Smile 2 premiered in theaters on October 18, 2024. The film is about a pop star named Skye Riley, who is played by Naomi Scott (Aladdin (2019), Charlie’s Angels (2019), and The Martian (2015)), experiencing increasingly terrifying and explicit events while being on her world tour. Because of the pressure she faces with these escalating horrors and the fame that she’s gaining, Skye is forced to face her dark and difficult past to regain control over her life again.
The director of Smile 2 is Parker Finn, director of Laura Hasn’t Slept (2020), The Hidebehind (N/A), and Smile (2022.) According to Discussing Film, Parker Finn said that “In approaching a sequel, I wanted to make sure that I wasn’t just doing a traditional continuation or any sort of simple retread of the first film. I wanted to deliver a fresh and unexpected experience for the audience…I wanted to see if maybe I could use that information against them and find new ways to scare them. Also, I wanted to throw some sharp left turns where they might not be expecting.” We will have to see if this movie is worth the suspense it holds on people who are eager to watch Smile 2.
Smile 2 begins with a strong but disturbing start, showing the fear people cursed with the evil entity have to endure. It hints at what we will have to expect for future victims including the main character, Skye Riley. From the very beginning we are shown an extreme amount of gore that is ultimately displayed throughout the whole film. As the movie begins to focus on the main character, we begin to see tension as the lines between reality and Skye’s illusions blur. The ending is unexpected, but clues to the final scene are subtly planted throughout the film.
Skye Riley is the main character of this plot and she is a famous singer that has a very tragic backstory that affects how her character reacts to all of her illusions. Sykes’ journey is one of self- discovery, as she confronts both the physical and emotional threats of the curse and the emotional scars of her past. Skye is going through traumatic experiences, but supporting characters aren’t there for her. Ray Nicholson, son of Jack Nicholson (The Shining, 1980), makes an appearance to further traumatize Skye of her past.
In order to create a suspenseful and eerie atmosphere, Finn uses lighting to build the suspense that leads to jump scares, leaving the audience with anticipation in the scenes where you can’t see what happens next. By making the shots closer to the main character’s face and isolating the character, it creates suspense for both the characters and the audience.
Smile 2 is hauntingly rewarding to the audience who appreciates a psychological approach to horror. The blend of suspense, gore, and horror keeps the audience engaged. The film’s deeper themes of repression give it a weight that lingers long after the credits roll. Although it may not satisfy viewers who favor “true-horror” it is a must-watch for fans of character-driven horror. With strong performances from all the actors with a meticulously crafted visual style, Smile 2 is an unsettling and thought provoking experience to sit and watch.
