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This is definitely a must watch, it will keep you hooked up the entire time. The acting is brilliant, camera and music were top of the line, and the scare level is outstanding; at one scene of the movie, everyone in the theater jumped of their seats lol :grin:
VIP4"You're not in control, I am!"
So different yet so similar to the first, the skin is different but it's the same skeleton. Way more character driven than anything I could've anticipated and that turned out to be the movie's biggest strength, we get deep into Skye Riley's psyche and psychological breakdown and she absolutely drives this movie from beginning to end. Solid performance from Naomi Scott, I absolutely bought that she was a super star. Kyle Gallner was a treat whenever he was on-screen but I wanted more of him. That action sequence with him at the beginning was so intense.
Some creative instances with the horror elements but overall i'm a little disappointed at how similar it is to the first and it overuses cheap jumpscares. The psychological aspect was the strongest though, some nice "characters losing their shit" moments. Some tonal inconsintencies throughout, you can't do comedy and dark scary stuff in the same scene. It's too damn long, while I appreciate the character buildup I think some scenes could be cut down or even removed entirely.
The camerawork is worth a mention it's quite satisfying, costumes and makeup are worthy of a celebrity, and the sets and locations really stand out. I thought it would end several times in the third act but it just kept adding twist after turn (some I saw coming and some I didn't) and it was too much. The ending is so damn predictable, when this sequel was announced and I knew a pop star would be the main character the first thing that came to mind was her doing that on the stage. Too much ugly CGI and they didn't show enough in those final few minutes.
He's very, very good in this movie, just like his first movie. The movie has picked up where it left off and the sequel will come, as seen in the last scene of this movie. Smile Dec 3 :grin:By the way, the movie is one of the best horror and thriller movies I've watched recently. The acting, script and effects were very, very good. If you like this kind of movie or series, definitely watch this movie. I think you'll like it very much. It has been added to my favorites. Health to your labor, I won't be able to sleep at night for 1 week, but let it be :joy:Definitely watch.
VIPI feel like this film definitely didn't know what it wanted to be and just seemed to keep going back to tell us about what Skye had previously been like whilst also reminding us that she's being chased by people smiling and then back to oh yeah, she was also very on drugs and now she's still struggling to figure out what was real...
And then Morris, I'm still not too sure what to make of him... The whole film I was like right is this meant to be connected at all to the first one?
And by the end, I wasn't smiling at all....
I don't understand why this movie is getting so much hate. Watching in the theater was a hallucinatory, anxiety inducing ride.
Definitely a step up from the first Smile. Overall, I enjoyed it—some creative scenes and decent jump scares, but nothing groundbreaking. The car scene really stood out in terms of acting, but the CGI outside felt so off. It gave me flashbacks to old PS2 graphics, which totally broke the immersion.
The ending, though, was strong. The 'monster' reveal was well-executed, even if it had limited screen time. This year has been good for monster flicks, with Alien: Romulus and The Substance, and Smile 2 delivered its own cool moment.
I can see why some might be divided on the ending, but personally, I thought it wrapped things up nicely.
This is Parker Finn's second attempt, and he still doesn't understand the strengths or weaknesses of Smile. Is it a psychological thriller, a possession story, or a monster movie? He throws in everything, hoping something will stick while relying on cheap jump scares to fill in the gaps. The sequel uses the same formula as the first, and it tastes just like microwaved leftovers.
Some reviewers are suggesting this is better than the first movie, I just don't get that.
For me, the first one is superior by some distance.
That is not to say that this one doesn't stand on it's own merits, solid acting throught, I especially liked Naomi Scott in the lead and was certainly rooting for her.
Overall though I still found it poor, far too predictable and the ending felt like a very rushed cop out especially when it took almost 2 hours to get there.
I'll be honest and say that for every moment if I get scared, angry or anxious and am advised to down a whole bottle of Voss Water I'll be broke.
Naomi Scott's character wasn't likeable whatsoever and for me, it wasn't scary like the first one, especially the final act which was too confusing and seemed like they made it up without trying to make it make sense.
Perhaps I’ve seen too many horror movies, or liked the first one more than I thought. I found this installment to be a misguided trek that leads to the next installment. The lead was good. The plot was not. But, I will say this: the songs in this were much better than the songs in “Trap!” :type_4:♂
I wasn't overly impressed with the first Smile, but this sequel really surprised me. The special effects were top-notch, and there were some genuinely terrifying jump scares that had me leaping out of my seat. Definitely worth a watch for horror fans!
Naomi Scott is going to a fkng star!
My most anticipated this year, can't wait
VIP2Surprisingly I actually really enjoyed this one. Even as much as the first one, though in a different way.
