By Elliot Lines - October 19, 2024
In 2022, a horror film featuring a sinister grin made waves, becoming a massive success both critically and at the box office. Smile introduced a terrifying concept where a demon feeds on peoples trauma's making it impossible to overcome. Now, director Parker Finn returns to this horrifying world for a second run with Smile 2.
With Smile having already established the premise, Smile 2 is able to build on those ideas and take them to the next level. Famous singer Sky Riley (Naomi Scott), is the main focus, her inner demons are prevalent from the beginning, haunted by guilt, addiction and unresolved trauma. These traits give license for the "Smile" demon to hone in and double down on the terror while it preys on her vulnerabilities, allowing the film become increasingly terrifying.
Smile 2 effectively uses the unknown, with Sky in the dark of what is truly happening to her. The film makes us of jump scares to enhance her experience, with there being plenty of genuine surprises to get you out your seat. At any given moment that terrifying grin makes an appearance, catching you off guard, and sending Sky spiralling further into the demons grip.
Naomi Scott gives an invigorating performance as Pop superstar Sky Riley. The character has a deep history of trauma and personal struggles, and Scott skilfully portrays the different array of emotions while dealing with the demon that now possesses her. As the film progresses, Scott becomes even more convincing in embodying the panic and fear that Sky Riley is being forced to overcome, with an invisible demon that is seemingly only seen through her eyes.
Smile 2 doesn't shy away from gore. Early on, the film sets out a precedence for the horrors to come, with one of the first deaths we see is someone smash their own face in with a gym weight - it is a truly gruesome sight as his jaw falls from his face. The film doesn't stop there however and continues throughout to bring horrifying scenes where the sense of reality is increasingly distorted.
Smile 2 not only lives up to its predecessor, but surpasses it, expanding on what came before, providing more terror and plenty of gore. Naomi Scott gives a fantastic portrayal as someone battling inner demons, while tackling an unknown threat to her life. The "Smile" demon is a truly terrifying concept, and Smile 2 takes that fear to a whole new level.
SMILE 2 IS OUT NOW IN CINEMAS
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