Upon its release on Oct. 18, 2024, a variety of viewers flocked to theaters to watch the delightfully horrific film, “Smile 2.” Written and directed by Parker Finn, “Smile ” was based on Finn’s own short story, “Laura Hasn’t Slept.” However, some viewers credit “Smile 2” with being even more horrifying and intense than the original.
The protagonist of the film, Skye Riley, is played by Naomi Scott, an actor known for her roles in “Power Rangers,” Disney’s live-action “Aladdin,” the “Charlie’s Angels” reboot and “Lemonade Mouth.” However, her role in “Smile 2” has placed her in a new light, allowing her range as an actor to truly shine. Skye spends the movie grappling with her sanity, as she faces deeply rooted trauma while battling a demonic entity that blurs the lines between reality and deceiving hallucinations.
The film opens with Skye, a pop superstar, parading onto a stage for an interview; every strand of hair is in place, a deep maroon color lines her lips, scintillating bundles of jewelry droop from her limbs and a long, dark dress is draped from the curves of her hips. She is the epitome of perfection, a facade crafted by her manager, Elizabeth Riley (Rosemarie Dewitt). This interview is her first after a year of seclusion, a year in which she had to contend with the death of her ex-boyfriend and regain her sobriety.
After the perfect execution of her interview, Skye begins to notice some pain in her back, a result of the car accident that killed her ex-boyfriend and evidently left her with a spinal injury. Due to her own issues with substance abuse, no doctor will prescribe her a painkiller, so she visits a drug dealer who will: Lewis Fregoli (Lukas Gage).
Unfortunately, Lewis is plagued by the curse from “Smile,” which an evil spirit takes over the mind of its host, resulting in grinning, manic hallucinations. Within four to seven days of contraction, the host’s death is inevitable; the demon inside them takes control, forcing them to violently end their life with a smile on their face. However, this is not where the curse ends; the spirit must find a new host. Lewis, possessed by the entity, dies at his own hands as Skye watches, powerless to help and powerless to stop the curse that leaves his lifeless body and descends into her own.
Desiring only a dose of painkillers, Skye has instead received a dose of pure hysteria. She begins to see Lewis smiling behind every door, in every mirror, in every crowd. She sees her own friend, coworker, mother and fans, with an eerie grin at every turn. Within a few days, Skye is untrusting, believing everyone is out to deceive her. She quickly becomes isolated and alone, allowing the demonic entity to take control.
Aside from Scott’s heart-wrenching performance of a girl torn between reality and her own demonic trauma, Finn uses various tactics to enhance the unbridled horror in this film. For example, Finn rotates the camera 180 degrees at various points throughout the film which disorients the audience and make their stomachs drop. Likewise, the “Smile” series is known largely for its intense, unexpected jump scares. Finn purposely shoots uncomfortably long, wide scenes throughout the movie. For instance, Skye is simply opening her fridge, yet Finn lets the camera linger, playing ominous music in the background as she fumbles for a glass of water. The audience expects a jump scare, yet Finn leads viewers into a false sense of security, trusting that these uncomfortably foreboding scenes will result in no fright. Unexpectedly, he enacts a jump scare, leaving the audience shrieking and launching popcorn, candy and slushies at the person nearest to them.
Overall, “Smile 2” is a must-watch, from Scott’s impeccable portrayal of a pop singer gone mad, the intricate plot or even Finn’s filming techniques. Viewers will watch the film bundled up with friends, family or even alone, all the while a demonic spirit smiles at them from the screen.
