie, Mr. Berg (played by Wayne Knight, aka Stan Podolak from Space Jam) who’s a teacher of the school who possibly mistreating his students, Henry Emily (played by Skeet Ulrich) who’s the father of the late Charlotte, Jeremiah (played by Theodus Crane) who’s Mike’s co-worker and Spectral Scoopers, Alex, Lisa and Rob (played by Teo Briones, Mckenna Grace and David Andrew Calvillo) the paranormal hunters that they’re just there for bodycounts.

One thing that im surprised are the Toy Animatronics. Unlike the previous or Withered ones, the Toy Animatronics got their own spoken dialogue in the movie, such as Toy Freddy is voiced by Kellen Goff, Toy Chica is voiced by Megan Fox (not bad, even though im not a fan of her) and, in big surprised, Toy Bonnie is voiced by none other than former Game Theorist, Matthew Patrick, aka MatPat. Its quite amazing for the latter that he came back for the second time after been in cameo role in the first movie. Speaking of cameo, CoryxKenshin made returning cameo as a taxi driver.

Oh, and as for William Afton/SpringBonnie (reprised by Matthew Lillard), well… He’s only made in cameo from the flashback… yay...

While the actors did nice work of their performance and nice inclusion of voices of Toy Animatronics, but these characters are either downgraded or even lackluster due to, again, very bad writing.

And now for my final opinion of this film

Overall, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is not only the worst, but also the most disappointing sequel I’ve ever seen…!

This movie is suffered with broken down writing, mismanaged direction, non-existent story, downgraded characters and it has the weakest kills in the movie, this is nothing but a big pile a disappointing turd film that I was expecting to be promising, but they just completely fell apart like being tripped by shoe laces…!

I mean sure, there are a few redeeming qualities that il give credit what they’re trying with nice filming, pretty good setting in the very first pizzeria, some good acting and of course, pretty good and accurate animatronic designs, but again, neither of them couldn’t save themselves from this mess.

Even though this isn’t the absolute WORST movie of the year that I’ve ever seen, but in defense, its not as extremely bad as either Happy Gilmore 2 or the godawful War of the Worlds 2025. I think its safe to say that its only for die-hard fans of FNAF, but for none fans or former fans like me, just don’t even bother to watching this, its a complete letdown for what would’ve been… Absolute disappointment…!

For my rating, im gonna give this one a 2.5/10, along with earning the Dumpster Fire of FAILURE.

So this ends of my Movie Review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.

Mini Review: War of the Worlds 2025

 

Warning: This review contains Strong Languages. Readers discretion is advised.

Anthony (me): (hold my phone from the call) So let me get the straight, after I watched and make a review on K-Pop Demon Hunters, you’re demanding me to watching Amazon’s War of the Worlds?

Corporate Driver: Yes, I know you’ve heard about this movie, but im disgusted that you’ve never even watching it! I want to watch this movie Immediately, or I will putting your stupid ass accounts into bidding that someone will buy your accounts without your own control…!

Anthony: Y-You want to me watch it or il lose the control via bribery??

Corporate Driver: No, its not “bribery”, its Bidding Takeover, Captain “Genius”…! Either do it, or get shat on!

Anthony: No, I need my stuff to share, talk to my friends, save my--

Corporate Driver: NOBODY CARES ABOUT YOUR GARBAGE, DO IT OR GET FUCKED!!

Anthony: Jesus Christ…! ‘Kay, fine…! Il watch this to save my ass, okay? Bye…! (hang up) Okay, thanks to subscribing Amazon, im planning to watch this, despite I’ve heard the negative review…

A FEW MOMENTS LATER

Anthony: MOTHERF--

(Review Begins)

You know, I’ve never done a couple of reviews on movies from streaming platforms like Netflix (though used to after I canceled the subscription), Disney+, Amazon and Crave (the latter is only in Canada that I live), I think its safe to say that its not easy to find some good movies I can watch nor review them, even its a tough decision if we stay subscribe or cancel some. I mean, sure we do have couple of good contents in specific platforms, but as we always said, no one’s perfect when we have some are very, very very bad…

From months ago, I covered Happy Gilmore 2, which I considered to be the worst movie in 2025 that I’ve ever watched, but alas, I take it back when I watched this movie on Amazon Prime Video, the one that its somehow EVEN WORSE than we thought… Which happens to be Amazon’s take on War of the Worlds.

This movie in question is a 2025 screenlife sci-fi film that was directed by Rich Lee, produced by Patrick Aiello, and Timur Bekmambetov, and written by Kenneth A. Golde, and Marc Hyman.

If the title may or may not sounds familiar, this one happens to be an adaptation from H.G. Wells’s classic novel from 1898. Its a story that became an inspiration from many authors and even filmmakers that he created the story of alien invasions and the rest, as they say, was history. We’ve seen plenty of adaptations of War of the Worlds that they’re trying to be something faithful, changing but faithful or going completely standard alien invasion with slapping with the name on it. Sure, you have George Pal’s take from 1953 that became a sci-fi classic and of course, there’s the Steven Spielberg version from 2005 (along with two more War of the Worlds came out, but as direct-to-DVD unlike the Spielberg version). But when it comes to this… Where do I begin?

When it comes to the story, it tells about DHS officer, Will Radford, arrived to do his mass surveillance business to monitoring every people on Earth for… Lets say, peace from the crimes, mainly due to he, and the FBI, are finding to hunt down a hacker called “Disruptor”, while at the same time, he had a hard time to get along with pregnant daughter Faith and his son David due to his constant working on monitor, especially they don’t like for being watched and being punished at. But then, after witnessing a large storm (or should I say, using bunch of stock footages), a meteors coming down to crash landing everywhere on Earth, which turned out to be like giant capsules to unleash those tripods to going on rampage around the world.

It sounds like a standard alien invasion story, you think that this is gonna be the more modern take on War of the Worlds with new technologies that we can fight aliens, right? But this isn’t what it feels like…! Oh god, this one is NOT like the H.G. Wells’s story. Many elements of Wells’s story is pretty much thrown out of windows that its all about alien machines coming down for, rather than wiping out humanity, here they’re breaking into data centers to harvesting datas for… Attraction operation for… God knows how…! I mean, I get they’re trying to make something new for the plot about alien invasion, but good Fucking god, the whole plot and the writing is a broken down mess from stupidity that I have a hard time to either learning nor even finding any single reference from H.G. Wells’s plot elements. But NO, there’s not EVERY SINGLE elements nor even redeeming quality for this movie that I couldn’t find something to give credit nor anything for that matter! I get this movie is trying to give us the message about anti-surveillance message, but again, its badly executed is that this movie is supposed to be called “War of the Worlds”!! It just baffled me that they just dismissed the title nor the elements what we all know…!

