“Smile 2” Terrifies

Smile 2 (Parker Finn, 2024) 3½ out of 5 stars

Taking place directly after the events of 2022’s Smile, Smile 2 brings back our favorite spirit, who promises to spread more grins on more faces than ever before! I thoroughly enjoyed the original Smile film, finding it to be both compelling and creepy. So, I was very much looking forward to this sequel, and I’m happy to report that it does not disappoint.

In the film, uber-famous pop star Skye Riley (Naomi Scott, Charlie’s Angels) is trying to turn her life around. Though she has a plethora of obsessed fans, a recent tragedy and prolonged drug use have spoiled her life and career. Now, taking a vow of sobriety, Skye attempts to improve her self-image. She has a tour beginning soon and is excited to get back to her craft.

Unfortunately, a bizarre incident leaves Skye the target of a supernatural force. She begins to experience strange happenings and horrifying visions, the most common being unnerving, smiling faces staring at her intensely. Distracting Skye from what is supposed to be her rebound tour, this force threatens to upend everything she has worked towards. Can Skye overcome yet another obstacle to save her career?

The choice to center Smile 2 around the life of a pop star is an intriguing one, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit concerned. It’s a bit of an odd decision for a horror movie, in general, but even stranger for a sequel to an already established concept. Surprisingly, though, both director Parker Finn (who also made the first film) and actress Naomi Scott pull it off.

Smile 2 is more than just pure horror (but there’s plenty of that to be had, so don’t worry, horror fans). The film explores the life of a well-known singer, specifically a hit artist. Finn is able to successfully display the difficulties of fame, the darker side of it, and exactly what celebrities have to deal with on an almost daily basis. Finn also excels at performing some excellent songs written just for the film and complex, technically brilliant dance numbers throughout the movie that look like something right out of a Taylor Swift “Eras Tour” concert.

Having a pop star as the film’s main focus would only work if the performance does, and thankfully Naomi Scott brings it. Scott is authentic while also very closely resembling some real-life artists. She is able to be grounded and relatable when needed but also shines in her vocal opportunities and dance routines, playing all angles of a touring musical phenom to a T. The viewer gets to experience the highs and lows with Skye and gets an inside look at the many struggles that someone in her position faces.

Now, let’s talk about the reason most folks will show up to the theater: the horror. With an already established intriguing plot and compelling main character, Smile 2 doesn’t have to do anything too over-the-top or terrifying to be effective. Yet, it does … in so many ways. Smile 2 is the scariest film of the year that I’ve seen so far, and the fright attacks from so many different directions that it’s even overwhelming, at times.

Firstly, as one might expect after the original, this new film is loaded with jump scares. These aren’t always necessary, and some are overkill, but they all are very effective, and some will have your heart beating for quite a while, afterward. Then, there’s the horrifying, grotesque imagery. I think Smile 2 has even more disturbing images throughout than the original, as there are certain shots in which you want to look away but just can’t, even if the thing presented in front of you is beyond terrifying. Many films feature jump scares and blood and gore, but Smile 2 is sure to earn its terror by introducing slow-moving, edge-of your-seat suspenseful sequences that almost always lead up to the jump scare or bloody content.

The frights don’t end there, though, as not only are we (and Skye Riley) subjected to heart-stopping scenes and gory visuals, but psychological horror is in play, too. Skye’s dark past is used frequently to turn the intensity up to 11 and sprinkle in some real-life consequences and horrible trauma to the already terrifying situation she’s in. Finally, the societal repercussions of her past and current predicaments are also brought to the table, as the film deals with public embarrassment, family issues, and a whole bevy of other problems that stack up on top of an already very difficult time for her.

While Smile 2 succeeds with its central character and brings all the horror elements one could ask for, there are a few aspects of the film that are holding it back a bit. While Skye is a compelling character, no one else is. The supporting characters are not featured enough and have very little screentime, and those we do see are often bland and forgettable. And then there’s an overreliance on visions, flashbacks, and dream sequences as the source of a scare as opposed to having them play out in the real world of the film. Finally, the conclusion is a bit perplexing and dissatisfying, as it may blow some people’s minds for better or for worse.

Overall, Smile 2 overachieves. While I did enjoy the first film, I didn’t expect much from a sequel, but it delivers on most fronts. The pop-star centered plot honestly seems more fit for an original horror film, not a Smile sequel, and while it would work well as a stand-alone narrative, it definitely still works for a sequel and is a pleasant surprise. With Finn’s direction, Scott’s performance, and an overload of well-executed horror elements, Smile 2 will have you grinning from ear to ear while also biting your lip in fear.

Matt Patti

Matt Patti has enjoyed voicing his opinions on films from a young age. He has lived in the Baltimore, Maryland, area since 2015 and is a graduate of Stevenson University’s Film & Moving Image program. Matt is currently back at Stevenson University, working as the School of Design, Arts, and Communication's Studio Manager.