Smile 2 is commercial horror at its finest
Film review
In 2022, Paramount Pictures unleashed Smile onto the scene of commercial horror, delivering a concept in which victims are haunted by a demon that presents itself as fellow human beings wearing a menacing smile. After days of torment, the demon takes possession of its victim, committing suicide in front of a witness, passing on the curse in a neverending cycle.
Despite the interesting concept, the film itself was poor due to weak, non-interesting characters, and narrative directions that we’ve seen too many times before in the genre. The horror itself was also weak, unable to continue delivering the effectiveness of the film's opening scene and first exposure to gore and terror. Although not worthy of critical acclaim, it was a financial success among consumers, generating $217 million worldwide on a budget of $17 million. With that level of success, a sequel inevitably followed.
Two years later in 2024, Smile 2 opens with a highly impressive one-shot scene featuring Joel (Kyle Gallner), the detective from the first film, desperate to pass on the curse he’s haunted by to someone else. The filmmaking found in this scene is almost alien to anything found in the franchise's first entry. It’s as if a new director was brought on board to tackle the sequel, only to discover it’s the same writer-director, Parker Finn. Suddenly he’s showing us his true capabilities, introducing somewhat of a directorial signature that alerts you that you’re watching something of admirable skill.
Smile 2 follows troubled pop star Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) as she returns to the music scene following a period of absence due to substance abuse and a car crash resulting in the death of her ex (Ray Nicholson). However, it isn’t long until she seeks out her previous drug dealer, Lewis (Lukas Gage) to help out with some pain she’s still dealing with after the crash. On her pick-up, Lewis who is possessed by the curse, commits suicide in front of her in a delightfully grisly fashion. Skye must now convince the people surrounding her of her stability as she prepares for a comeback tour whilst fighting disturbing hallucinations from a demon determined to destroy her.
While the franchise's first protagonist, Rose (Sosie Bacon) was likeable due to her innocence, Skye Riley is the opposite. Her narcissistic personality doesn’t attract your warmth or affection, but this only makes her much more engaging. The main difference between the two characters is that the stakes are much higher for Skye. Her stability depends on her sanity to maintain an image that many stars are expected to uphold to ensure their success continues. From the pressures of upholding contractual obligations with big financial penalties to trying to become a role model for her fans, the challenges for this character mount up leaving you completely immersed in the story.
Suddenly, we’re experiencing a much more interesting narrative than the prior instalment. Not only that, but we also get to experience the horror dialled up to 100%. The smiles are much more menacing and deranged, looking as if it's almost impossible for the facial muscles to form such an appearance. The gore is more brutal and entertaining. The scares are highly effective and threatening, provoking a genuine reaction from you even though you can see it coming. Finn takes full advantage of his 2022 concept, compensating for the lack of what we would have liked to have seen initially.
It was over a decade ago that Blumhouse Productions delivered a wave of commercial horror smash hits that included Insidious (2010), Sinister (2012), and The Conjuring (2013). That wave of fright flicks heavy hitters seemed to wear off in the last ten years with new franchises unable to match what made the prior works so effective among mass audiences. However, Smile 2 manages to meet that match, delivering a good dose of commercial horror done all too well. I doubt this is the start of a new wave of heavy punches in the genre. Smile 2 will probably exist as a pleasant emergence that won’t rear its head again until the time comes for the third instalment. If Smile 3 is on its way in the future, Finn has set himself quite the challenge to upscale the franchise's journey. But with the mastery of the genre that Finn executes here, we can have confidence that good horror no longer only exists within the confines of arthouse in the 2020s.