Spooky Season 2024: Smile 2 Review

The original Smile is remembered as a surprise modern horror hit, built around the simple premise of traumatized characters with sinister smiles. That simple premise is once again the basis for Smile 2, a sequel that takes everything what audiences loved about Smile and improves on it in almost every conceivable way. Picking up almost immediately where the first film leaves off, Smile 2 sees pop star Skye Riley (Scott) become the next target of the mysterious Smile Entity. The Smile Entity’s curse arrives at the worst possible time for Skye, who is already grappling with past demons as she prepares to embark on a world tour. Suddenly, Skye finds herself continuously being forced to witness illusions of people, including herself, being subjected to grotesque violence.

Parker Finn returns from the original film to write and direct Smile 2, creating a tense atmosphere that will keep audiences on edge of their seats throughout, bringing a surprising level of gore and body horror that surpasses even the original. Meanwhile, Skye’s fame dramatically raises the stakes from the original, as the sequel centers on a character constantly in the public eye. No one understands what Skye is going through, so her actions are viewed as being part of a mental breakdown that could damage her reputation. Finn’s decision to center the film on a famous pop star is brilliant, allowing it to “go bigger” while still telling an imitate story that explores the isolation that comes with fame. Scott is perfectly cast as Riley, delivering an incredible performance where she sings and does her own choreography all while conveying Skye’s trauma and perpetual anxiety. Music plays a major role in the film and of course, the film only works if Skye is believable as a pop star. Scott is, without a doubt, convincing and her songs as Riley make for great listening long after the credits roll.

The supporting cast, which includes DeWitt as Skye’s mother Elizabeth, Miles Gutierrez-Riley (Joshua), and Dylan Gelula (Gemma), all bring their own unique charm and help to ground the film amidst its supernatural horror elements. While the film is not their story, they serve to contextualize Skye’s regular day-to-day life. In spite of its horror side, it still finds time for moments of levity utilizing these characters but also torments Skye with the reminder that no one in her circle is truly safe. Therefore, she takes on much of what was happening to her on her own, choosing not to risk putting anyone in danger.

As a sequel, it successfully builds on the original through a compelling new protagonist. The film understands what audiences love about the original, however, some narrative decisions call into question the its effectiveness as a metaphor for trauma as it seems to bounce between committing to exploring trauma and abandoning that exploration. Though it is impossible to discuss without sharing spoilers at this time, it will be interesting to watch the topic be discussed as more audiences get to see the film.

At the end of the day, Smile 2 is a fantastic sequel that features solid scares, an incredible lead performance by Naomi Scott, and a strong supporting cast. Not only is it one of the best horror films of the year so far, it may be destined to establish Smile as the next big horror franchise. With the events Smile 2 puts in motion, audiences will certainly be left eager to see wherever the franchise goes next.

still courtesy of Paramount Pictures

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Matthew Kang