Firstly, I usually don't ever get scared of a jump scare but there were two extremely unexpected jump scares in this one. If you watch this movie you'll know what I mean. Also how the [spoiler] two movies are intertwined with the opening scene, brilliant! [spoiler]
Additionally I thought the completely [spoiler] new characters and especially the character behavior of Skye Rikey (Naomi Scott) were fantastic. The difference of the movie because of the difference between Skye and Rose (in the first part) is amazing! [spoiler]
One thing I disliked though, was the repeated use of [spoiler] "Hey, that's not really {insert any character name}! The entity/ghost/paranormal being/whatever just tricked you into thinking it was him/her!". [spoiler] It was very obvious at some points in the movie that it was this case again. Only the last time this method was used, where [spoiler] Gemma hadn't even called Skye the whole time [spoiler] was great.
Also the ending had me questioning whether [spoiler] one of the people in the audience will now be possessed by the entity or all of them will now be possessed. [spoiler]
It's terrible. are these actors?
the amount of advertissement should have told me it was gonna be shit.
Just is very good at what it is. Very very bloody and gruesome though and I never want to see another Smile movie again because I am a wimp.
Watched Smile 2 with Iva at my house. I liked it! Much better than the first one. Some nice cinematic shots. Lot gorier which added to the fear. Pretty solid! Connor 10, normal 7.8. :smiley:
So many twists.. My brain was like spinning out of control. It's like a horror version of inception.
I'm very confused by the positive reviews I read for Smile 2 and all the people saying it's better than the first one. It isn't.
Naomi Scott does deliver the performance of her career, but the plot is inconsistently written, the direction isn't nearly as good and the soundtrack sounds like it was idealized by a Freshman Music major student who was gifted his first synthesizer.
Aside from the ending, where Skye Riley apparently passes on the curse to her entire audience at the opening show of her comeback tour, there was nothing innovative about this film. In fact, it never achieves the mysterious, chilling and unsafe Horror atmosphere the first movie built effortlessly.
The excessive use of distorted, loud sounds as soundtrack to prelude danger made me feel like the producers were calling the viewers idiots who have to be constantly reminded that this was a Horror movie. Well, that says a lot about the incompetence of those involved in the making of this long Voss water commercial.
The Britney Spears-esque social commentary made through the overworked popstar character with mental health issues could've been way more effective too if only this movie wasn't so mediocre. And long. Way longer than it needed to be.
3 Thoughts After Watching ‘Smile 2’:
Why didn’t she just listen to Morris? They never listen to Morris. We actually need more Morris.
You know who had a great performance in this… Jack Nicholson’s son, Ray! We also need more Ray.
I thought this was on par with the first one. Solid jump scares. Creepy smiles abound. Naomi Scott really gave it her all here. And that ending makes one wonder where they’ll go from here.
omg ! all the audiences witnessed she committed suicide ! can you imagine this? will all the audiences in turn commit suicide too?
I don't understand the hate for this movie.I loved the directing,the cinematography,camera movement,the actors especially Naomi Scott was superb and i think that this is a very descent and good movie.Not something to remember and not so scary but for sure interesting and likable.If last ten minutes were better i would like it more but it was descent too. 7.5/10
What I hate about horrors, especially this one, is making the character(s) be there for nothing.
And Smile 2 is that through and through. I was shocked that's the ending. Thought it was just getting started. Anything for the grab money sequels.
Until the last 30 min of the movie, I was thinking it is actually very good and was wondering why it has so low rating. But then it bacame ridiculous... it was so bad that it was funny (maybe they wanted viewers to be smiling too :joy:)
This movie absolutely did not know what it wanted to do. They took a good premise and turned it upside down (literally). Watch it when it comes out on peacock cause it's not worth the price of admission.
This movie as crazy good, Naomi Scott, was a great fit to this film. This is the second time I have seen this movie, the both sound tracks are really great, I love the intensity and creepiness in the movie, and how it kept progressing more and more with great dialogue, camera angles and scenes, I highly recommend this movie
VIP6Not as creepy as the first but it has its creepy moments. It can be pretty gruesome too. Artistic and trippy.
I admire it more than I liked it. Since I admire movies where everything is what it seems. Thought I do prefer happier ending movies.
You know you aren’t going to get a happy ending from a Smile film. If a part 3 is made. Also how would that go ? Since a whole audience at a concert is now infected.
Stop smiling at me!
I’m not smiling at you, you’re smiling at me!
On a horror level, not as good as the first movie. This one's a lot more gory, has a lot more body horror. The CGI is meh.
I'm not a fan of how much this fell back on "it's all in her head". It takes away a lot of the dread, and this movie didn't have as much of that as the first. It's also much flashier than the first movie, and in some ways that works, but in others it really doesn't.
Naomi Scott is brilliant in this. I felt very sympathetic toward her character. Her performance is what really makes the movie for me, otherwise it's a very okay film.
I was a little nervous going into this thinking there is no way it could be as good as the first… I was so wrong, this was so much better!!
It was scary, gruesome, funny, and overall told an interesting story that wasn’t just a copy paste script from the first film.