But it wasn’t just the stupid plot we have in this movie, its the way how this movie is made. As you can see, this movie is done on Screenlife, its basically a movie shown from either computer, tablets, phones or other devices. It plays almost and feels like found footage based on either a situation has been recorded before it was discovered, but Screenlife can also play on its own than a lost footage films. I just want to say, after learning about this, I’ve nothing against it, I think its a nice concept that its like a new type of found footage films whether be in the aforementioned eventful footage been found or in the middle of video chat in the middle of something fun or chaotic. But when it comes to this movie, they went for the latter, but good lord this could possibly be the worst way how to film on Screenlife to see how cheap and ridiculous how they pulled or made in desktop or even via video chat, especially the editing looks and feels something out of YouTube from either the dramatic zoom or even edit pan in from dramatic music, like… Jesus, this is exaggerating how they pulled…!

But you want to know why this movie is made on Screenlife? Well, it was developed on September of 2020, yeah, it was developed in the middle of Pandemic when we got hit by COVID, especially when Screenlife movies became common thanks to the popularity in 2010s, il give credit what they wanted, but the problem is that its not a good idea to developing a movie in the middle of pandemic, especially when the producer, Timur Bekmambetov, wanting to be big budgeted Screenlife movie, despite he described it as a mixture of commercial and the budget focus on thriller, basically, its a low-budget Screenlife film with the focus on thriller and commercial? Which I think it explains why this movie has an obvious product placement with Amazon (the same company who distribute it, and boy im pretty sure Amazon must be so proud for both distribution and product placement) and trying to give us the action scenes, a very lacking there of.

Speaking of the latter, I found out the production of this movie were lasted 15 Days for filming via phones, PCs and tablets, while the post production takes… 2 Years?! Like, are you Fucking kidding me?! They took a rushed job of production and the post-production takes 2 years after the filming?! What kind of excuse was that to filming in isolation and shitty rushed job on this?! I mean, I get they started development back when COVID impacted the whole world, but come on!! Couldn’t they just wait before you’re ready!? But don’t even get me started about the action scenes and the effects, cause good god, this is so bad that its both funny and eye sore!! At first, the tripods look okay on paper, but the final result when done in CGI, good god, it looks awful with a very bad quality that it looks like a generation of PS2 or GameCube, especially when there’s some shot where one of tripods looked away, but instead of slowly, it just swooped quickly like a second! This is so bad that it looks like a bugging mess! But of course, if you’re expecting martians of this movie? Well too bad, all we have is a very minimal showcase of aliens like tentacles from tripods or even those miniature alien robot with a bit of organism for… Whatever the Fuck reasons! Not to mention, we barely get to see the action scenes, all we have is the news report about tripods going on rampage and using stock footage of people running away, the military, the weather storm and borrowing pictures, absolute shameless that it shows how they’re using stock footage like a B-roll, this is like they wanted to make a mockumentary. But again, this is supposed to be a War of the Worlds movie, so this is what they gave us?? Wow, what a fucking piece of shit and hopeless how they executed…!!

But don’t expect me to think nor describing the characters, they’re not as enjoyable nor likable in this movie, not even hiving big names like Ice Cube, Eva Longoria and Clark Gregg couldn’t save themselves for this fucking mess…! You have Will Radford is a workaholic father in DHS, Sandra Salas is Will’s friend and part of NASA, Donald Briggs is a strict director of DHS, Faith is a biomedical researcher and David is a trouble maker who likes to spending money and time to play video games, and Mark is an Amazon delivery man and Faith’s boyfriend. Especially some of their acting are just… Questionably bad, especially with Ice Cube. I mean, I’ve nothing against Ice Cube, I think he’s good to be in hood movies or even some comedy movies, whether be on Friday, “Are We There Yet?” and 21^st Jump Street, but this one?? This is quite possibly the worst casting choice to be in a non-comedy film…! As for the rest of the casts, again these guys deserve better than being involve from this cesspool of Shitfest…!

Good god…! In the end, this is EASILY the WORST movie I’ve ever seen since my experience on either the aforementioned Happy Gilmore 2 or even the godawful TTG movie…! With poorly executed story, the writing is a Clusterfuck, the production is a rushed job, the effect looks like a 2000s video game graphic, the movie looks nothing like a H.G Wells’s classic story, because they they threw Shit on the title, the characters are either one dimensional and dumb and the acting are possibly the most embarrassing along with, again actors deserve better than this Fucking Shit!!

God, this is not only the worst movie I’ve ever seen, but its also the worst wasting space movie to be released on Amazon Prime Video! I don’t know what were they thinking how they think that this is okay to be in their streaming platform?! I mean, it would’ve been okay if its on YouTube or direct-to-video movie, but no, they put it on streaming platform like Amazon for stupid excuse to having big names, product placement and a tease to putting a bold name like War of the Worlds!!

If you guys wanting to see an alien invasion stories or something on Amazon, do yourselves a favor and stay away from this abomination! They should be ashamed of themselves for this final result for wasting their time and money for this shit…!

I usually don’t make a rating in my Mini Review. But with this one, il make an exception, im not gonna give a number rating, but its no stranger that this movie definitely earned the Dumpster Fire of FAILURE!

Okay… Now its done with this embarrassment… That’s all there’s is for my mini review, tell me what you think in the comments bellow.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.

(Review Ends)

Anthony: (pull out my phone for calling Corporate Driver) Gotta tell him what I’ve done…!

Corporate Driver (on phone): Oh hey, its you again, Anthony, are you done?

Anthony: There, NOW I made a review of this Piece of Shit, happy now?!

Corporate Driver: (chuckles) Ohhh, you’re must be both exhausted from anger over this movie, do you have a good time after watching this--

Anthony: Look, I don’t give a Flying Shit of you gawking on me having a short fuse, I just finished my review for you to give my thoughts on this, okay?! Besides, its been a years we never got ourselves confrontation story in the middle of review…!

Corporate Driver: Oh yeah, its been… Almost a decade before the “you-know-what” in 2020, which im like… Pretty busy on my own stuff to make money on my business.

Anthony: Okay, but what kind of business and where are the money you made?

Corporate Driver: Well um… My corporation headquarter for investment.

Anthony: Okay, but how do you invest for torturing me?

Corporate Driver: Uhhh… Thanks for the review bye! (hungs up)

Anthony: (groan) All for nothing what he gave me…!

Movie Review: KPop Demon Hunters

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my Movie Review.

