A Twisted Horror Sequel That Does not Let Up

“Smile 2” is relentless. It is a continuous spookshow that simply retains growing in insanity, constructing in the direction of a grand finale that just about absolves the movie of any damaging points you may need. Don’t be concerned, I am not dipping into spoiler territory right here, apart from to say that it is a movie that appears to be residing proof of the age-old adage that the final 10 minutes make a film. If you happen to pull off a killer ending, everybody goes to miss your flaws. And sure, “Smile 2” has some flaws. For one factor, the movie stretches on method too lengthy — did this factor must clock in at over 2 hours? For an additional, director Parker Finn, who additionally wrote and directed 2022’s “Smile,” has a bag of tips he reuses method too typically: easy-to-predict jumpscares and a keenness for incessantly flipping the digital camera upside-down as if to say “Get it??! Issues are bizarre!” These components begin to get a bit of tiresome.

And but … gosh, this film form of works, does not it? When I noticed the primary “Smile” at its premiere again at Incredible Fest in 2022, I will admit that I used to be barely chilly on the pic. I did not dislike it, precisely — I simply felt like Finn was borrowing too closely from horror films that got here earlier than, particularly “The Ring.” However when I revisited “Smile” on Blu-ray on multiple event, a curious factor occurred: I grew to adore it. I appreciated the manic power Finn was capable of create, and I beloved, beloved, beloved the toothy look of the movie’s monster seen within the fiery climax. As such, I used to be wanting ahead to “Smile 2,” and I will tip my hat to Finn and say that he is made a sequel that is larger, meaner, and only a smidge extra attention-grabbing. Like the primary movie, “Smile 2” understands that humor and horror typically go hand in hand, and a variety of the moments on this sequel illicit intentional laughs. Simply once you’ve let your guard down as a consequence of amusement, the movie will abruptly bark in your face and provide you with a jolt. Is it a bit of low-cost? Certain. Does it work? Sure, sure it does. 

“Smile 2” may make for an attention-grabbing double-feature with one other 2024 movie — Coralie Fargeat’s bonkers “The Substance.” As a result of self-loathing is on the coronary heart of each movies; they share foremost characters who’re each well-known girls cursed with a kind of self-hatred that plagues on their minds and leads them down darkish avenues. In “Smile 2,” our lead is Skye Riley, a pop star (has she ever carried out with Woman Raven?) who’s staging a giant comeback tour after a yr out of the highlight. We study {that a} yr in the past, Skye was in a automobile accident that killed her boyfriend and left her badly injured. She was hooked on drink and medicines on the time, and within the yr since, she’s healed up and gotten sober. Now she’s able to get again on stage, a lot on the urging of her supervisor and mom (Rosemarie DeWitt).

Skye is performed by Naomi Scott, who’s sensational right here. That is certainly not Scott’s first movie (she was within the not-so-bad “Energy Rangers” film, the blockbuster live-action remake of Disney’s “Aladdin,” and likewise the already forgotten “Charlie’s Angels” reboot), however her work in “Smile 2” looks like a real popping out; a sign that she’s supremely proficient and deserves to explode in a giant method. Scott is wrung by means of the wringer, and we’re together with her each step of the way in which, watching as her sanity snaps and she or he grapples with each supernatural horrors and her personal inside loathing. Sure, she’s wealthy and well-known, however what does that each one add as much as? “Smile 2” goes to nice lengths to point out us that fame ain’t it is all cracked as much as be — it is lonely being so seen. And Skye’s troubled previous solely haunts her extra, casting a pall on her whole life. 

As you will recall from the primary movie, the key hook of “Smile” is that some type of supernatural power latches onto folks like a parasite and begins stalking them round (suppose “It Follows,” with out the intercourse). As is often the case for these types of supernatural curses, there are guidelines: the smile-monster latches onto somebody, causes them to see disturbing visions (together with folks flashing large, creepy grins), drives them insane for a few week, after which forces them to die by suicide. The important thing right here is that another person has to witness the suicide: that is how the an infection, for lack of a greater phrase, will get unfold.

Whereas Skye is off booze and cocaine, she nonetheless takes the occasional Vicodin for a again damage she suffered within the automobile accident. On account of her historical past with medication, acquiring Vicodin is tough (this is without doubt one of the extra unbelievable features of a movie about smile-monsters; do well-known pop stars actually have hassle getting medication?). And so, one night time, Skye heads over to the residence of drug dealing acquaintance Lewis (Lukas Gage). Sadly, Lewis is inflicted with the curse/no matter you wish to name it, and he proceeds to brutally bash his personal face in proper in entrance of her (that is within the film’s trailer, it isn’t a spoiler, I swear). Witnessing Lewis’ loss of life is traumatic sufficient by itself, however quickly Skye is experiencing horrific visions and going utterly out of her thoughts in consequence. She begins seeing smiling folks in all places, together with the apparition of her useless boyfriend (Ray Nicholson, who’s Jack Nicholson’s son and has clearly inherited his father’s grin). 

To ensure that the demonic an infection to work, actuality must be questionable. Skye is continually experiencing horrific, jump-scare laden photographs, which permits writer-director Finn to stage some memorable moments (a scene the place Sky invisions all of her back-up dancers grinning and advancing on her like a flash-mob from hell is an actual spotlight). Nevertheless, this additionally means the movie will get to cheat lots. Do not know the way to finish a scene? Effectively, this is a simple answer: say it was all in Skye’s head! This occurs time and again, and after concerning the fifth time, you begin to see how the sausage is made: the script produces an outlandish state of affairs, will get caught with the way to advance it additional, after which shortly twists its method out by saying it was all faux. For Skye, who’s experiencing all of this firsthand, it is understandably traumatic. For the viewers, it could possibly get a bit of tedious. 

And but, I had a variety of (twisted) enjoyable with watching all of it play out. I used to be taken with Scott’s go-for-broke efficiency, and the way in which she makes Skye really feel like an actual individual going by means of absolute hell. I’d’ve rolled my eyes across the third time Finn flipped the digital camera the other way up to convey unease, however I will additionally admit he is aware of precisely the way to construct delightfully scary rigidity from scene to scene, expertly baiting us proper earlier than the hook stabs into our cheek. After which there’s that ending I talked about. I’ve a sense you are going to have the ability to predict it as you watch the film, however that does not make it any much less efficient. It is fairly rattling nice. You may even stroll out of the theater smiling.

/Movie Ranking: 7 out of 10

“Smile 2” opens in theaters on October 18, 2024.