Naomi Scott does such a fantastic job playing the terrified pop star, totally would go feral at one of her concerts. Her song Blood On White Satin should’ve been the next Ashley O - On A Roll.
Love love loooooved this film!!!
Every scene cannot be “it was a dream”
Supernatural psychological hallucinogenic mind warp. Much more depth than smile one.
Well just as bad as the first one, all the same shit. Giving it one more star for torturing the annoying as fuck vapid pop star, even though that wears on you too.
Another insane trip. You feel the impact a smile can have straight away. Smile 1 smilers made me uneasy, and I'm not sure if the gimmick wore off but for this, I strangely found myself smiling back, unless there was gore. Shows how contagious or dangerous a smile can be. By far Naomi Scott's best performance. I expected something cheesy but I could relate to every emotion she displayed, and the songs were just as good. I could kind of piece the real story together, and if it wasn't confusing enough the camerawork will definitely spin you around.
Waste of time, don’t watch it
Lead actress is terrible, scary parts are good. But her reactions are just opening her eyes widely and overreact. Movie is too slow, scary movies are supposed to not let you sleep afterwards, not making you sleepy during the actual movie
First of all, Naomi Scott killed it. Literally, she was so good. This movie was definitely better than the first instalment, but the ending of this movie did her performance injustice by repeating the ending of “truth or dare” by just finishing it off in front of everyone. Instead they could’ve chosen the path where the nurse was helping her and his plan failed. This could’ve been a good story for a third instalment. Overall 7, would’ve been an 8 if it wasn’t for that ending.
Again Naomi Scott AMAZING!
I think we got a masterpiece.... Wasn't waiting to see that like at ALLLL! Usually 2nd film is always worst than the first but not here! I'm telling you! It's a complete nightmare youall! A true masterpiece!!
At least now we know how the Eras Tour ends.
So this was way too long for no reason. The best parts were the dancers. There was a good story but it could have been executed better. I was just waiting for it to end.
A sequel that modifies the initial approach to offer a more confusing journey than the original film. It is as carefully crafted in the staging and direction when it came to creating horror set pieces as it was barely terrifying in these scenes. The game between the dreams that visit the protagonist and a reality that haunts her ends up becoming too repetitive and the focus on a single character ends up harming a film that ends up being bland, no matter how much Naomi Scott is able to keep her character in a constant state of shock. And even though it wants to be a representation of post-traumatic stress through her own self-destructive character.
However, the 2nd one:grin: follows the same tropes. The characters are new, but the plot is just formally not the same. Not bad, there are scary scenes, but it's better to develop something well thought out? Why does the entity do all this or are there clever tricks to avoid that make the victim a predator? It will make you smile... And will it come back to us all?
30 minute’s of the movie gets completely over written. This is a horribly written movie. You would think that since Smile 1 was good they knew what they were doing. But instead for some reason they go backwards. It’s obvious how this movie is going to end, it’s ridiculous that they completely made the viewer(s) watch scenes that in the end had no effect on the movies outcome, and her backstory had absolutely nothing to do with what the movie was about. Absolutely a let down compared to the first one.
2 hours of goodness. Although this movie will not get nominated, this is one of the best movies in 2024.
Actually, yes! That was the whole reason she died. As how the movie is, the parasite needs a host and they need a witness to pass it on (Lewis to her) so it’s from Lewis to her to her to the whole audience. If Smile 3 came out, it would be like a plague movie.
Smile 2 (2024) review:
The first one was better than this one overall. The ending was somewhat bad but kind of funny because the demon said “break a leg” and I knew the pod The highly anticipated sequel to the popular horror film, "Smile", has finally arrived in the form of "Smile 2 (2024)". As a reviewer, I must say that the first installment was superior to this one in many aspects. While the ending of the film may have fallen short, it did manage to provide a comical twist as the demon humorously wished the protagonist to "break a leg". However, the plot of "Smile 2" lacked the depth and intrigue of its predecessor, making it a slightly underwhelming experience. One aspect that did stand out in this film was the exceptional performance by the lead actor. Their portrayal of the protagonist, who constantly finds themselves in terrifying situations, was commendable. The constant screams and fear depicted by the actor added to the overall intensity of the film. In conclusion, "Smile 2 (2024)" may not have lived up to the high expectations set by its predecessor, but it still managed to deliver a decent horror experience. With a talented lead actor and a cleverly inserted humorous element, the film still has its redeeming qualities. However, for those who are fans of the first "Smile" film, this sequel may leave you wanting more.
Naomi is So hot...
Very good movie
Not that scary(for me)
The first one was not great but it was definitely better. This goes on my mediocre list of movies that I will never want to watch again.
I loved the first movie, and I thought it was really clever how the second teased the idea of a character discovering a way to defeat the entity. It even reminded me of discussions my friends and I had while watching the original. Sadly, it turned out to be just another throwaway “you’re not in control, I am” dream or hallucination sequence. Overall, the second movie didn’t captivate me like the first. It just didn’t have the same impact.
