Parker Finn’s Smile 2 offers an eerie expansion of the cosmic horror introduced in its predecessor while providing a light social commentary on fame, mental health, and personal trauma. In fact, this element can feel a little icky at times when the feel punctuates an emotional beat about trauma with a jump scare. The film follows Skye Riley (Naomi Scott), a pop star on the verge of a comeback after a public breakdown and a stint in rehab, who becomes the latest victim of the malevolent entity that feeds on emotional anguish. By blending supernatural horror with a sometimes pointed critique of celebrity culture, Smile 2 elevates itself beyond the standard possession narrative.
From the beginning, Smile 2 plunges its audience into Skye’s unraveling reality. Rehearsing for her comeback tour, Skye is already under immense pressure to succeed, even as she grapples with the trauma of a car crash that killed her boyfriend and left her with chronic pain. Her emotional vulnerability makes her an easy target for the same demonic entity that wreaked havoc in the first Smile. After witnessing the violent suicide of her drug dealer, Skye begins experiencing increasingly disturbing hallucinations, blurring the lines between reality and nightmare.
One of Smile 2’s strengths is how it leverages its central metaphor of smiling as a façade, tying it into the broader theme of public perception versus private agony. Skye’s status as a pop star adds a layer of tragedy to her ordeal, as her fans and team treat her struggles with superficial concern, much like the celebrity culture that often ignores the mental health of stars in favor of their marketability. Despite being surrounded by people, Skye’s descent into madness feels isolating, reflecting the loneliness that often accompanies fame. Naomi Scott’s performance captures this tension beautifully, portraying a character whose inner turmoil is constantly at odds with her public image.
Visually, Finn sticks to his winning formula of tightly framed close-ups and jarring jump scares, keeping audiences on edge. Cinematographer Charlie Sarroff’s long, floating shots build tension with precision, giving way to chilling moments where the smiling entity strikes. Finn has a clear understanding of horror’s power to unsettle by withholding just enough to let viewers’ imaginations fill in the blanks, while still delivering enough visceral terror to satisfy fans of more traditional jump-scare fare.
In Smile 2, the real horror lies in its psychological underpinnings. Skye’s battles with addiction and unresolved grief are at the heart of her vulnerability, and Finn doesn't shy away from showing the cyclical nature of trauma, much like the entity that feeds on it. The film’s handling of this theme is especially relevant in today’s world, where discussions around mental health are becoming increasingly mainstream, but where the stigma surrounding public breakdowns still persists. Still, the film's pace hardly lets it explore this with any true insight. It becomes difficult to get involved in Skye's emotional moments when we are anticipating a jump scare.
The film’s pacing is relentless, and while the intensity is gripping, it does lead to a sense of exhaustion by the third act. The constant barrage of hallucinations and jump scares leaves little room for the quieter moments that made the first Smile effective. However, the sequel finds a balance with its occasional moments of dark humor, particularly in the character of Gemma (Dylan Gelula), Skye’s best friend, whose sardonic remarks provide some much-needed levity amidst the chaos.
The choreography, led by Celia Rowlson-Hall, brings a unique flavor to the film, particularly in the unsettling sequence involving Skye’s backup dancers, whose movements mimic the creature's influence. These elements, along with the film’s upgraded production values, create a visually arresting horror experience.
While not without its flaws, Smile 2 successfully builds on the mythology established in the first film, creating a more complex narrative that delves into themes of addiction, trauma, and the pressures of fame. As the entity continues to wreak havoc on new victims, it becomes clear that Smile is positioning itself as a lasting franchise, with endless potential for exploration. For fans of the original, this sequel offers more than enough thrills, while also hinting at darker, deeper stories yet to be told.
3.5/5
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