Yeah I know, even though we’re now 2026, but I still gotta do some review plan from 2025. But, when I checked the movies of January 2026, they’re not in my pick, cause you, releasing movies in January equals bad timing and probably desperate, but I digress. So, throughout January, I gotta cap off to reviewing some of my remaining pick of movies in 2025, before il do the countdown, including today’s review that I picked that one its was the biggest movie streaming exclusive of the year, ever since I’ve heard the name for many months. And im sure some of you REALLY want my thoughts on this, eh?

“KPop Demon Hunters” is a 2025 animated musical urban fantasy film that was written/directed by Maggie Kang, and Chris Appelhans, produced by Michelle Wong, and co-written by Danya Jimenez and Hannah McMechan.

The idea of this movie came from Maggie Kang, after been as a head of story for “The Lego Ninjago Movie” and Story Artist on Kung Fu Panda 3, Rise of the Guardians and Puss in Boots, she opened her plan to making her own passion project, mainly, a concept about the pop stars from Korea who are rising fame with KPop music, while at the same time, fighting against demons to save the world. Her setup is rather than going modern mainstream, this one more into Korea culture as she puts it “delved into mythology and demonology for something that could be visually unique”, along called this movie as a love letter to KPop industry, cause after all, Maggie is actually South Korean-Canadian (Man, more Asian Canadian since Domee Shi? Nice…!). But it wasn’t just an inspiration to KPop and demon hunting, but also she wants to taking inspiration from Anime when it comes to anime, thanks to partnering with Sony Pictures Animation, following their success of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. But unlike their Spider-Verse, they decided to put this movie into Netflix for… Whatever reasons, despite the movie’s budget costed more than $100M, which it looks more like a theatrical animated film, but alas, they jumped into Netflix for again, whatever reasons…

So, with all that said, will Huntrix will be the saving grace for Netflix, or is this film should be banish to Hell?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

For a movie about KPop stars fighting against demons, you think the story would give us something complex and entertaining to see. Well, yeah. For the most part.

The movie begins about the very past, people in Korea (mostly focus on south) used to live peaceful and normal, but once the demons coming out, they’re preying humans to feeding souls to the demonic ruler named Gwi-Ma, but its only a matter of time when three singers stepped in to not only group together, but also fight demons to protect humanity and singing songs creating magical barriers called “Honmoon”, as years went by, there’s always the next generations to keep the world safe with Honmoon. Fast forward to present time where we introduce the current generation demon hunters called “Huntrix” with Rumi, Mira and Zoey, where they’re doing as what we expect, singing KPop songs and fighting demons to save humanity. However, the downside is that Rumi has a demon pattern in her body that she’s trying to keep pattern in secret, hence her singing is start to having a hiccup. But at the same time, they also noticed a new group called “Saja Boys”, the boy band with new song “Soda Pop”, but not before they noticed that they’re the demons in disguise as boy band. So, its up to Huntrix to be on schedule to introduce their new song “Golden” to hopefully take down Saja Boys, while Rumi is gotta fighting herself to stay on the flow without going down.

I find the story itself to be fairly decent, its a typical movie about fighting monsters in the name of peace and musical, even if it kind of remind me of “My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks”, but with Korea theme. Though, while its a simple and unique concept, but it doesn’t mean its perfect, mainly because the movie suffered from pacing problem that we get to the story, but jumped to give us some comedies, which I will admit, the jokes are chuckle worthy that I did laugh at some moments, but its just that the pacing is all over the place that it felt like the direction is missing the mark. While I do like the jokes, but I think the missing ingredient of this, is to be self-aware, like say “The Lego Movie” for example, the movie does delivered about the great jokes how they are built, how they live and how they’re mean for, while here on the other hand, again, it feels like they forgot some element that we can enjoy the jokes and we can relate. Speaking of the latter, the movie also has a subplot about Rumi struggling how she has the demon pattern that she’s about to losing her singing skills. In other words, the subplot has the message about dealing with personal demon in the closet to figuring out how to fix it without going spiral out of control to lose the skills and passion, which we can relate that we just want to fight back to going back who we are without losing the talent, fame and many more. However, the movie is also suffered from plot twist, but I won’t tell it from SPOILER.

While its not perfect for the writing due to pacing, a messy direction and plot twist cliché, but il give credit that I like the concept, but in an okay result, but at least the joke and the message are pretty nice.

The Animation and Songs

The movie’s budget costed more than $100M, not as too much as Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, but it looks pretty damn for the animation, as for the songs, they’re fine at best.

For starter, the background looks pretty good, you start out standard with the city in Korea, though they never explain where it takes place in, I mean yes, this is definitely taking place in South Korea, but I have a hard time what it takes place in, let say, it takes place in Seoul, rather brighter fictional Seoul. But when we’re in underworld (or Hell), it looks rather… Off, it feels so empty what we see, all we have a flock of demons standing in front of temple of fiery demon king Gwi-Ma. I think Earth is more focus than hell, but that’s just me.

But the biggest highlight of this movie is, without a doubt, the animation and the quality. Sure, the plays the same as Spider-Verse due to the same animation style based frames per seconds either going smooth or others slow, I know its nitpicky, but for current generation of Sony’s Animation (mainly done by Sony Imageworks from both Vancouver and Montreal), im getting used to it. BUT, when it comes to the style, this goes into Western style anime, but more Western 3D Anime Style, which I gotta give a credit, it looks pretty damn good for how they pulled, unlike in Japan when they made their own 3D Anime that they just… Tried little too hard, but its either okay or embarrassed themselves (seriously, stay classy on 2D, Japan). The quality looks pretty good too based on either in action for slashing and killing demons on the way, a lighting lines to protecting Korea with Honmoon or even feeding souls to Gwi-Ma, and of course, the flashy, vibrant and colorful whenever we’re in musical segments, its… Ohh man, its so pretty good looking, kinda like the retro style of vibrant, colorful and flashy looks if you’ve seen on either posters, Animes or even music videos, not to mention the choreography for their dancing in the music are brilliant to pull off. Remember I mentioned the humors that they give me a good laugh and chuckle moments, its more focus on visual gags, sure some lines I had a chuckle, but they pulled the facial gag in anime references that they can be exaggerated, but still it gives us a good laugh.

As for the character designs, they’re also look pretty good for how they look and fitting in, for Huntrix, they’re based on KPop star girls like Itzy, Blackpink, Twice, and 2NE1 (whatever the heck you pronounce the latter…), and I find the girls’ designs are pretty nice and rather beautiful, based on how they’re wearing either on stage or when they’re fighting demons, especially they’re carrying brighter weapons like swords, shinkal (aka throwing knives) and polearm (aka spear with blade on the end). As for Saja Boys, their looks and designs are based on couple of Korean boy bands like Tomorrow X Together, BTS, Stray Kids, Ateez, BigBang, and Monsta X. These guys are no strangers look both adorably handsome with bright and colorful fashion in bubble gum style when they first showing, but then again, unless this all setup when they dressed up like grim reapers of hell. I should also point out the character designs were done by Ami Thompson, if the name may or may not sounds familiar, she’s the same art director and designer or some of great movies like Spider-Verse and even some of Disney films like Ralph Breaks The Internet and Raya and The Last Dragon, nice touch for her work.