The constant in-your-face Voss water commercial was the most immersion ruining ad I think I've ever seen.
A lot of the plot is dedicated to telling us about her completely irrelevant past, it kinda feels like filler?
I'm amazed by the amount of people here saying this one is better than the first movie.
The fundamental issue with this franchise is that you have no idea what is real and what is not, so at some point you kinda just assume nothing is real and that the protagonist is somehow being tricked and nothing they are doing matters. At that point you're just waiting for the end so the movie can tell you "haha wow we got you so good but that wasn't real and the monster won"
Smile 2 (2024) - :heart:x3
As far as I can tell - there is no connection tom the first movie - other than the "Smile"
At least this sequel "tried" to give us an explanation of what is happening - but the explanation made no sense.
Ultimately, it's just as bad as the first movie Smile (2021).
How I rate:
1-3 :heart: = seriously! don't waste your time
4-6 :heart: = you may or may not enjoy this
7-8 :heart: = I expect you will like this too
9-10 :heart: = movies and TV shows I really love!
First of all, too fucking long for a "horror" movie (and I'm using quotes because most of the "horror" in this movie are just jumpscares and nothing else). Then, the movie itself doesn't seem to advance at any time. It's just flashbacks (that tbh don't even add anything to the plot) and her present self screaming, drinking water and not doing anything to solve her issue. And in the only moment that seems to at least try to fight back, we get the ending. Don't quite remember the first one, but I don't think there is any connection to it besides the demon itself. In summary, didn't like it. A couple scenes were cool ( the scene in her apartment where all the smiley people attack her; and the final one of the demon sprouting out of her smiley doppelganger ) but the rest felt like garbage. Just a collection of jumpscares and a long ad to...drinking water? Voss water?. Don't know. Will give it a 4 because of those scenes but if not, it wouldn't even reach a 2
Nowhere near as good as the first one. Main character was un-likeable and I fell asleep whilst watching cause lost interest.
Opening scene was good, but had no relevance to the entire rest of the film.
The stupid ending finished off a disaster of a sequel.
Smile 10/10
Smile 2 4/10
Smile 2 is a gripping sequel that successfully builds on the eerie foundation of its predecessor. Directed by Parker Finn, the film follows pop star Skye Riley, played by Naomi Scott, as she grapples with a malevolent force while preparing for her world tour. The narrative dives deeper into psychological horror, delivering a chilling experience that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.
Naomi Scott shines in her role, portraying Skye's emotional turmoil with impressive depth. The film excels in its use of unsettling imagery and body horror, creating a pervasive sense of dread. While some horror tropes may feel familiar, the pacing and atmosphere are expertly crafted, ensuring a relentless build-up of tension that culminates in genuinely frightening moments.
Smile 2 is tailored for hardcore horror fans who appreciate a blend of psychological tension and visceral scares. With strong performances and effective storytelling, it stands out as a worthy addition to the genre. Overall, it exceeds expectations, leaving audiences both entertained and disturbed.
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What a terrible movie. Disaster
While a fun sequel, the only pitfall in this for me was how long they took on the build-up, don't get me wrong, Naomi was fantastic from beginning-to-end, which is what made it worth watching, she really embraced the role and it showed. The last 35 minutes of this movie are truly the best, and make the entire thing worth it.
i liked to 1st movie more than this. overall it is good
is this a horror movie or a following journey of a singer ! very disappointed sequel although i don't get what the 2 stand for if they're not connected ... no need that much to say anyway
If only she could act. Or maybe not be ugly.
Or maybe if this movie had a good director.
Or maybe if the story wasn't for acephalous.
What a waste of time.
WTF? How did they rate this 7.5?
What a insanely boring movie. It seems like a talk show.
Waste of time. Score is probably generated.
Im at 1h35 min... I feel like sueing the makers of this.
BORING BORING BORING. TALK TALK TALK.
80% of this movie is babbling , complete nonsense and not feel like serious. 15% is like timefilling scènes ; changing cloths, freaking out, looking for help... Its like they wanted a really simple and effortless way of making money. Crazy. Trust me on this... Focus on the bad comments. Dont watch this if time is valueable to u.
Outrageously good It's a non-stop spookshow that just keeps increasing in madness.Naomi Scott,what a performance!!!
Movie sucked. Definitely not like the first :one:. It’s decent for once but don’t get your hopes up.
Much better than the original, and the ending was interesting in what it implies. I do feel like the rules and laws that the monster follows are a bit loose in that things can kind of just happen out of nowhere simply because the monster wants it to. If it was more strict, then I think the movie overall could have been more creative and gotten to the same endpoint.
I gave it a polite 7 just because of Naomi Scott’s acting. I expected a bit more with the overall story.
