The definition of the word horror is an intense feeling of fear, shock, or disgust. My problem with this definition is that it’s missing the word fun. There are so many horror films that don’t necessarily scare you but they still have you on the edge of your seat and you leave having a good time. Some of the best horror films can do both. You can have your heart race while still having a fantastic time. Smile 2 manages to be both creepy and a hell of a time.
The Story
Smile 2 tells the story of pop sensation Skye Riley. After seeing a friend commit suicide, the smile curse is passed to her. She now has to find a way to manage her upcoming tour as well as find a way to stop the curse that will end her life in one week. The curse is causing her not to know if what she sees is real and she is slowly losing her grip on reality.
I will be the first to say that I was not the biggest fan of the first Smile film. I realize that I am in the minority on this. The movie was good but to me, it wasn’t very memorable. The concept is a great one. A demon that messes with your head, driving you insane. A smile can be pretty creepy depending on the circumstances. A smile can also be extremely goofy. The first movie takes itself too seriously for most if not all of its running time and it just lacks fun. The second movie knows exactly what it is and what it can do.
What Works?
The movie doesn’t work without a believable lead. There have been some great horror performances this year and Naomi Scott is incredible in this movie. She plays the pop star very well and when she has to slowly lose her mind little by little, you cannot take your eyes off her. As Skye Riley, she has a lot to do in this movie. Between being covered in a lot of blood and just having a closeup of her face most of the time, she delivers in just about every scene. This is truly her movie.
The other thing that works is this movie does what a sequel is supposed to do. Everything is bigger. The body horror is more immaculate. The jumpscares are done better and the tone is insane. There is never a boring moment. Smile 2 leans into its oddness and mixes it with creepy tones and wild cinematography.
We had another sort of popstar horror film this year in Trap. That movie failed because none of it felt relatable genuine or fun. It felt like a music video and it takes the audience out. Smile 2 does it better by showing you the pressures and issues Skye Riley is going through. The horror is also involved. There are a couple of scenes where the movie will show a musical performance or just have a scene that makes you feel comfortable only to hit you with something creepy. It just works.
What Doesn’t Work?
The only real problem is towards the end, the film becomes more predictable. Besides a few things, you can see where the movie is going. At the end of the day, it seems like we are going to get a franchise. For Smile fans, this could be great news. As I said, this sequel does do familiar things way better, but they still are familiar. I thought this was a great sequel but for a franchise we might have to try some other things.
There are more delusions in this film than the first one. The audience spends a lot of time wondering what is real and what isn’t. This kind of goes off the rails towards the end. There is a lot that occurs that almost makes you ask what was the point? But the movie is forgiven because it’s a lot of fun.
Overall
Smile 2 surpasses the original in every way. It manages to be creepy while not taking itself too seriously. Naomi Scott is fantastic giving one of the best horror performances of the year. This movie won’t be a game-changer or something that will be insanely memorable for years to come. It doesn’t need to be that. It’s highly enjoyable, fun, and a solid horror sequel that will put a smile on your face.