And finally, there’s the musicals, again, while I like demon slayers, but when it comes to Kpop songs, they’re not my cup of tea, the last time I listened to Kpop songs are Psy’s Gangnam Style and Gentlemen (Yeah, im one of those guys that I used to listen). Anyway, when it comes to these songs, they’re good for say the least. But il listing songs without going SPOILERS detail

The first of which is Huntrix’s “How It's Done” which is basically their introduction when they went from plane to landing in the stage, it sounds off, that it plays like a techno or dubstep music. Its more like a pass.

The second Huntrix’s song is, probably the best one called “Golden”, a song that they’re planning to going full on gold to keep the world permanently protected, and I think this song a a lot better than the first time they arrived, playing motivation to keep the voice strong for the music.

Then there’s Saja boys “Soda Pop”, its their signature song to popping in to go colorful, I find it to be pretty catchy and pretty nice song, even if this is clearly a villain song for distraction.

And the third Huntrix’s song called “Takedown”, which is basically taking their shot against Saja boys, like a good’ol fashion disstrack to double down, even if its gonna be a challenge for Rumi to either put them down or weirdly support them, again, due to distraction from Soda Pop.

The rest of the songs are either pretty good or give it a pass, again, im nothing against KPop, its just its not my type of songs. If you’re a fan of KPop, good for you, but for me, its not my kind. Maybe im such an old school fanboy for the old rock songs and maybe some old pop songs from 80s and 90s. However, while the songs are fine, but the biggest nitpick we have is how the characters sing, they just look rather less emotional compare to the actual song, its a pretty botchy move to make animated character singing with less charisma compare to the strong voice behind the microphone.

While the songs are good for say the least, though I may like Golden and Soda Pop, but its the animation are the best part of the movie how they pulled that off with great character designs, beautiful visual with a very good animations from songs and action (for the most part).

The Characters

Despite the story is simple, but not-so good execution, you think the characters could get average? Well, not really, I find the characters are good too, again for the most part.

Lets start off with Huntrix themselves, Rumi (voiced by Arden Cho), Mira (voiced by May Hong) and Zoey (voiced by Ji-young Yoo). They’re the magical demon hunters to follow the footsteps from previous generations to keep Korea in peaceful from the demons. These girls pretty fascinating and kind of relatable how they’ve been from struggle for lyrics, scheduling and constant fighting from the demons. Though they have their different personalities, like Zoey is the youngest member of the group who has a hard time to connect with since she was raised by Korean family while live in Burbank, Calfinornia, and Mira is a cold tough as nails rich girl, despite the black sheep history of her family, they’re simple, but understandable to dealing with until eventually grouping up with Rumi. And speaking of Rumi, she’s the main protagonist whom, while helping her partners for music and fighting against demons, but she’s also a dark secret on her own, she’s unfortunately half-human half-demon, based on noticing the pattern on her skins, questioning herself from her origin of her family that her father a demon and her mother is a former demon hunter (Yeah, pretty questionable if hunters could also committing sin). Despite one plot hole that I questioned (more on that later), I find the girls are pretty good, quirky, fun and the voice actress and the singers did a good work of their roles.

Then we have the supposed villain in the movie, Jinu (voiced by Ahn Hyo-seop), the leader of Saja Boys and Gwi-Ma’s comrade in attempt to break open Honmoon in attempt to unleash demons from the underworld, while disguising himself as a colorful leader of the boy band. I find him to be good too, while he did gave us a pretty good song, but its also his setup for unleash the demons. However, he also has a personal struggling problem how he got separation on his way from the distant past due the negative effect he made, the demon leader Gwi-Ma will tell him in his mind. This is especially interesting how he got himself into chemistry with Rumi due to sharing their secrets, showing their inner demon problems that could put themselves in other path. Though this left a lot of debate if Jinu is the villain or not, especially with the plot twist just kind of ruined the chemistry for being predictable from what I was guessing. Despite the downside, I find him fairly decent, even Hyo-seop did a nice work of his role).

And the last one I gotta bring this up is Celine (voiced by Yunjin Kim), she’s the mentor of Huntrix and a foster mother Rumi when her original mother have died. At first, she may seems to be a minor character in the movie to be either mentioned from the origin or even how she build Huntrix to became the current generation of demon hunters. But one part that bothering me is how the hell did she brought Rumi into demon hunter duty when she’s a born hybrid because of what happened to her past family, especially she doesn’t let us know about her further depth about how she saved Rumi after what happened to her past parents and even why would she telling her to keep in secret like nothing happened, it would’ve been fine if Rumi got exposed, she gotta bring Mira and Zoey to have a conversation to Celine figuring out why Rumi is born half-human half-demon. But NOPE, her origin depth just tossed out of window without giving us the answers of further origins that could’ve ruining the generation of demon hunters. Yeah, she gave us quite possibly the weakest part with plothole that left us a lot of question that it needs to be answered. Though since they’re announcing the sequel in 2029, perhaps they’ll save plothole later, for better or for worse, but that’s just my guessing.

As for the rest of the characters, they’re isn’t much else to say, there’s Bobby (voiced by Ken Jeong) who’s an overly excited Huntrix’s manager in his comic relief (which he may gave us some chuckle moments), Gwi-Ma (voiced by Lee Byung-hun) is the demon king that he wants to conquering Earth to unleashing his power (though I expected to be a demon figure on the seat, but he’s depicted as a fiery mouth, but had, nice unique animation), there’s a cat and magpie (who’re based on Minwha) are Jinu’s pets for cute humors (though I find them be… alright) and Healer Han (voiced by Daniel Dae Kim, aka Benja from Raya and The Last Dragon) is an eccentric doctor who’s checking on Rumi, but didn’t go that well.

Despite how minimal the characters are, along with one character with plothole that baffled me, at least characters are pretty good that they’re enjoyable, fun, some nicely written and relatable.

And now for my final opinion of this film

Overall, KPop Demon Hunters is a pretty good film in Netflix, even if this movie should’ve been on theaters that we can all agree on from Sony’s questionable decision.

It has great and beautiful looking animation and the visual, some memorable characters, a nice writing with message, some songs are good and the voice acting are nice work too.

But, it doesn’t mean that its all perfect that it has numerous problems like, while the story and concept is good, but didn’t go that well for execution based on pacing issues, direction problem, the singing animation doesn’t match from singers behind the microphone and one plothole that needs to be answered rather than nothing happens.