I am exactly where I was on the beginning of this movie
I am genuinely scared to even watch this after watching the first one, lol
After watching this film, I really wonder what horrors lives inside Parker Finn’s almost diabolical mind. Following the enormous success of the first film, Smile 2 uses the same DNA of the previous chapter but rises up every single element of it with a bigger budget, bigger stakes and bigger scares sending the Smile Curse into the life of a pop star with an already dark past. Naomi Scott enters the ranks of talented scream queens with her glitzy yet fragile character, Skye Riley. What follows after Skye gets passed the curse, it’s a truly nightmarish and insane downward spiral into horror with an examination of trauma where nothing is at it seems and what is real is almost every time questioned. Being more violent and gruesome than before and with a bigger scale in scope, this sequel pushes Naomi to the limit with elaborated scares for her character and creepy smiles that follow her everywhere. The disturbing sound design throughout and Cristobal Tapia de Veer’s unsettling score are key elements that make the film better even when there are elements on the story that really don’t add much to the demonic curse and there is an excessive amount of Voss water product placement that almost feels like a joke… but aside those things, the sequel works just fine and acts like an improvement from the previous chapter. With the insane third act and the vicious end of the film one can only imagine what could come next for the franchise: a proper prequel exploring the beginning of the curse or an even more insane sequel? Only time can tell, but the horrifying curse is still spreading everywhere and I can’t wait to see what Parker Finn does next.
After watching Smile, I was terrified to go into this movie. I love horror, but some of the imagery in the first film truly stuck with me in a way I did not enjoy, especially the nephew's birthday party scene. I am uncomfortable with any film where the animals aren't safe, but Smile pushed the limits of what was acceptable to me. Luckily, animals were safe in Smile 2 and I found that I enjoyed it far more than the original. As expected, it was packed with haunting images, incredible jump scares, a traumatic backstory for our MC, and many psychological twists and turns. Personally I would have preferred less talking from the demon, but I was fully immersed and walked away spooked so I can't complain too much. Also, if you're a Naomi Scott fan, this is the performance of her career and an absolute must watch.
Another movie this year that starts off excellent and has a needless and exhaustive final arc. This would have been an 8 or 9 for me if it stuck to the psychological horror tropes, and didn’t drag on at the end throwing a mess of themes and ideas at the wall. It should have been 30 mins shorter!
20% musical, 20% good new scares, 60% a literal remake of the original
smile was actually really decent. i don’t remember the first one much at all but this one on its own stood really well. i like the direction they took it and although the cgi was pretty meh im interested to see how they move forward considering how it ended
I dont know what to say really. It is nooooot good. The story is progrssing in a so wierd way. No real character building beside Sky. Acting for her is pretty good. Pretty annoying to get Voss Water bottles shoving up our face every five minutes tho.
It’s got its share of jump scares but overall it is just unsettling. These movies are watching people mentally breakdown over two hours. And I saw it in 4DX!
Idk why people expected this to be fuckin Hereditary or something. This movie is a really fun horror movie, has great effects, an INCREDIBLE jump scare that I can't spoil (better than the Haunting of Hill House car scare), and it really gets under your skin. And the sound design is GREAT. PERFECT. I need this soundtrack on Spotify. Like 10 hours of it.
Obviously the story isn't going to be Shakespearean. It's not going to be perfect. But for a horror movie that you're seeing mainly for the scares and not the plot, the plot is perfectly serviceable. Skye is a believable character, I like her story, and it worked well enough to make the movie happen.
Obviously the plot could be better, but for those scares it's fine. That ending scene was EVERYTHING. OH MY GOD. It looked WAY too real.
Also stay a bit for the credits, the soundtrack has Skye crying / screaming for some reason and it is SO unsettling. Trying to sign my Alamo Drafthouse receipt while doing that was tricky lol I wanted to get out of the theater so fast
I think the best scene of the movie was the fight in the car, I never seen a toxic couple depicted this way, so freaking real in a movie before.
The way the main actress depicted the main character felt like a real singer, her dance choreographies were amazing and her range in acting really went from one extreme to another real quick and did amazing.
I hope she get more movies in the future, she's a very good actress!
To be honest, I didn't really need a sequel to "Smile." The gimmick with the aggressively smiling people had already worn off a bit in the first part. And there is no longer any mystery to uncover. As a viewer, you actually know exactly where the journey is going.
And in this regard, "Smile 2" is exactly what you would expect. The basics are exactly the same as in its predecessor. This time, pop star Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) becomes the victim of the grin demon, and I wouldn't necessarily say that any of the movie's plot developments surprised me in the slightest.
However, the movie does have its moments in terms of presentation. Some of the shocks and spikes of violence are quite effective, and one sequence in particular with several smiling dancers was very creative. At the same time, for my taste, a little too much of the action takes place only in the protagonist's head. This is especially true of the 20 minutes before the finale, where the viewer is “tricked” a little too much.
