SMILE 2 (2024)

Two years ago, American filmmaker Parker Finn released his first feature, Smile (2022), based on a short film he made called Laura Hasn’t Slept (2020). Produced on a sensible $17M budget, Smile was originally intended just for streaming. However, due to strong test scores, Paramount Pictures released it theatrically, where it grossed a healthy $217M at the box office. Naturally, talk of a sequel soon followed, with Finn swiftly signing up to write and direct a follow-up.

Smile centred on a female therapist called Rose who was unfortunate enough to see a patient brutally kill herself. Shortly after, she began experiencing terrifying occurrences. It wasn’t long before she realised she was under the curse of a malevolent entity, with only a week to break free from its grip or face the grim consequences.

This supernatural curse story, though not quite as clever as It Follows (2014) or darkly funny as Drag Me to Hell (2009), was still directed with flair while featuring quite an original subtext about trauma and inherited mental illness—it also had the bonus of featuring enough scares and gore to satisfy modern horror audiences. So, has Finn scored a win again with the sequel? Thankfully, the answer is a resounding ‘yes’: this new entry’s storyline pushes the demon curse theme forward with enough style and verve while still delivering the bloody mayhem on a bigger and glitzier canvas.

Global pop sensation Sky Riley (Naomi Scott) is about to embark on a comeback tour after a car crash from one year ago that claimed the life of her boyfriend. Apart from heralding a physical return to health, this series of concerts is meant to signify her new clean lifestyle following the news of alcohol and drug abuse that emerged just after the accident—in other words, this is her last chance to make a go of her career in the music industry.

Following a public press event, Skye is clearly not 100% clear of her injuries as she’s seen suffering back pain; something she takes opiates for. Unfortunately, her drug dealer Lewis (Lukas Gage), whom she visits to get painkillers, has been involved in a bizarre and somewhat violent incident six days ago (occurring at the start of the film) and is now afflicted with a supernatural curse. Before you can say ‘Get out of there now’, Skye sees Lewis commit suicide rather nastily and, well, you can guess what happens next…

While it can be said that this continuation in the Smile universe treads similar beats to its predecessor, after all the script’s curse motif can’t be ignored, writer-director Finn should be given credit for creating a film that can sit comfortably next to what came before, while at the same time feeling fresh in places, all on a much bigger backdrop that is New York City.

Skye’s surface-deep glamorous lifestyle (complete with limos, entourage, fans, and swanky Manhattan apartment) certainly goes some way in giving audiences a new dramatic setting, but they also manage to nicely act as an excuse for cinematographer Charlie Sarroff to go crazy with the camera lens and give us something of a pop star’s aesthetic: complete with bright neon, cool vibrant colours, and shiny chrome. It’s a feast for the eyeballs. One standout scene has to be when Skye is filming a new pop video (cue lots of dancers and amazing costumes) and one seriously stunning graphic screen in the background gives off a kaleidoscopic display of vivid red and dark blue light. Think Chemical Brothers mixed with Lady Gaga and you get the idea.

Of course, all of this modern theatricality wouldn’t be quite so effective without such a commanding screen presence standing centre stage (pun intended!), and so it’s just as well that Naomi Scott (Power Rangers) doesn’t disappoint.

It has to be said she benefits from having a real-life musical background in various Disney productions, but from her very first scene, the British actor is never anything less than convincing as a famous singer used to living in the public spotlight, but at the same time, also battling with the trauma of losing a loved one in tragic circumstances, and coping with addiction. Put simply: she looks, moves, and sounds like a genuine pop performer; Scott even sang live during certain segments in the film.

Nicely supporting her through this maelstrom of madness is her friend—or is it ex-friend?—Gemma (Dylan Gelula), along with her mother and manager Elizabeth (Rosemarie DeWitt), plus a potential saviour in the form of ER nurse Morris (Peter Jacobson) who has some ideas on how to beat the demonic entity. Talking of which, director-writer Finn is enjoying having a bigger budget this time around as he puts the poor pop princess through some genuinely horrific set pieces; gorehounds will be happy with some of the gruesome carnage on display here.

As sequels go, especially one that was turned around so quickly, this is definitely up there with some of the better ones. And yet, funnily enough, what was the main fault of the original can also be found here—that it’s too long for its own good. Clocking in at well over two hours, the story, while being fairly strong, isn’t quite as substantial to deserve that runtime, and there are times near the end when potential tedium nearly becomes a reality. That being said, this complaint can admittedly be described as ‘nitpicking’, as Smile 2 provides more than enough blood, jump scares and suspense compared to most recent horror offerings. No really, this genuinely deserves its 18-certificate.

In time to come, some viewers may say the film’s conclusion is a little predictable—and this is a fair statement, as yes, the story sticks with the cursed demon path like before. But oh boy, what transpires still packs quite a punch and cleverly paves the way for a third film that, if it lives up to what’s hinted at, will be nothing short of bat-shit bonkers. Bring it on!

USA • CANADA | 2024 | 127 MINUTES | 2.00:1 | COLOUR | ENGLISH

Cast & Crew

writer & director: Parker Finn.
starring: Naomi Scott, Rosemarie DeWitt, Kyle Gallner, Lukas Gage, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Peter Jacobson, Raúl Castillo, Dylan Gelula & Ray Nicholson.