Its no stranger that many called this as the most talked about film on Netflix and currently the highest view on Netflix, I guess its not hard to see why people are either curious to see or like to rewatching this movie. Is this the greatest animated movie ever? Well, I hate to say, no. Its nowhere perfect, but its an enjoyable animated film that people can check it out. If you’re a fan of KPop or a fan of Sony’s animated films, this one is for you. Its flawed, but enjoyable film that you should check it out. Like I said, KPop genre may not be my kind, but its worth of shot, for the most part.

For my rating, im gonna give this one a 7/10.

Normally, I wanted to end the review right away and moving on. But, there’s one thing that I need to get off my chest that it lost my interest that what we have here today, mainly how Netflix is going to taking over WB.

For those if you don’t know, on October of 2025, despite they released some good movies and shows they gave us like Superman 2025, F1 The Movie (despite distributed by Apple, ugh…!), Peacemaker S3, A Minecraft Movie and couple others, but it sadly isn’t good enough to keeping their brand on the flow, they putting themselves into proposal acquisition after their failed split up attempt. Several corps joined in attempt for bidding, but a lot of them like Amazon, Comcast and some others bowed out, but the only contenders we have are Paramount and Netflix. But then in December 5^th of 2005, Netflix took initiation with $82.7M as if they’ve won the bidding to claim everything from WB like the control and IPs like DC comics, Harry Potter, Lord of The Rings and more. But Paramount is pissed on Netflix’s initiation, so they made hostile takeover bidding of $108.4M, as if they have deeper pocket than Netflix that want both Paramount and WB working together in Hollywood, while Netflix is a streaming platform brand, not a Hollywood brand. And yet, despite Paramount’s desperation to buy even more expensive price, they might have a controversial move outside of bidding like instead putting Avatar The Last Airbender on the big screen, they put this into Paramount+. Meanwhile, Netlix made the setup even worse, such as (possibly) manipulating WB’s board of directors to say No on Paramount in the bidding proposal and worst of all, Netflix are making EVEN WORSE setup than Paramount,, such as if Netflix acquire WB, they’ll telling them that upon releasing their upcoming movies on the big screen, they’re gonna stay for less than three weeks (aka 17 days), which not only that could ruining the schedule for movie goers to the cinema, but also ruining box-office.

As you can tell, those Netflix’s setup in pending acquisition is quite possibly the worst plan I’ve ever read, especially it concerns me that Netflix could possibly killing off WB if its not going on the way, even every WB’s IPs are all lost but belong to Netflix. If people think that Disney is worst case of monopoly, Netflix is gonna be EVEN WORSE then Disney, they might as well saying “Hold my beer” planning what we’ve seen from various articles in social media. I hope Paramount is gonna win this to save WB’s asses to letting Netflix on their own. If not with Netflix winning the bid, its gonna be a new level of Bubble Bursting since AOL Time Warner. And so, because Netflix’s setup of Stupidity, all I wanna say…

Its time to Cancel Netflix.

Anyway, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, sign--

(phone rings)

Anthony: Huh? (pick up my phone) Hello?

???: Hey there… You probably know me…

Anthony: W-What do you mean?

???: You know, your old nemesis who likes to throwing money in a threat to humiliating you? Old “friend”…?

Anthony: (le gasp) Corporate Driver…!

To Be Continued...

Movie Review: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

 

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome to my Movie Review in Christmas Edition!

Merry Christmas everyone, its another year of celebrating the biggest holiday before we’re capping off the year 2025 (despite that 2025 was good from the start, but a nightmare ending, but its a long story). So, while im thinking what kind of Christmas movie that im looking for, I felt like it would be a great to going back to one of my favorite movie, not just for me, but also my parents’ all-time favorite before I was born.

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” is a 1989 Christmas Slapstick Comedy film that was directed by Jeremiah Chechik, written/produced by John Hughes and co-produced by Tom Jacobson.

If you’ve ever reading my Movie Reviews like “National Lampoon’s Vacation”, “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” and “Home Alone” and today’s review, you can probably noticed the pattern that;

1: They’re all been involved with one of my favorite filmmaker John Hughes, because I like some of his movies, not just for the sake of comedy, but for the sake of how we can relate and also some good heart.

And 2: The ideas are based on either Hughes’s experience or even based on National Lampoon’s, which are pretty nice that, again, we can make stories that we can relate how we’ve been.

In case for the latter, much like the first Vacation, the idea of this movie is based on Hughes’s story in National Lampoon’s Magazine called “Christmas 59” that was published in December of 1980, unlike Vacation 58, this one is focusing on Christmas celebration in the family house with grandparents coming in from the kid’s point of view in narration. This story became an opportunity from John Hughes, mainly due to Warner Bros had been begging to make a new Vacation movies, which he accepted that he wanted to be completely different after two movies about Griswold’s family in cars. Originally, the film was going to be directed by Chris Columbus (Yes, the one who did home Alone that I’ve covered two years ago), which it may sounds like a dream team with Columbus, Hughes and Chevy Chase, right? Well, it didn’t go that well that they’ve hoped for, as Columbus left the production due to having a clash with Chase, since, as I’ve said in NL’s Vacation, Chevy chase is a nightmare to work with from backstage argument and bad behavior. This resulting Jeremiah Chechik as not just replacement, but also his directorial debut. But on the bright side, in sympathy from leaving the production, John Hughes came back to Chris Columbus for second attempt by giving him a script to working on Home Alone, and the rest is history.

When Griswolds welcoming us to Christmas Vacation, the result was… Pretty much not great as road trip to Wally World. The reviews were pretty mixed the late Roger Ebert gave it 2 out of 4 stars with quote “The movie is curious in how close it comes to delivering on its material: Sequence after sequence seems to contain all the necessary material, to be well on the way toward a payoff, and then it somehow doesn't work”. But that doesn’t mean its mediocre, some people called it an improvement over the European Vacation, like Rita from The Washington Post called it “it will prove pater-familiar to fans of the 1983 original and the European Vacation sequel. Only it's a bit more whimsical.”. As time went on, Christmas Vacation is considered a fan favorite and called it a Christmas classic movie that we all know and loved.

As for my experience, my parents, while they loved the first Vacation, but its no secret that my parents LOVE Christmas Vacation, like probably their Top 10 favorites before I was born, they love about the characters, the jokes and maybe the story that they can relate. Meanwhile, while my parents loved it, I was questioned about this movie in my curiosity. But eventually, as I grew to young adult, I did gave myself a shot to watching it and… Yeah, my parents are right, its easily a great Christmas film, and probably one of my films that I rewatching it like hundreds of times.