What the movie lacks in suspense elements compared to its predecessor, it makes up for with a few absurdly funny scenes. There was very little humor in the previous film, but this time things have changed a little. At the same time, however, the horror aspect is still effective.
But the biggest selling point for "Smile 2" is lead actress Naomi Scott, who delivers a great performance. Her portrayal of her descent into madness is flawless, and she remains a believable pop star throughout. Her ordeal finally culminates in a strong scene, which is, however, somewhat marred by lackluster CGI effects.
In any case, the finale, which ends pretty much exactly where you might expect it to with the pop star premise, leaves room for further sequels. Again, I wouldn't necessarily say I need them. But as long as they can maintain the quality, I wouldn't be entirely averse to them either.
What is it with horror movie's directors and the bloody monsters at the end of the films?! Cut it out! I was enjoying the film, and then that creature coming out from the body. I mean, come on!
“Smile 2” is the kind of sequel that takes the essence of the original and pushes it to a whole new level—bloodier, bolder, and definitely more fun. Parker Finn, who already delivered a solid psychological horror in the first film, comes back sharper this time, ready to mess with our expectations and, thankfully, surprise us.
The story kicks off in the suburbs of New Jersey, where Detective Joel (Kyle Gallner), a survivor of the first curse, is on his sixth day at the mercy of the entity with sinister smiles. Right from the start, the camera shows what it’s here for, with a tense, almost chaotic long take as he moves through a rundown drug dealer’s house. From the beginning, Finn makes it clear that “Smile 2” isn’t going to be a tired rehash, but a more intense and unpredictable ride.
The standout star of this sequel, however, is Naomi Scott, who plays Skye Riley, a pop star in freefall after a car accident that killed her boyfriend (Ray Nicholson). Scott gives a strong performance, channeling the feverish energy of Natalie Portman in “Black Swan”—just like Portman, who perfectly captured her character’s emotional breakdown under artistic pressure, Scott dives deep into the role, bringing out a whirlwind of intense emotions. Skye is trying to make a comeback with a tour but ends up spiraling into pain and addiction. This is where Finn makes his smartest move: instead of giving us a random victim, he uses a celebrity figure, used to hiding her traumas behind public smiles, to creatively explore the film’s central theme.
Focusing the plot on a public figure allows for unique moments of tension. Skye constantly has to appear fine for her fans and the media, even as she battles the entity haunting her mind and body. The scenes where she tries to keep up appearances while her reality is falling apart are painfully believable and terrifying.
“Smile 2” also succeeds by playing with the expectations of a sequel. Finn doesn’t just deliver the scares we expect—he does so with sharp humor. The interactions between Skye and her surroundings—her mom-manager (Rosemarie DeWitt) and her overworked assistant (Miles Gutierrez-Riley)—provide much-needed comic relief without distracting from the tension. The pressure to maintain appearances while literal death smiles at her from a distance creates a series of absurdly comic situations. The humor here doesn’t ease the tension, but enhances it, creating a kind of anxiety disguised as entertainment.
Visually, Finn takes everything up a notch. The camera spins, dances, and closes in on claustrophobic angles, keeping the audience trapped in Skye’s confused mind. Even the most mundane scenes—like her rehearsing for a show—are filled with tension. There’s one sequence where Skye’s dancers show up at her apartment with a disturbingly synchronized routine that’s pure visual horror, reminiscent of the choreographed chaos in films like “Black Swan.”
The soundtrack is one of the film’s strongest elements. It blends unsettling noises with a pop score created by Tate McRae for the song “Grieve You,” which becomes a key part of Skye’s story. This contrast between sugary pop and the jarring sounds that follow the curse creates a constant sense of discomfort.
That said, “Smile 2” does have its missteps. At over two hours long, the movie drags more than it needs to, and some supporting characters can’t quite keep up with Scott’s intensity. Still, the fast pace and creative twists make the time fly by enough to forgive the flaws.
The most surprising thing is that “Smile 2” does something many sequels fail to achieve: it expands the original’s mythology without ruining the terrifying simplicity of its premise. Finn skillfully uses sequel clichés to trick us and subverts expectations when we least expect it. The result is a movie that, though bigger and more ambitious, still carries the same unsettling essence as the first, but with a new layer of social commentary on the pressure to smile, no matter what’s going on inside.
Overall, “Smile 2” isn’t just about trauma, it’s about performing the act of overcoming it—whether on stage or in life. It’s a film that will leave you feeling uneasy and, if you’ve got the stomach for it, with a tense smile on your face.
Smile 2 delves into the unsettling phenomenon of a malevolent entity that haunts its victims through horrifying, unnatural smiles. The story follows the lead actress, a pop star who becomes entangled in a series of horrific events as the sinister smile spreads.
As she grapples with the terror, she is drawn deeper into a nightmare where the line between reality and horror blurs.
