Smile II Movie Review
"Smile 2," directed by Parker Finn, plunges deeper into the psychological and supernatural horror elements introduced in the original film, building upon its predecessor’s themes of trauma and paranoia. Naomi Scott stars as Skye Riley, a pop star on the brink of a major tour, who becomes ensnared in a horrifying cycle of fear and self-doubt as she confronts the eerie entity that terrorized the characters in the first film. Scott’s portrayal is powerful and compelling, effectively conveying Skye’s mental and emotional unraveling. Critics widely agree that Scott’s performance is one of the film’s strongest assets, as she brings both emotional depth and vulnerability to her character, making her terror feel palpable and genuine.
The story sets Skye’s horror within the context of her public and private lives. Haunted by unresolved guilt and trauma from a past accident, she is faced with disturbing hallucinations and terrifying, deathly smiles from those around her. These apparitions echo the haunting themes of “Smile,” yet the sequel expands on the entity’s psychological manipulation, using Skye’s fame, fanbase, and intense life in the limelight to amplify her distress. This psychological angle, where Skye’s inner turmoil is manipulated to horrifying extremes, allows the narrative to explore fame as a double-edged sword, adding layers of social commentary on the nature of celebrity and the pressures that come with it.
Director Parker Finn doesn’t shy away from taking creative liberties with horror tropes. The film’s cinematography by Charlie Sarroff includes captivating single-shot scenes and unsettling camera angles, enhancing the film's eerie aesthetic and its immersive horror atmosphere. A standout sequence, praised by critics, captures Skye surrounded by smiling dancers in a surreal, horror-fueled performance—a powerful visual metaphor that emphasizes her sense of entrapment. Additionally, the sound design, layered with dissonant industrial noises and a haunting score, immerses the viewer into Skye’s increasingly fractured reality, blurring the line between reality and illusion in a way that unsettles and captivates.
Despite its many strengths, some critics found the film overly ambitious. With a runtime exceeding two hours, the plot occasionally drags, especially as it grapples with multiple thematic threads that don’t always coalesce smoothly. The film’s narrative complexity can be overwhelming, and some viewers may find the added layers detract from the straightforward horror of the original. The reliance on jump scares and visceral horror, though intense, occasionally verges on predictable, and the story’s exploration of mental health themes—while relevant—might not resonate as poignantly as intended.
However, "Smile 2" still holds a special place in this year’s horror lineup. Critics have hailed it as one of the most visually and emotionally striking horror films of 2024, solidifying Parker Finn’s unique horror vision and Naomi Scott’s star-making performance. While it may not reinvent horror tropes, its intricate character study, cinematic flourishes, and atmospheric tension make "Smile 2" an engaging and terrifying journey.