So that makes you raise the question, what makes National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is my family’s favorite film from our lives, let along as everyone’s favorite film to this day?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

Unlike the previous movies where its about a trip outside of Chicago, this one is a celebration in home for Christmas, which its a pretty nice change, but also enjoyable.

After the animated opening sequence of the movie (Grease style), the movie begins on the road where the Griswolds are in journey to finding a Christmas tree (which is understandable when many Christmas tree markets cost a lot of money), despite Clark Griswold gets bothered by a pickup driver and having a near death moment by driving under the truck (Jeez, this is long before we have The Fast and The Furious). Once Clark found a tree (and dug it out, cause he completely forgot to bring a saw. Ouch… Along with being questioned by the neighbor Todd and Margo), this will be a great opportunity that his parents (and Helen’s parents) arrived to be welcoming, at least what Helen is hesitant from them bickering, while Clark stays positive for preparation, not only he was hoping to take a the bonus for swimming pool (in his business of food preservative company), but also setting up a LOOOONG Christmas lights around his house (much to hilariously without realizing the only way to powering on, is a light switch inside in the house for Christmas lights). Its up to Clark keeps in positive to live in Christmas celebration with parents (as well as surprise visit from his cousin-in-law Johnson family like Eddie, Catherine and the new kids unlike the first Vacation) and his anticipation for Christmas for bonus, despite some chaotic obstacles he has to dealing with.

Its a pretty standard story as what you expect, a Christmas plan to bringing relatives to the house for Christmas cheers and anticipating for big rewards, its self-explanatory, but its enjoyable for various reasons. Its pretty nice that we can all relate how like to bringing friends or family come for one to three days to stay home for Christmas party to prevent chaos, its not easy to be perfect, but hey, its understandable. Not only it has a nice and relatable, but the movie also shows a heart warming moments like when after Clark daydreaming for swimming pool, he has a conversation to Johnson’s daughter Ruby-Sue, which she’s nervous and questions how believing Santa is fiction, but Clark comforts her that if she stays as good girl with her brother Rocky, Santa will give a wonderful gift (though its more like Clark or Helen will give them a nice gift), an anticipation bonus for swimming pool what Clark is hoping for covering the costs for next summer. And of course, a scene where, aside Clark is stuck in a cold attic, but watching a home video projector to reflect his good’ol days with his grandparents (I will say, its pretty fun and nearly teary moment that, much like Clark, we can reflect the good’ol days with our alive or late grandparents). Of course, it wasn’t just we can relate at some ways and a good heart, and this is National Lampoon, its no stranger to give us some humors and I will say, the jokes are enjoyable in many ways, ranging from Clark completely forgot to bring a saw to cut down the tree for Griswolds, the incredibly speed slide (based on Clark’s putting non-caloric silicon-based kitchen lubricant spray, making it dangerously faster to slide than any cooking oils), making annoyance to Todd and Margo (obviously for running gag), Eddie dumping out with “Shitter was full!” (which it turned out he dumped into storm sewer, in other, its a sewage treatment plant), Clark’s dreaming of his swimming pool, much to getting distracted by a sale clerk lady in one-piece bikini, and my personal favorites are Clark’s desperate presentation his 25K lights around his whole house exterior (Damn, who would’ve thought that Christmas light decorations are such a big deal what Clark did, eh?) and the build up of Clark that he’ll losing it if something gone very bad. And that’s the examples of jokes of this movie, they always gave me a smile and chuckle, even for looking back from slapstick and funny dialogues.

While the story is simplistic for Christmas movie, but its the execution for how we can relate with, a heart warming moments and even for good amount of laughs from the build ups, cause come on, what do you expect that its a movie from National Lampoon.

The Presentation

The movie’s budget is surprisingly nearly doubled than the first movie that it costed $25M. Despite being a big budget (compared to the first Vacation and European Vacation), it looks pretty good.

For starter, the filming locations are fairly decent, even though this movie takes place in Chicago, but it was actually filmed in Burbank, California, mainly for the Griswolds’ house, while the other outdoor scenes were filmed in Breckenridge, Colorado. In weird fact for the latter, at first and before they filmed, it was snowless, so they called to bring out a convoy of trucks with snow. But once it was delivered, Breckenridge had a 10 ft massive snowfall for three days, resulting the crews had no choice but brought out snowcats to plowing the snow before filming. That’s a YIKES right there that they could’ve just wait after the massive snowfall instead of ordering trucks with snows, but that’s just me.

While there’s no effects in this movie, well okay there’s the angelic light when Clark found the Griswolds’ Family Christmas Tree and when Clark blasts himself up from sliding and couple others, but the set with the placement of Christmas decorations inside Griswolds’ house look pretty nice, decorative, colorful and bright, which something we like to see in nicest and kind of less clutter, despite the Christmas tree that Clark found is too tall that the top got squeezed from the ceiling. But the interior is tame compared to the outdoor, because ohhh boy…! The exterior decoration, while it has Santa Claus with flock of Reindeer (unless you counted when chevy Chase punched Santa, he broke his pinky while filming. Ouch…!), but the house is covered by looooong cord of 25 thousand twinkle lights, which is a one heck of a decoration that it looks like the house is wrapped up by long Christmas lights of 3 Watts that cause too much power to bear, but its just the movie. In fact, the term “Griswold House” became a part of slang for both, USA, Australia and even my homeland Canada, which it defines the house with Christmas decoration in the most over-the-top way, which im sure if you see someone put more than dozens of decoration, people would go “Damn, they went full on Griswold House!”.

I should also point out that, remember I mentioned the car stunt in National Lampoon’s Vacation? Well, in another surprise, Stunt Coordinator Dick Ziker and his team are back, this time for the first act in where Clark drives his Ford Taurus Wagon, he got harassed by rednecks in their Dodge pickup, and dangerously drive underneath the truck with tree logs. Again, pretty risky that it looks like something out The Fast and The Furious. Shout out to Ziker, I guess…

One last thing to bring up its the opening scene, which is a pretty rare moment to having the movie’s intro with the use animation involving Santa tries to put gifts underneath the loosely home of Griswolds. The animation of this opening sequence were done by Kroyer Films, one of earliest animation studio done in mix of hand-drawn and CG. And its the same company who’re later gave us FernGully: The Last Rainforest.

The movie’s presentation is standard as the story, but it still looks pretty good for the decoration, some fun sequences and a nice filming and the setting.

The Characters

With the return of the Griswolds, you think they’ll have a new development and welcome return performance? Well, they’re definitely deserve a return, even some new ones are good, despite some replacements.

