SMILE 2 is a stellar sequel. With Naomi Scott’s outstanding performance at the helm, the movie effectively plays to its strengths and delivers jump scares, shocking moments, and plenty of gore!
The original Smile was a blast. Although the formula was far from original, the shock value alone cemented the film’s status as an unexpected triumph. Now, Paramount Pictures is inviting us to Smile again in Smile 2. With Parker Finn again in the director’s chair and the superb Naomi Scott cast as our new scream queen, the film has everything going for it. But can this latest romp in the horror sandbox truly move beyond the original formula and deliver a standout sequel? Or should Smile 2 be frowned upon and banished to the pile of disappointing sequels?
REVIEW
Fear not, horror fans, because SMILE 2 is a stellar sequel. Parker Finn has delivered a worthy continuation of his original formula that distinguishes itself from its predecessor. With Naomi Scott’s outstanding performance at the helm, the movie effectively plays to its strengths and delivers plenty of jump scares, shocking moments, and gore, leaving even the most seasoned horror fans with a wide grin. While the film plays it safe and sticks to the original formula, it delivers exactly what it promises. The result is a wonderfully atmospheric sequel that plays the original’s greatest hits and ramps up the scares with a few new twists.
PLAYING IT SAFE
Moving beyond the formula of the original movie was always going to be a tough ask, given its success. Still, like many visionaries before him, Parker Finn takes up the challenge and does what all good directors do – GO BIGGER. Instead of reinventing the wheel and injecting new elements into a winning formula, Finn rises to the challenge by making his sequel far more majestic than the original could ever aspire to be. The first essential element needed to pull off this bold artistic choice is an outstanding leading actor capable of going to the depths of despair but making it look good.
Enter Naomi Scott. Fresh from her roles in Aladdin and Netflix’s Anatomy of a Scandal, Scott doesn’t just bring her talent to the table; she dominates the screen. Portraying a complex character like Skye Riley is daunting, given the intense emotions she must convey as the film unfolds. However, Scott rises to the challenge and surpasses expectations, delivering her most outstanding performance to date.
SCREAM QUEEN
Scott is far from your typical scream queen. Instead, she effortlessly embodies the shallow pop star role, infusing the character with gravitas and emotional depth that makes her genuinely endearing despite whatever troubles may have plagued her past.
Depicted as a troubled pop star striving to overcome her complicated past, Scott’s inner struggles are on full display, making her more relatable. Her initially Lady Gaga-like persona gives way to an emotionally exhausted and tormented individual, trying to get through each day while satisfying those who depend on her. This heavy burden takes a toll, leading to genuine moments of inner turmoil. She meets an old acquaintance, unaware of his even darker secret: a demonic entity that wreaked havoc in the first film.
BREADCRUMBS
Thankfully, the film uses the roadmap left by its predecessor to make it a natural continuation of the narrative. The residual breadcrumbs from the first film are followed to their inevitable conclusion, setting us off on a bold new story with Skye Riley as the driving force. Using Riley’s pop background as the backbone of this story is a bold creative direction. Still, with megastars like Gaga and Arina Grande enjoying prolonged spells in the limelight, it’s the perfect platform to raise the stakes. The global megastar angle thrusts the story onto a bigger stage, with tens of thousands of new extras to use and abuse as defacto playthings for the entity.
As seen in the numerous trailers for the film, Riley becomes “infected” by the entity after witnessing the shocking death of her friend and occasional dealer, Lewis, portrayed by Lukas Gage. The trailers struck with the unsettling imagery of his infamous demise, and I’m happy to confirm that the scenes we’ve seen so far don’t fully capture the intensity of the sequence.
THE SKYE IS THE LIMIT
In contrast to the first movie, which included intense scenes but didn’t show the graphic details of injuries, the sequel doesn’t hold back. This time, the injuries are depicted realistically and are pretty disturbing. Several moments will make the audience cringe. I found myself reacting strongly to the extent of the violence. However, this intense portrayal adds to the impact of Skye’s mental struggle.
Finn’s skillful camera work in this film contributes to the sense of unease. There are moments when Riley’s world is turned upside down, and Finn uses the camera to heighten that feeling. The camera starts with upside-down long shots of Skye’s apartment and gradually rotates until it focuses on her, at which point the camera rights itself. It’s a simple camera technique but one that is incredibly effective. It effectively emphasizes how her life is turned upside down and gives the audience a true sense of the chaos. Like all good horror movies, Finn plunges this entry into the darkness and plays on our primal fears to create a chilling atmosphere. By utilizing expansive, dimly lit spaces and obscure corners, the director manipulates these blind spots to toy with the audience’s senses through Skye, and the result is truly impactful.
SETTLING THE SCORE
The atmospheric soundtrack from composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer, which follows the first film’s success, ups the ante further. The composer returns to the horror genre and uses his formula again to deliver a memorable soundscape. His unnerving cues heighten the intensity of the harrowing images on the screen and help amplify the plethora of jump scares that follow. The film’s use of needle drops pushes boundaries and broadens the creative scope. Paramount Pictures has even capitalized on this by releasing an EP featuring the film’s songs by Skye Riley. Naomi Scott’s talents shine through in this music. The songs are so well arranged that they could easily be mistaken for top pop hits that rival Gaga’s best songs, and that is a testament to the creatives at work at Interscope Records.
CO-STARS
Luckily, Naomi Scott isn’t the only one shining in the spotlight. Her co-stars in supporting roles also deliver outstanding performances that contribute to the story’s strength. Rosemarie DeWitt impresses as Skye’s controlling mother, Elizabeth. Kyle Gallner returns from the first film, adding depth to Joel’s character and providing context to the unfolding story. Miles Gutierrez-Riley delivers a subtle yet enjoyable performance as Elizabeth’s assistant, while Peter Jacobson skillfully guides the narrative when needed.
However, perhaps the most noteworthy and criminally underused character in the sequel is Ray Nicholson’s Paul Hudson. As the son of Hollywood legend Jack Nicholson, Ray showcases his acting talent and leaves a lasting impression despite his limited screen time. His presence in the film brings some of its most memorable moments. Hopefully, he will land more substantial roles as his career progresses because, based on this performance, I’m eagerly anticipating more of his compelling talent.
VERDICT
Overall, SMILE 2 is a strong sequel. Parker Finn returns to his familiar territory and elevates the story with an engaging plot and a larger scale that brings the narrative into focus. However, the film heavily relies on the successful formula of the first installment, recycling many of its best moments. While this approach works, the director may need to update the formula with new elements for any future sequels to ensure the franchise’s continued success.
Still, the film is perfect for a pre-Halloween movie night. Naomi Scott delivers her best performance to date, and the sequel has all the elements of a great horror movie. With jump scares, chilling scenes, and plenty of blood combined with well-crafted musical numbers, it’s a spooky but enjoyable night at the movies. While it may not break new ground, it’s exactly what you’d hope for. So turn that frown upside down, grab some popcorn, and get ready for a thrilling night with Skye Riley. It’s guaranteed to leave you smiling from ear to ear. Permanently.
SMILE 2 from Paramount Pictures releases in cinemas from October 17th.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
