Hypnotic Mental Health Horror Smile 2 (2024) Ups the Ante In Every Conceivable Way
Title: Smile 2
First Non-Festival Release: October 16, 2024 (Theatrical Release)
Director: Parker Finn
Writer: Parker Finn
Runtime: 127 Minutes
Starring: Naomi Scott, Dylan Gelula, Kyle Gallner
Where to Watch: Check out where to find it here
Mental health continues to be at the forefront of many conversations in the United States as a variety of other high-profile issues intersect with it. With all this knowledge, the consequences of someone’s poor mental health can inspire a range of emotions in those around them.
Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) is on the precipice of her comeback tour after checking into rehab following a fatal car accident. Outed as a substance user, wrestling with the guilt of how she treated and treats people around her, and desperate to regain public grace, Skye has enough going on in her life before she stumbles into Lewis (Lukas Gage) for a quick fix for her chronic pain. There, she watches in horror as Lewis dies by suicide in front of her, passing along a curse that threatens to end her life in less than a week’s time.
Raising the stakes while keeping close to the franchise’s dark heart, Smile 2 delivers exemplary scares and haunting storytelling.
Continuing the series’ excellent commentary on mental health and the pitfalls of our society’s attitude towards those suffering, Smile 2 dives deeper into the themes presented in the previous film. Choosing a pop star opens Smile 2 up to plenty of interesting conversations about how connection in the digital age wreaks havoc on one’s sense of self. With the need to be perceived as perfect in the public eye and quite literally perform happiness, Skye lives in a hyper-focused fishbowl that amplifies the worst of surveillance culture. Despite being around so many people every day and her circle is a phone call or text away, Skye remains alone when she needs help the most thanks to her previous decisions. While accountability is important, when does accountability end and punishment begin? Skye Riley is imperfect but that is what makes her so easy to root for. Washing away concepts of “good” and “bad” people, Skye truly wants to be better but lacks the tools needed to address her traumas.
Skye Riley makes for an excellent protagonist after following Rose in the first Smile. Where Rose is characterized by her patience, empathy, and drive to help others, Skye is depicted as selfish, destructive, and falling apart. What appears to be flare ups of a diva refusing to take ownership of her life are cries for help. Nearly every instance where Skye is attacked by the demon its goal is to either attack her few remaining relationships or destroy her credibility as an artist. While the stakes are high for all, not everyone will deal with the fallout in the form of the next day’s talk show conversations or think pieces the way Skye does. She has no choice but to swallow her pride and smile through the humiliation, which makes the demon attached to her all the more satisfied.
All this to say, Skye Riley would be nothing without Naomi Scott’s daring performance. Scott takes every opportunity to remind the audience of Skye’s humanity. Vulnerability shines through her facade in the few moments that Skye is alone while her presence blooms when she is in her element onstage. Scott plays with her face and voice to project the shattering of Skye’s steely confidence. Genuine shock, fear, and frustration sweep across her face perfectly in both low and high stress scenes. Thanks to Scott, Skye isn’t just a vapid pop star getting her comeuppance but a scared young woman navigating an impossible situation finding the will to live a better life.
Parker Finn employs his signature direction to induce some particularly gnarly scares and fake outs throughout Smile 2. Finn keeps a variety of tools in his toolbox to keep viewers on the edge of their seat. Between drawn out sequences that beg the viewer to question reality and sharp jump scares that earn their jolts, Finn plays around generously in Smile 2. Perhaps the most peculiar sequence features a horde of backup dancers torturing Skye in an odd chase-meets-fight sequence. To say more would be a disservice for those yet acquainted. All this to say, Smile 2 is a genuinely scary film that torments the audience as much as Skye.
Featuring a pop star main character, Smile 2 benefits greatly from its dark pulsing soundtrack that serves both as effective foreshadowing and truly entertaining music separate from the film. Bold pop songs that preclude tragedy is about to befall its singer leave way to moments of true vulnerability. Not only do they lead credence to the fact that Skye Riley is a Bonafide pop star, but they also make for electric dance numbers that give the film a jolt of energy whenever the horror is temporarily paused.
Fans of the first will adore Smile 2 thanks to its insistence of upping the ante in every conceivable way. Between Finn’s direction and Scott’s dazzling performance, Smile 2 is an impressive sequel that delivers the goods for horror fans aching for thoughtful and terrifying films. Smile 2 strikes an uncanny balance of revealing just enough as a sequel without reworking a winning formula. Horror fans have plenty to smile about now that Smile 2 is out, so be sure to watch it now.
Overall Score? 8/10