Lets starts off with our old friend and my favorite, Clark W. Griswold (reprised by Chevy Chase), the father and the patriarch of the Griswolds where he likes to bringing family for a fun loving vacation much like when they had a road trip to Wally World. This time, he wants having a family Christmas vacation in the house with his parents, his grandparents and Helen’s parents, without knowing the issues with chaos from old parents bickering each others, some obstacles to dealing with, and if its not going on the way, we can feel the build up of his anger in unpredictable fit of frustration or throwing insults. Like before, Clark likes to be a lovable father for fun vacation, especially he maintains his positive mood while dealing with numerous problems, along with his crazy ideas he pulled, including the aforementioned speed slide from his non-caloric silicon-based kitchen lubricant spray from his involvement with food preservative company for 17 years. While his development remains the same, but he’s enjoyable and funny, especially with Chevy did a fun work of his role, aside being an acting nightmare to work with.

Next we have Ellen Griswold (reprised by Beverly D’Angelo), the mother of the family, while she’s looks pretty and sweet, but she’s also the brain of “be careful what you’re planning for”. Pretty much the same as before, being sweet and caring, but authoritative when it comes to downside elements in Christmas vacation, however, she didn’t get tempered in warning compared to the first vacation, which im guessing she’s pretty much toned down without having herself outburst in front of her parents. Kind of downgrade, but at least she’s nice and relatable, and Beverly did a good job too.

Then we have the kids, Russell or “Rusty” (played by Johnny Galecki instead of Anthony Michael Hall) and Audrey (played by Juliette Lewis instead of Dana Barron), this sibling are there to have fun for Christmas vacation, whereas Rusty being Clark’s young partner for helping hands, for the most part, while Audrey is the older and no mood of being bothered by her young brother. What I find it pretty odd about these kids is their age are pretty different. In the first Vacation, Rusty looks more like an older brother (probably based on Anthony’s puberty during reshoot at the climax) while his sister is younger. But here, their age was switched for some weird reason for casting choice, im guessing they want them to be young, but I hate to say, they’ve grown up for some moments, but then again, its mainly the recast after two movies. Though the downside is that Rusty and Audrey are rather minimal for their appearance, despite that il give credit they did a nice performance too.

Next, there’s Eddie Johnson (reprised by Randy Quaid), he’s Clark’s cousin-in-law with his own family with Catherine (reprised by Miriam Flynn) and, similar to Rusty and Audrey recasting, their kids are new with Rocky (played by Cody Burger) who’s a silent boy with fungus lips infection (yeesh…), Ruby-Sue (played by Ellen Hamilton Latzen) who’s her eyes fixed after being cross-eyed incident, but she’s a cute and sweet, despite some foul-mouth moment, and the new dog Snots the Rottweiller (You know when they used to have dog named Dinky before it died back in first Vacation?). I gotta say, its pretty nice to bring them as supporting roles after shown in short moment in the first vacation, I think its because they’re too good to be weirdly likable with their jokes and gross moments to leaving us a little imagination. Especially with Eddie, he’s actually enjoyably funny from his dialogue and being best cousin-in-law to Clark. This is especially nice to give them a development whatever happened to them after we met them in brief moment, they went from relaxing home in the middle of nowhere in Coolidge, Kansas with their own farm, to now living in their RV (ouch, talk about getting backstabbed for the lack money to keep their home in Kansas). But in fairness, at least its nice to see them back for more and they did a good work for their performance, especially with Randy for being funny for his delivery, while Ellen’s Ruby-Sue is such a cute girl for heart warming moment.

Then there’s the Griswolds old parents, there’s Clark’s parents like Clark Sr. (played by the late John Randolph) and Nora (played by the late Diana Ladd), Ellen’s parents (their last names are Smith, I guess she used to be named Ellen Smith) like Arthur (played by the late E.G. Marshall, aka the fictional USA President in Superman II) and Frances (played by the late Doris Roberts) and finally, Clark’s grandparents, Aunt Bethany (played by the late Mae Questel, aka freakin’ Betty Boop! But this movie was her final role) and Uncle Lewis (played by the late William Hickey). These guys have their own different personalities, though most of them have a lackluster like Ellen’s Parents (Well, okay, they have their own development as pretty much careless on Clark’s family) or even maybe even Nora. Its more on towards either Clark Sr. to have a heart to heart with Clark for motivation and sharing same bad experience (which I find Clark Sr. very sweet and caring father), while Clark’s grandparents are surprisingly likable for their humorous ways, whether be Bethany has her expired mind with asking silly questions (probably going senile), along with her support of American Patriotism, while Lewis is a grouchy old man who didn’t seem to care, along with either wearing a bad a rug hair and smoking cigar in a bad places at bad time. Despite one half are lackluster, but the others are enjoyable to watch and for their delivery.

As for the rest, they’re more on antagonists role, while one of them are no stranger and the others are 50/50. There’s Frank Shirley (played by Brian Doyle-Murray, the brother of Bill Murray. Who’s also been in first Vacation, but as Kamp Komfort Clerk) who’s a mean boss of food preservative company to take the business seriously or worse, bad treatment of payment (more on that later). And the Griswolds’ neighbor, the Chesters couple, Todd (played by Nicholas Guest) and Margo (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus). These two are mixed for their reaction toward the Griswolds (obviously for running gag), whereas Todd is sorta honest, but like to be harmless, especially he likes to be lovely for Margo, speaking of the latter, Margo is more hostile that she can’t take the mess from the Griswolds that she wants them in suffer like a full on Karen.

While the remaining characters aren’t much else to say, but the characters like the main Griswolds and even the Johnsons are a welcome return for fun, along with giving their fun delivery from jokes, slapsticks and even good heart, while some are lacking either humor nor even heart.

SPOILER ALERT for those who haven’t seen this movie, if you don’t mind

While we have a nice, fun and heart warming moments, but once its Christmas Eve… Ohhh boy, it went from promising to utter chaos…!

Once its December 24^th of Christmas Eve, Clark brought Aunt Bethany and Uncle Lewis to his home to be welcome to the celebration, for the last time for them, despite brought the gifts that contains a white cat and a messy lime flavored jello. At dinner, Clark starts out to gathering everyone for say grace, but in reality, Bethany makes her speech of American Patriotism. As for their feast, at first, the turkey looks good from the outside, but when Clark is about to cut open, its actually overcooked, very badly… Anyway, after a very bad supper (at least eating cake is a saving grace) but its gotten worse when a cat is messing Christmas tree lights that it pulled the plugs out, which upon re-plugging them, the poor white cat got fried to death (Yeah, that cat had nine lives indeed, Eddie.), but shortly after going back home, Uncle Lewis lit his lighter for smoking cigar, without knowing that he destroyed the Griswolds’ Family Christmas Tree, making Clark is on the verge of reaching his boiling point.

