37/38
The scar on Skye’s knee is shaped like a smile
Story
About to embark on a world tour, global pop sensation Skye Riley begins to experience increasingly terrifying and unexplainable events. Overwhelmed by the mounting horrors and pressures of fame, Skye is forced to confront her past. In one scene, Skye places a VOSS water bottle on a stone/marble kitchen counter and a noise is heard that matches the sound of something plastic being placed down. VOSS water bottles are glass, something that is actually specifically highlighted in the film, so the audio does not match the action seen. Skye Riley: [to the Smile Entity] You’re not in control, I am!.
Featured on The 7PM Project: Episode from October 17, 2024 (2024)
Parker Finn’s feature film debut, ‘Smile’, was a tense horror that made commentary on the devastating effects of trauma. Featuring striking visuals and production design, along with an atmospheric soundtrack, the film was both compelling and creepy, following a psychiatrist who becomes convinced that she is being stalked by an invisible entity after witnessing a violent incident. Featuring a strong central performance from Sosie Bacon, ‘Smile’ performed well at the box office, grossing $217.4 million on a $17 million budget. Although critical opinion was mixed, just months after its release, Finn was thinking about a sequel, noting that “there’s still a lot of interesting things to explore in the world of Smile…” Two years later, ‘Smile 2’ is here. This time, the action follows pop singer Skye Riley, who begins to experience increasingly disturbing events on the cusp of a world tour.
Smile 2 is a very rare beast: a sequel that is arguably better than its predecessor
Forced to confront her dark past, can Skye regain control of her life before it spirals out of control? As in the first, the theme of trauma is cleverly woven into the narrative, along with the themes of control, psychosis, grief and addiction that become the axes around which the horror turns. Riley must wrestle with both her inner demons and the “smile creature,” who is never sure what is reality or fantasy. This makes for a journey that is both compelling and unpredictable, as Finn, making excellent use of visual and aural jump scares, takes us into the smiling heart of horror. The menace lurks in the corner of every frame, waiting to give you a strong scare.
He similarly captures Riley’s performances with aplomb, lending them authenticity
From the brilliantly frenetic opening to the sweeping finale, the film runs at full speed, never letting up. Finn’s characterization is astute and his narrative surprisingly funny; it’s a horror with a black comedy at its core: in contrast to the overwhelming bleakness of its predecessor; “Smile 2” has a bit more to offer viewers. The film reunites Finn with most of the crew from the original, including cinematographer Charlie Sonoff. His work on the first film created an unnerving atmosphere of unpredictable instability; as he does once again. Sarnoff’s use of lighting effectively builds contrast and mood, while his framing of the images heightens the suspense of the narrative.
Night Shyamalan’s recent “Trap”)
Though the camera may be turned upside down to create an ominous effect once again, overall, Sarnoff’s stellar work heightens the impact of the proceedings; and is creepily captivating. Additionally, Cristóbal Tapia de Veer’s score sets a disturbing mood, imbuing the film with raw, horrifying power. While the songs written for Riley’s character are fairly generic, they are well-performed (and considerably better than the similar tunes written for Lady Raven’s character in M. Lester Cohen’s detailed production adds an element of realism, grounding the film despite the fantastical horror of its narrative.