About to embark on a world tour, global pop sensation Skye Riley begins experiencing increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events. Overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and the pressures of fame, Skye is forced to face her past.
The original “Smile” was a horror revelation, introducing a chilling new monster to the genre: a grotesque, skinless creature with multiple malformed jaws nestled within a massive, macabre grin. The film’s conclusion left the door open for a sequel, and now, two years later, “Smile 2” has arrived. Unfortunately, while it follows the same basic structure as its predecessor, it fails to recapture the magic that made the first installment so compelling.
In “Smile 2,” Joel (Kyle Gallner), the sole survivor of the initial film who was left cursed by the Smile Entity, attempts to pass the affliction on to a Russian mobster. However, his plan goes awry, setting the stage for the introduction of Skye Riley (Naomi Scott), a pop star on the cusp of a major comeback after a year-long stint in rehab following a near-fatal car accident that claimed the life of her former boyfriend. Skye’s ongoing recovery includes managing chronic pain with opioids, a fact that becomes increasingly relevant as the story unfolds.
When Skye’s old friend and drug supplier, Lewis (Lukas Gage), begins acting bizarrely and ultimately dies in a shocking display of self-inflicted violence, she is propelled down a nightmarish path. Her subsequent encounter with Morris (Peter Jacobson), an ER nurse who has lost a brother to the same entity, reveals the horrifying truth: Skye is now the entity’s target. Morris proposes a desperate plan to potentially kill the entity by stopping Skye’s heart and reviving her after an eight-minute period of clinical death. However, this risky scheme is fraught with uncertainty.
The first “Smile” revolutionized the horror genre by introducing the Smile Demon, a malevolent entity that feeds on human trauma. The demon’s modus operandi involves tormenting its host with illusions and manipulations before culminating in possession and forcing the victim to commit suicide in front of a witness, thereby passing on the curse. The film’s exploration of mental health themes was underscored by the unsettling smile the possessed individuals displayed moments before their deaths, symbolizing the societal pressure to present a happy facade despite inner turmoil. Writer-director Parker Finn masterfully conveyed the unnerving nature of this “smile” in the original, making it an instantly iconic element of the franchise.
Regrettably, Finn fails to replicate this success in the sequel. While “Smile 2” includes the expected eerie atmosphere, violent hallucinations, and blurring of reality and dreams, the narrative becomes overly fixated on Skye’s backstory, particularly the car accident that almost claimed her life. Unlike the first film, which balanced Rose’s trauma revelations with the escalating horror, “Smile 2” allows Skye’s past to overshadow the plot, gradually draining the tension and transforming the movie into a drama.
The introduction of Morris offers a glimmer of hope for Skye, but this is ultimately revealed to be an illusion crafted by the entity. This twist feels like a betrayal of the audience’s investment in Skye’s fate, suggesting that the franchise may be adopting a frustrating pattern of inevitably dooming its protagonists.
The Smile Demon itself is also mishandled in the sequel. The entity’s newfound hints of personality feel out of place, echoing the problematic evolution of horror villains like Freddy Krueger, who became more comedic as his series progressed. The demon’s effectiveness stemmed from its initial enigmatic nature, making its potential future characterization a concerning development.
Despite its shortcomings, “Smile 2” delivers some undeniably frightening sequences and jump scares. Naomi Scott shines as Skye, portraying a strong-willed woman’s heartbreaking descent into the clutches of madness with a depth reminiscent of a young Florence Pugh. The supporting cast also provides commendable performances.
The future of the “Smile” franchise is uncertain. While “Smile 2” is a disappointing follow-up, the inherent potential of the concept remains. The series needs to refocus on its horror roots and reconsider its narrative approach to character development and the entity’s depiction. Returning to the original’s gritty, unsettling tone is essential for the franchise’s survival.
In Theaters Friday, October 18th