Directed by: Parker Finn
Distributed by: Paramount Pictures
Written by Jeff Sparks
70/100
The original “Smile” was an anomaly. It was a big-budget horror picture featuring a central gimmick with almost excessive marketing. On paper, it sounded like a throwaway Blumhouse project, but the shocker here is that it was actually good and relatively original. While it was a well-told, self-contained story, there was certainly room for sequels. Two years later, we have “Smile 2,” which stars Naomi Scott as pop superstar Skye Riley. After recovering from substance abuse, Skye is back in the limelight as she prepares for her comeback tour until she begins to descend into madness upon witnessing a violent suicide. Story-wise the film feels like “Smile” meets “Vox Lux,” though it never quite reaches the heights of either of those. Like its predecessor, “Smile 2” is a drama film in horror clothing, which is a huge compliment. Much of our runtime is dedicated to Skye as she does things like attending rehearsals, taking pictures with fans, and shooting music videos. All the while losing her grip on reality, and every once in a while she’ll see a scary figure smiling at her. The film’s plot intrigues nicely as Skye’s backstory unfolds the more her mind unravels. As for the scares, there are a couple of genuinely spooky scenes in addition to a few eye-rolling jumpscares as well. The real horror aspect lies within the over-the-top violence performed by the demonic being that possesses its hosts.
The premise isn’t quite as gripping as the first film because this is the second time we’ve seen this concept play out. When we followed Sosie Bacon’s Rose, the mystery she uncovered was new. But as we see Skye’s story follow a similar structure we already know the answers she searches for. Not to mention the ending which you can predict based on the premise alone. With the bigger budget for this sequel, there’s some really great filmmaking here, except for some irresponsibly bad CGI in the final scene. A couple of long-take tracking shots stick out in particular. One scene, in particular, sees Skye racing around her apartment collecting items before she bursts into a meltdown, destroying her entire bathroom, including a glass shower door, which appears to be a real stunt. With its engaging story and inspired filmmaking, “Smile 2” justifies its existence and gives us another entry into a horror franchise continuing to subvert expectations.
“Smile 2” Trailer
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