Smile 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2022 horror hit Smile, made its first appearance in theaters Oct. 18, just in time for the Halloween season. Directed by Parker Finn and featuring a chilling performance by main actress Naomi Scott, the film dives deeper into the haunting legacy of the sinister entity that preys on various victims, killing them and carrying on the chain of infection. Smile 2 promises viewers a heart-pounding experience of horror and suspense that will have people questioning their own sanity.
Directed by Parker Finn, Smile 2 contains depictions of drug abuse, addiction, gore, and traumatic events, leaving the movie with an R rating. Finn, an American film director, screenwriter, and producer, has shot several other R-rated horror films, including Smile (2022), which was based on his short film Laura Hasn’t Slept (2020). His experience in the horror genre continually makes his gory imagination come to life.
The two-hour and 12 minute film revolves around Skye Riley (Naomi Scott), a pop star who witnessed something she shouldn’t have while visiting an old drug-dealing friend, beginning the spread of the virus-demon that affected people in the first Smile movie. After being infected by this demon, Skye experiences increasingly vivid hallucinations, often seeing creepy smiles, which slowly leads her into insanity.
Skye’s mother, Elizabeth Riley (Rosemarie DeWitt), acts as both her manager and mother, combining motherly love with manipulation in Skye’s life. Skye’s ex-best friend, Gemma (Dylan Gelula), has a complicated relationship with Skye that adds chaotic drama throughout the movie. Skye’s story is a lonely one, as she faces many traumatic events without someone to confide in, leading the audience to sympathize with her.
Skye also has intense pressure placed upon her to perform perfectly in her upcoming tour, despite a recent traumatic car crash. Giving the audience a sense of Skye’s anxiety, stress within the theater is palpable.
This is further intensified by Cristobal Tapia de Veer’s intricately composed soundtrack. From the music during Skye’s performances, to the background instrumentals during the suspenseful scenes, the composer methodically put the soundtrack together to intensify the movie.
The film’s scenes jump around in timeline, from Skye’s mother pressuring her to perform to Skye hallucinating and facing the demon, making for a suspenseful and chaotic storyline. The schematic formatting makes it impossible to guess the movie’s next steps, creating classic horror suspense with plot twists left and right.
From the heart-stopping jump scares to the gory scenes that will have you peeking through your hands, Smile 2 is a must-watch. This psychological thriller featuring an outstanding performance from Scott is perfect for the Halloween season, or if you just want to watch a movie to get your heart racing, earning four out of five feathers.