The film expertly weaves this chilling narrative with striking visuals, leading to an unforgettable climax where the grotesque ‘Smile entity’ is revealed in all its terrifying glory.
The ending, in particular, teases the potential for an epic Smile 3 on a much larger scale, as the entity’s reach seems to expand far beyond a single witness, setting the stage for something truly massive.
Smile 2 is a superb modern horror, blending a compelling plot with shocking violence and a spine-chilling atmosphere.
Fans of films like “It Follows” and “The Ring” will find Smile 2 to be a chilling and gripping watch.
The intro to the movie was really good
Better than the first I guess? But not enough to matter? Honestly the extra half star is like. Out of pity? Cause the director’s trying. Like there’s a nice transition from a tv screen showing the celeb on a talk show, and then switching to them in the actual room. Like, that was actually a bit emotionally jarring, like without thinking you put the celebrity on the tv screen in this different distant category and then it puts you right next to her to see her as a person. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s neat! And then it. Does the cityscape upside down later on to convey her worlds turned upside down, and that’s basic but you know, I guess it works. And then it flips or tilts cityscape like. Three more times, like a film student really proud of something neat they did and now they’re going to overuse it because they can’t let it go, and I think that sums up Smile in general. A half star for effort?
Naomi Scott is a stronger lead than the last one, and it does a few clever things with the celebrity subject. There’s one scene that blends group dance choreography into a group attack, and while it’s not that scary it’s a cool idea. And then it’s like. Look. If you think about the monster’s powers and rules, and the subject of this movie being a pop star, you can probably guess the ending before you even start the movie. I did.
Smile is running up against the worst of both worlds of ‘elevated horror about trauma’ and ‘franchise horror that must go on’. Because twice now two traumatized, mentally ill people have an arc about facing and overcoming their trauma, and… they don’t. Because they can’t. There needs to be a Smile 3. So what themes are we left with? She’s in control of her life! She’s taken responsibility! And it’s another yanking of the dog’s chain. So at the end of it all, what are you left with? Either a theme of trauma is insurmountable, or turn your brain off and just enjoy what else is here.
And what else is here? Eh scares? A bit better gore and effects than the last one? The monster design and effects are pretty good, for the last bit of the movie you get to see it instead of the same old smiles? There’s a decent twist in there with Gemma never actually being there, and like the camera angles the director gets so enamored with what he pulled off he has to do the same twist but bigger! Most of the movie wasn’t real! Is your mind blown?
But what does it mean? What did I get out of this movie? A suicide that couldn’t be an idol burning out in front of her fans, you did self immolation last time. Okay let’s have her bludgeon herself with a microphone, that’s a good metaphor. Uh that’d be actually pretty hard to do in real life and might look silly on screen. So even though we showed bludgeoning with a weight on screen before, something that would actually work so we know you’re not squeamish about gore, let’s just cut away to the crowd, put on some squelching effects, and cut back to the microphone embedded into her. Because they can’t give up the metaphor for celebrity culture killing people, symbolized by the microphone.
Honestly I talked myself out of the two stars. I’m tempted to bump this and the last movie down to one. This is technically better and could perhaps get a one and a half, even two, if it existed on its own, but it doesn’t. As Naomi Scott said at the beginning of my XD screening, this is, like her, part of the Smile universe. And what’s become clear is at the core of that universe is nothing. It’s hollow. What Naomi Scott sings is a perfect summation of the franchise:
I've got thick skin but I'm hollow
Made up of broken parts
Got a body but it's burrowed
With a shadow for a heart
Smile 2 falls short of its predecessor's impact, with Naomi Scott's commendable performance and the film's impressive sound design standing as its primary redeeming qualities. The audio work elevates the tension, creating an immersive and unsettling atmosphere throughout the movie.
While the original brought a fresh perspective to the horror genre, this sequel leans too heavily on Scott's character, feeling more like a repurposed script than a true continuation. The introduction of Morris and the familiar "cheating death" theme feels derivative, echoing tropes well-worn by franchises like Final Destination.
Critics have complained about the film's reliance on jump scares, but I found them effective. The excessive gore, however, might be more deserving of criticism. Yet this duality serves the film well, appealing to both horror aficionados who appreciate its commentary on stardom, trauma, and mental illness, and to those seeking pure scares and shock value. This balancing act between thoughtful critique and visceral horror allows Smile 2 to cater to a broad audience, even if it doesn't fully satisfy either camp.
As for my personal experience, I wasn't too happy with the film. It nearly drove me to leave the cinema halfway through, a testament to its divisive nature.
Ultimately, Smile 2 is a polarizing sequel that you may either love or hate, depending on your expectations and preferences in horror cinema.