But then, after knock at the door, Clark finally received an envelope, sharing his plan to putting his bonus check for swimming pool, much to excitement for the Griswolds (even though Eddie isn’t a good swimmer). But upon open it, it turned into an all-time low that instead of having a Big Bonus… He received the One Year Membership in the Jelly of the Month Club. And Clark is snapped…!

“Hey! If any of you are looking for any last-minute gift ideas for me, I have one. I'd like Frank Shirley, my boss, right here tonight. I want him brought from his happy holiday slumber over there on Melody Lane with all the other rich people, and I want him brought right here! With a big ribbon on his head! And I want to look him straight in the eye, and I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, dickless, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of monkey shit he is! Hallelujah! Holy shit! Where's the Tylenol?”

After the longest and the most creative insult ever, Clark takes his anger to pull out a chainsaw, which he found a new tree at the right place at the right time (since you know, when its Christmas day, many stores are closed), but the tree is located on Chesters’ yard. After fixing a newel post in last second fixing ditch effort, it looks like they’re back to normal and Clark is calm. Or at least we thought we’re back in peace with Aunt Bethany hears a “funny squeaky sound”, which Clark does hear it, but then… BAM!! A squirrel jumps out of tree to make everyone (minus Bethany and Uncle Lewis) in full on panic for little critter going on a loose in the house! (I will admit, that one scared the heck out of me when the squirrel jumped out) As Clark and Clark Sr. try to finding this “menacing” critter, the squirrel clings on Clark’s back in even more panic, this time, Eddie’s trusty dog Snots goes after the squirrel, but that causing a mess around in the house. After running around with big mess, Clark sees a squirrel in shock to open the entrance door, right until the squirrel jumps into Margo (when she decides to going after the Griswolds by herself for planning argument like a Karen) and she gets mauled by Snots! Which thankfully the chaos is solved and Margo takes a Sucker Punch at Todd (Jesus, what’d he do to you, Margo?!). But the damage is already done that Ellen’s parents are having enough they’re about to leave, that makes Clark even more snapped out of his mind to keep the celebration going!

Clark: Where do you think you're going? Nobody's leaving. Nobody's walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas. No, no. We're all in this together. This is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here. We're gonna press on, and we're gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny fucking Kaye. And when Santa squeezes his fat white ass down that chimney tonight, he's gonna find the jolliest bunch of assholes this side of the nuthouse.

Ellen: Clark, I think it'd be best if everyone went home... before things get worse.

Clark: WORSE? How could things get any worse? Take a look around here, Ellen. We're at the threshold of hell.

After all, it became a second strike (or third if you counted his freakout over Christmas light), Clark is clearly going down very badly that he just wants a perfect Christmas Eve celebration with big family. Thankfully, Clark Sr. came in to comfort him to admitting its not great to have a perfect Christmas celebration when its not going on the way, especially its no reason to be exploded in front of the family. Of course, even Clark accepts its not easy to be perfectly fun, along with Clark Sr. did shared he had a same problem back then (mainly for taking a lot of Jack Daniels), which is actually both relatable and nice heart warming moment to bury the hatchet after the chaos. Once Clark apologized and reading story of The Night Before Christmas, he got himself an unusual arrive, its Eddie with Frank Shirley being kidnapped when he took Clark’s rant literally for last minute’s gift. But that pissed off Frank for the setup that he Fired Clark for the kidnap. But Clark tries to bury the hatchet to express his frustration that he shouldn’t taking insult on Frank’s face, all because he was very angry that his bonus was cut off and being enrolled with Jelly Club, he takes his complaint for what happened to not just himself, but other employees without bonuses in Christmas Eve, ever since he and others are always getting paid from salaries. Thankfully, Frank changes his heart (or should I say, “his heart to grow three sizes”, Grinch style), admitting his responsibility for his action if he could lose his business with giving them bonuses, so he reinstated the bonus with adding 20%, much to an absolute surprise of joy to the Griswolds. But the celebration won’t last long as Frank’s wife Helen (played by Natalia Nogulich) had called the police to releasing SWAT team storming into the Griswolds’ house to arresting Clark (and maybe Eddie), but upon Helen’s arrival to save her husband, Frank refuses to press charges and expresses his wrongful action about canceling bonus, much to dismay on both Helen and the SWAT leader. But then, out of surprise, Ruby-Sue and Rocky look at the sky, believing its Santa Claus, but Clark said that its a Christmas Star, saying that its not all about the family gathering, bonus nor anything, it means a lot for him from Christmas magic. But in reality, Uncle Lewis said its the light from the sewage treatment, much to alert for Clark that when Lewis light up his cigar, he threw the lighter from behind, causing an explosion out of nowhere from sewer gas, and even launching Santa’s sleigh decoration to the sky to imitating Santa Claus coming! Holy hot damn, the light just bite right in the ass, eh? And the chaos cap off when Bethany gathers everyone to singing USA’s national anthem.

And in the end, with pressing charges dismissed and reconciliation, the family, the SWAT team and Shirleys celebrating along in the house, while Clark gives Ellen a lovely kiss and feeling satisfied to having a wonderful time of Christmas vacation.

Wowee, what a heck of a ride and it was both fun and heart warming with all the chaos and even admitting responsibility of wrong doing we’ve been through, but still, it is enjoyable for the climax of Christmas Eve.

And now for my final opinion of this film.

Overall, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is another great movie and another favorite of mine ever since my parents love this movie before I was born.

While it has some flaws like some lackluster development on some characters. But I have fun with this movie for all the good stuff from good writing, the presentation looks nice, great acting, fun jokes and memorable characters. While some people said that this movie is an improvement over the previous films, but I say, I love this movie along with the first Vacation and its a lot better than European Vacation (And yes, I saw it and… Its not as great as the first Vacation and Christmas Vacation).

This is definitely a Must-Watch film for celebrating Christmas, especially if you’re a fan of 80’s movies, a Christmas movies even John Hughes’s movies. I’d say bring your friends and/or family gather along to watching this movie, not just for fun, but also for wonderful time of Christmas. But if you’re curious to see this movie, I’d say check it out, im sure you’ll have a great time after watching this. I love this movie when I was in 20s and I still love it to rewatching it, either in Christmas or before/after Christmas.

For my rating, im gonna give this one a Perfect 10/10, along with earning the The Trophy of Success for Christmas cheer.

So this ends of my movie review. But, depending if I have times, il watching some remaining films in 2025 before il do the list of best and worst films of the year, especially some that I bought on either digital stores or even currently available on streaming platform, along with one film that I gotta watch that lot of people love to talk about it. Il try my best for my scheduling without getting overwhelmed, either on regular review style or mini-review.

But as always if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony like to say, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. And signing off.