The sequel to 2022’s ‘Smile’ may have taken Taylor Swift’s lyrics a little too literally, but for its faults, this follow-up works. With Halloween around the corner and smiles plastered everywhere – from grinning politicians to the sinister beams emanating from ‘Smile’s’ box-office prospects – the timing for this sequel couldn’t be more perfect.
Writer-director Parker Finn returns with his derivative yet anxiety-inducing premise: a parasitic demon that grins from ear to ear drives its victims to suicide. The entity feeds on an individual’s trauma, and gets passed on when a death is witnessed. This relentless cycle of despair ensures that no one lasts longer than a week.
This time, the focus shifts to Skye Riley (Naomi Scott), a pop star on the comeback trail. She’s trying to rebuild her life after a near-fatal car crash that took the life of her boyfriend, Paul (Ray Nicholson), and left her battling a debilitating drug addiction. Now sober and encouraged by her manager and mother, Elizabeth (Rosemarie DeWitt), Skye prepares for her comeback tour. However, a nagging backache compels her to seek out her former dealer, Lewis (Lukas Gage). Their encounter takes a terrifying turn when Lewis suddenly erupts into a chilling grin before morphing his head into a grotesque hamburger patty with the help of a gym weight. This gruesome display serves as a chilling introduction to the demonic entity, and a stark warning to anyone who crosses its path.
Skye, having witnessed Lewis’s horrifying demise, becomes the next target of the relentless entity’s haunting smile. As the demonic grin starts to manifest in her own reality, she faces a battle against both her inner demons and the relentless entity that’s threatening to consume her. How can she escape the clutches of this toothy tormentor and convince those around her that her hallucinations foreshadow a gruesome fate?
While ‘Smile’ might not be the scariest film of the year, it certainly offers some genuinely unsettling moments. The jump scares, while effective, become a bit predictable as the runtime progresses. And the overuse of upside-down camera shots, a device intended to highlight the disorientation in Skye’s world, quickly becomes tiresome.
Despite these shortcomings, ‘Smile’ delivers on its promise of thrills and chills. With a larger budget at his disposal, Finn crafts a number of ingenious set pieces. One standout scene involves a grinning dance troupe advancing on Skye, evoking a demonic flash mob inspired by the iconic work of Bob Fosse and the haunting spirit from ‘Twin Peaks’. This scene demonstrates Finn’s willingness to push the boundaries of the horror genre and avoid a simple cash-grab sequel.
The sequel also incorporates humor more liberally than its predecessor. The film masterfully balances moments of tension and humor, creating a unique viewing experience that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats.
However, what truly elevates ‘Smile’ is the captivating performance of Naomi Scott. Audiences may recognize her from her roles in ‘Power Rangers’, the live-action adaptation of ‘Aladdin’, and the recent ‘Charlie’s Angels’ reboot. But ‘Smile’ showcases her true potential as a leading lady, delivering a nuanced and emotionally charged performance that carries the film through its darker moments.
While the film doesn’t fully delve into the complexities of trauma and mental health, it effectively uses Skye’s personal struggles as a vehicle to explore the pressures and demands of fame. Scott’s performance captures the inherent conflict between the public persona and the private struggles of a pop star striving for success.
‘Smile’ ultimately presents a chaotic and convoluted experience, offering a potent cocktail of jump scares, gruesome visuals, and a bloody climax reminiscent of ‘Revenge’. While ‘Revenge’ might be a more sophisticated and impactful horror film, ‘Smile’ serves up a wild ride that caters to audiences seeking a thrilling escape from the mundane.
If you’re looking for a horror film that delivers on its promise of thrills and chills, ‘Smile’ is definitely worth checking out. But if you’re looking for a film that delves deeply into the complexities of trauma and mental health, you may want to look elsewhere.
