28/24

Seen on The 7PM Project: October 17, 2024 episode (2024)

Scenario

Shortly before her world tour, global pop sensation Skye Riley experiences increasingly horrific and inexplicable events. Overwhelmed by the mounting horrors and pressures of fame, Skye is forced to confront her past. The scar on Skye’s knee is shaped like a smile. In one scene, Skye places a VOSS water bottle on a stone/marble kitchen counter and a sound similar to something plastic being placed on top is heard. VOSS water bottles are made of glass, which is actually highlighted in the film, so the sound does not match the action shown. Skye Riley: [to the Smile Entity] You’re not in control, I am!

Skye is forced to confront her dark past

Parker Finn’s feature film debut Smile was a suspenseful horror film that commented on the devastating effects of trauma. With stunning visuals and good production design, as well as atmospheric music, the film was captivating and terrifying at the same time. It is about a psychiatrist who, after a violent incident, becomes convinced that an invisible being is stalking her. With a strong lead performance from Sosie Bacon, “Smile” was a good box office success, grossing $217.4 million against a budget of $17 million. Although critics had mixed opinions, Finn considered a sequel just months after its release, noting, “There are still many interesting things to discover in the world of Smile…” Two years later, Smile 2 is just around the corner. This time it is about pop singer Skye Riley, who experiences increasingly disturbing events shortly before a world tour.

Can she regain control of her life before it spirals out of control?

“Smile 2” is a very rare beast: a sequel that is arguably better than its predecessor. As in the first part, the theme of trauma is skillfully woven into the narrative, while themes such as control, psychosis, grief and addiction become the linchpins of the horror. Riley must battle both her inner demons and the “smile creature” and is never sure what is reality or fantasy. This makes for a captivating and unpredictable ride as Finn, making excellent use of visual and auditory jump scares, takes you into the smiling heart of terror. There is a threat lurking around the corner of every frame, waiting to give you a violent shock. From the brilliantly frenetic beginning to the jaw-dropping finale, the film moves at full speed and never lets up.

He also confidently captures Riley’s performances and lends them authenticity

Finn’s characterization is sharp and his narration surprisingly funny; it’s a horror film with pitch-black comedy: in contrast to the overwhelming bleakness of its predecessor, “Smile 2” has a little more to offer viewers. The film reunites Finn with most of the original crew, including cinematographer Charlie Sonoff. His work on the first film created an unsettling atmosphere of unpredictable instability, as it does again. Sarnoff’s use of light effectively creates contrast and atmosphere, while his framing heightens the tension of the narrative. While perhaps the camera is turned upside down too often to create a menacing effect, Sarnoff’s excellent work overall heightens the impact of the action; and is incredibly captivating. Additionally, Cristóbal Tapia de Veer’s music creates an eerie atmosphere and gives the film a raw, terrifying power.

Night Shyamalan’s recent film, Trap)

While the songs written for Riley’s character are fairly generic, they are well-performed (and are considerably better than the similar tunes written for Lady Raven’s character in M. Lester Cohen’s detailed production adds an element of realism and grounds the film despite the fantastical horror of its narrative.