Parker Finn‘s Smile wound up a surprise smash horror hit of 2022. Originally destined to be sent straight to streaming, fan response was strong enough in test screenings to convince Paramount to give it a theatrical release, to much financial success. One can view this a positive story of studios still listening to audiences or, given how jump-scare heavy the film is, a sad affirmation of studios tossing out quality in favor of trend-chasing. But aside from the film itself, it was paired with an admittedly smart viral marketing campaign placing weird smiling people at sports games that drummed up interest.
Either way, Smile was successful enough to warrant a sequel a mere two years later. And while Smile depended too heavily on cheap scares, positive reviews noted that it conveyed the infecting and corrosive nature of trauma and grief, and the way that can spread from one person to another and bring everyone down. Finn’s command of the much-criticized jump scare was also impressive. While it arguably did not surpass other curse horrors such as It Follows or The Ring, Smile should be and was given some credit.
Yet could a sequel truly do anything unique or different? The trailers suggested a different storytelling approach, focused on a pop singer as a main character and the appearance of bigger and bolder scares with a larger budget. Given the general disappointment with another pop-singer focused horror, Trap, a film that could successfully depict the monster of celebrity (a trend that has increased alongside the Taylor Swift mega-tour of the last two years) would be welcome.
Therefore, it is a tad surprising and disappointing just how much like the first film Smile 2 is. From a broad plot structure standpoint, Smile 2 feels very much like a repeat of the first film. The protagonist is given some small background and development, she obtains the curse, and the rest of the film features her slowly breaking down due to the way the Smile entity psychologically tortures you and disrupts your sense of reality.
Even the theme of celebrity isn’t as focused as one might have thought. While certainly the consuming nature of being famous is present, Smile 2 still keeps most of its thematic focus on trauma and grief with a backstory for the protagonist not that different from the first film’s. That the main plot beats and themes feel so similar holds Smile 2 back.
Lest one think this is a negative review, let’s quickly correct that. Smile 2 is a highly effective and entertaining horror flick. While it does rely a lot on jump scares, Finn distinguishes himself with his directorial mastery of the jump-scare scene composition. The first film and this one feature meticulously-timed jump scares that don’t feel at all like the cheaper ones from something like The Nun or Insidious. Even when you feel like you know when the scare is coming, Smile 2 plays with your expectations by building up anticipation that much longer or cutting far quicker than expected.
Smile 2 is unique as well with the way jump scares are combined with surrealist and creepy imagery. The sharp, smiling people unnerve you as they stand unreactive and disrupt our sense of social norms. Smile 2 stands above the first film in this regard, taking hints of these moments from the original and building upon them. A scene where the protagonist’s apartment is full of smiling dancers raises every hair on your body.
Naomi Scott also effectively takes her place as a scream queen. She runs through a gamut of emotions in this film. And her character is another where the film distinguishes itself. The first film had an arguably more typical horror protagonist who was a good person at heart even with her guilt. Scott’s singer is someone who is openly self-destructive, selfish, and clearly on the brink of a collapse without any supernatural help. That the Smile entity simply feeds on what is already there is brought to life in this film because we’re not given a protagonist who is that good of a person.
Smile 2 is typical in many ways. It is not a new masterpiece. And it has a third act that disappointingly cheapens the drama happening. After two of these films, it seems like there is not much left to do with this concept. Both are effective movies and leave your nerves rattled. Yet the takeaway is that something fairly different needs to happen to justify a third one. The very ending, predictable as it is once you think about it, does show the promise of a different sort of premise.
Hopefully, Finn takes his apparent skills as a director and allows someone else to write something with this concept that can truly break new ground. The Smile franchise is primed for a true masterpiece if all the ingredients can be stirred together correctly. Smile 2 shows potential the way a steak at a Texas Roadhouse does. It’s juicy and tasty but doesn’t truly stand out. Maybe Finn can learn to season like a master chef.
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