Parker Finn’s “Smile” was an unsettling exploration of trauma through the lens of psychological horror that blurred the lines between fiction and reality. Those frightening grins return for “Smile 2,” which unpacks the trauma of a recovering pop star overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and the pressures of fame.
Though “Smile 2” could have been a horror sequel that could have easily been an empty and meaningless cash grab, Finn went for a more character-driven piece that would question the nature of their reality. It turns its attention to a different character, which gives us a fresh perspective on what happens when the curse with a deadly grin ensares a different host facing their own internal and external demons.
Set shortly after the events of the first “Smile,” “Smile 2” establishes all of the rules of how the curse operates and the larger mythology with a one-shot sequence opener focusing on Joel (Kyle Gallner), the latest host of the curse, desperately trying to pass it to a small town drug kingpin. Things don’t go as planned, as he ends up killing his target and dying after trying to outrun dealers. Coincidentally, Lewis Fergoli (Lukas Gage) happened to be there simultaneously and bore witness to everything, making him the newest victim.
Flash forward a few days later, and the film reveals its main character, recovering pop sensation Skye Riley (Naomi Scott). The camera lingers on an interview between herself and Drew Berrymore (playing herself), where it is revealed that Skye was the sole survivor of an automobile accident and has been sober since then. It would have been a touching moment had it not been for what happens after when Skye sheds that on-stage facade and trades it in for an arrogant empty shell that has to take photos with her fans and embrace the flashing lights.
It’s a familiar character and one that takes its inspiration from those who have been cursed to live in the limelight. The film sees the increasing pressures of meeting schedules and physically demanding rehearsals, along with putting on those fronts and a manager/mother (Rosemary DeWitt) reminding us of what life is like for those who live in the industry and are constantly under a microscope.
Skye hurts herself during one of her rehearsals, forcing her to get some Vicodin from her drug-dealing friend Lewis. When she enters his apartment, it’s clear that he is unwell. Lines of cocaine can be seen on glass tables, and the man rambles on about not receiving her text and imaginary figures that threaten to kill him. Although she never sees the curse, it’s clear that the curse has been haunting him for days. And the only way to lift it is to give one creepy grin and kill themselves in front of someone. Not understanding what’s happening, Skye is shocked and then vomits when she sees Lewis use a bench press weight to smash his face in.
With the curse now ensnaring its newest host, Skye experiences horrific, inexplicable events that create rifts between herself and those who “support” her. Though her mother encourages her to reconnect with her friend Gemma (Dylan Gelula), Skye can’t help but be haunted by her past and the hallucinations the curse projects onto her.
“Smile 2” creates an entire world of uncertainty and has everyone questioning whether or not Skye is a reliable storyteller. Her character has flaws but is desperately trying to walk the path of recovery, all the while overwhelmed with the pressures and horrors of being a celebrity about to embark on a world tour. The curse reveals Skye’s vulnerabilities through graphic hallucinations of bone-crushing injuries and blood-curdling screams. If that wasn’t enough, the film throws us off balance with how Skye interacts with others. One moment, we question whether or not it’s a deranged fan or if it’s the curse playing tricks on Skye, and then sending over a fan with a sinister grin. Then the curse goes all in by having Skye believe that the deranged fan from earlier broke into her fancy apartment, spread his clothes all over her floor, and stood naked in the dark hallway. Of course, when the lights turn on, everything disappears, but that doesn’t mean the curse is gone. And it gets even scarier when the curse has Skye seeing her backup dancers going after her in a way that’s a combination of artistic expression and hauntingly cringe-worthy.
“Smile 2” isn’t all jump scares, though, as it has the same cringe-worthy jokes woven into the story’s fabric to bring some levity. The humor is so on point that it’s meta. The film is fearless in exploring how stardom creates empty shells of the celebrities that it creates.
The sequel takes everything that made the first “Smile” such a hit with audiences and then amplifies them a hundredfold through the use of clever writing, great character arcs, Cristobal Tapia de Veer’s terrifying score, Elliot Greenberg’s editing, and Charlie Sarroff’s dizzying cinematography. Though most of the off-screen team returns to put the film together, “Smile 2” feels like a completely different story, one that you can jump into if you didn’t watch the first. The mythology is there, sure, but because it takes place from a different perspective, we get to see how the curse operates under a new condition and how it intends to achieve its goals.
One of the ways Greenberg successfully shows off how the curse moves is through its one-shot opening sequence, where the camera follows Paul as he desperately tries to pass the curse onto another host. While the camera tricks are there, the sequence has our full attention because of how much tension draws us in and never lets go. Then there are other moments where the camera lingers on the creepy grins or into the darkness, making us look at every corner of the frame, hoping to catch whatever pops out before it could scare us. Of course, in those latter moments, the scene then cuts to Skye looking the other way, only to discover that the fear has been behind her all this time.
While many of “Smile 2’s” technical aspects make the sequel one of this year’s best horrors, Scott also deserves much credit in her most physically demanding role to date. Skye’s arc is one of redemption as she attempts to take control of her life rather than have trauma control her. She’s charming at first, but she also has her flaws and vulnerabilities, two things the curse will exploit to make its host go insane. And Scott has us glued to her every movement. That look of fear in her eyes when she relives the trauma of the car accident that killed her boyfriend, the hallucination of the excruciating painful broken leg she had, and those terrifying grins that follow are profound and just enough to make audiences cover their eyes or curl in a fetal position.
“Smile 2” opens in theaters on October 18, 2024.
8.5/10
