Smile 2 Review: A More Menacing Horror Sequel with Bigger Thrills

Essential Insights

The horror sequel Smile 2 escalates the stakes with intense celebrity pressures and graphic violence.
Parker Finn’s direction, coupled with a spine-chilling score, crafts a tense and foreboding atmosphere.
The film delves into themes of trauma, grief, and mental health, presenting them in a strikingly poignant manner.

What poses a more terrifying dilemma: being pursued by a relentless, grinning demon, or being compelled to perform in front of a colossal audience against your will? For Riley Skye, the protagonist of Smile 2, she must confront the horror of both.

This latest installment, helmed by writer and director Parker Finn, serves as a larger, companion continuation to its forerunner. While the original Smile honed in on the personal traumas individuals often endure, Smile 2 elevates the narrative to celebrity heights, exploring the suffocating pressures imposed on pop stars. The narrative digs deep into the harsh demands of celebrity life, exposing the brutal reality of a touring musician’s overbooked schedule.

Skye Riley, played with remarkable depth by Naomi Scott, starts her journey burdened by a troubled past. She has recently endured a car accident that claimed her boyfriend, an actor, and is striving to kick off a new tour while maintaining her sobriety. On top of that, she faces immense pressure to regain the trust of her fans and loved ones while still grappling with the physical pain of her injuries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FU_bAopCcSE

SMILE 2 | Final Trailer (2024) – Naomi Scott, Lukas Gage (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FU_bAopCcSE)

In an attempt to numb her agony, Skye turns to Vicodin from her dealer, Lewis (Lukas Gage). However, following a haunting prologue that reintroduces Kyle Gallner’s Joel from the first film, it’s clear that Lewis’s fate is sealed, and that the familiar smiling demon aims to seize Skye. After witnessing Lewis’s demise (foreshadowed in the film’s trailers), it becomes evident that Skye will soon encounter visions of sinister, grinning strangers, escalating into increasingly terrifying situations.

Smile 2
Directed By	Parker Finn
Parker Finn
Starring	Naomi Scott, Rosemarie DeWitt, Dylan Gelula, Lukas Gage, Kyle Gallner, Peter Jacobson, Miles Gutierrez-Riley
Runtime	2 Hours, 7 Minutes
Release Date	October 18, 2024

Smile 2 adeptly follows in the footsteps of successful sequels. It builds upon the elements that made the original a horror fan favorite, intensifying the thrills and delivering fresh frights. Parker Finn has proven himself a notable voice in horror, effectively employing cinematic techniques and narrative twists that keep viewers engaged. The meticulously executed prologue is particularly striking, presented in a seamless long take that maximizes tension and urges the audience to remain glued to the screen. Finn also revisits the upside-down shots from the first film, adding an unsettling and disorientating aura to familiar scenes.

Finn’s vision is further elevated by the eerie score from Cristobal Tapia de Veer. The unsettling melodies layered over visuals of New York create an otherworldly atmosphere, with dissonant choral interludes amplifying moments of intense violence and enhancing the dark imagery.

This disturbing tone is pivotal. While Terrifier 3 reportedly leads to walkouts, Smile 2 is set to astonish mainstream audiences with its shockingly graphic violence. The level of practical special effects utilized here has been noticeably absent from major studio horror releases for some time, likely making even the toughest horror aficionados squirm. However, the film does not rely solely on its gruesome elements; instead, it creates anticipation by prolonging the quieter moments before jump scares, crafting a payoff that feels justified. Behind these startling moments lies a collection of eerie horror sequences, including a standout scene in which a swarm of backup dancers creates an atmosphere of unease purely through their movements. There’s also a clear camaraderie among the actors, who visibly relished the challenge of portraying sinister smiles.

On a deeper level, Smile 2 addresses the themes of trauma and unresolved grief. While the first installment tackled the generational aspect of trauma, this sequel extends the conversation, suggesting that buried trauma will surface no matter how much one tries to mask it. Scott delivers a compelling performance as a troubled pop star spiraling downwards, further intensified by her manager mother’s (Rosemarie DeWitt) insistence on pushing her through her tour despite her evident decline. In a culturally relevant moment, when artists like Chappell Roan are prioritizing their mental well-being over public expectations, the film’s narrative resonates strongly.

A prominent theme throughout Smile 2 involves reflection, with mirrors featuring prominently in many scenes. At times, Skye Riley’s reflection symbolizes performance—the facade she presents to the world. As the camera reveals her true self, the mask begins to disintegrate. This duality carries significant symbolism, particularly evident in the film’s poignant conclusion.

Horror enthusiasts are enjoying a bounty this October, and Smile 2 is another enriching experience. Defying the trend of bland, generic studio horrors that rely on unconvincing CGI and predictable scares, Parker Finn’s sequel exemplifies how to take a well-trodden story and amplify it with fresh insights and genuine terror. Without a doubt, horror fans will exit the theater wearing disquietingly broad smiles.

Smile 2 hits theaters on October 18th.

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