The second part starts exactly where the first ended, the story is great, and the fact that it's set in the arts adds an interesting and different musical context, the addition of these new elements, along with others already seen, are very positive. Here the pace is frenetic, the atmosphere is dark and distressing, the psychological element is very well developed, bringing more intensity, with some desperate moments, including shocking graphic scenes. The character of Skye, perfectly played by Naomi Scott, is an absolute highlight, driving the story, and bringing some layers of complexity to the great end result.
More budget, more shocking, bloodier, but same story, changing doctor for successful singer, great start, at the end I feel a bit cheated, with that ending let's see what they do in 3
Mostly I was curious how they would create something new and interesting with this movie. It's basically the first film but with a higher production value - the acting, cinematography, scares and gore are just top notch. Some of the jump scares STILL got me despite being cued so obviously. I did enjoy the film for what it was but I can't deny my disappointment in hoping something new would be explored with this film. I liked finding out that the opening sequence was actually one continual shot with no cuts. Loved it. RIP cop cutie. The marketing team even made a fake instagram for Skye Riley (the mc, who is a pop star - think Lady Gaga in terms of music and style, w a little Pink mixed in).
Skye is embarking on a tour a year after she had a horrible car accident which killed her boyfriend, Paul Hudson, another famous actor/star. She had a controversial history as a singer with the media labelling her as aggressive and having been seen using drugs/binge drinking, things looked really bad for her. The accident left her injured but after a year of therapy, she's back to perform a slew of new songs on a world tour - that is, until she has recurring pain from her injuries and has to hit up her dealer for some pain killers. There something horrible happens and Skye is sent spiralling into madness as things around her get stranger and stranger.
I think the movie has some really great scenes of questioning reality, trying to find which scenes have clues and tells to hint at whether Skye is in reality or not; I was on the edge of my seat following Skye's story and hoping she'd be able to overcome the monster. There are some really tense and character defining scenes between Skye and her mother (manager) in whic you can see both sides of their predicament. I loved the scene in her apartment with the backup dancers and the creepy scenes of people smiling were quite intense.
I did feel that the movie pacing was a little uneven and the CG looked comical at times - I had wished they could possibly have used more real smiling from actors instead of CGing things so much when compared to the first movie. I also found the demon scenes a bit less scary / impactful as the first film - a lot of it has a vocal distortion and many scenes are paralleled between the two films - additionally the two films have very very similar characters / backstory as noted in other reviews I read.
I think it's still worth watching but maybe not in cinemas. I feel disappointed that there was not much learnt about the monster/lore in this film... it was just a rehash of the first one...
This movie is loud. Loud in terms of sound and in terms of presentation. Utilizing roving shots and a few too many scenes of cityscapes flipped upside down, discordant pop notes screeching in the background, this movie wants to be in your face. It thrusts everything at you, a haunted house ride of jump scares and set pieces. And at the center of it is Naomi Scott as Skye Riley. She brings a level of physicality to the role, her rapid breathing and anxiety palpable, her desperation as she gulps down water, her descent as she tears her hair, her loss of control evident as she careens around the set. I was really impressed with her acting, completely absorbed by her internal struggle even when I sort of felt like the movie itself was really stretching its premise thin. Because that's the core issue with this movie. It feels like it covers the same ground as the first movie, and in fact feels less effective in terms of the characters finding ways to try and combat the horror. At the end of the day, people smiling creepily only carries you so far, so this movie resorts to more generic scares, and plenty of them. Though there are some clever production designs to these jump scares, it also feels like an overreliance on them instead of building the psychological horror that should be so central to this movie. The end result is twofold. First, it can't help but remind me of other (better) horror movies of presences that contaminate people and kill them in a set amount of time, notably It Follows and The Ring. Second, it prevents the movie from drawing as many thematic parallels between the haunting and the struggles Riley goes through due to her fame, work schedule, and battles with addiction. The movie certainly has a lot of content related to these elements, creating a whole backstory around them that I felt could have been more emphatic if the movie wasn't trying to tee up the next jump scare. Finally, I felt like the final act went off the rails a bit. I enjoyed the craziness of it, but it wasn't able to make it stick in my opinion. I feel like the first movie also struggled with this, trying to walk the line from being a bit more of a conventional horror movie and something a bit more symbolic and artsy. These movies want to have their ending both ways and end up not really working on either dimension. Regardless, it's certainly a captivating time at the movies and a great showcase for Naomi Scott.
An improvement on the (good) original.
Naomi Scott's performance is outstanding, she is so convincing and fully committed to the role all the way through - to the point that she elevates the film as a whole up a notch. The rest of the cast are good, e.g. Rosemarie DeWitt, but 'Smile 2' is very much Scott's movie.
The run time is perhaps a little longer than it needs to be, though to be honest that is only a minor criticism in the grand scheme of things. Much of what is onscreen helps nullify any potential (minor) pacing issues, the violence and gore is quite graphic but it is nicely done and is exactly what we want to see from a production of this sort, let's be real.
I will say this does feature a few too many cheap jump scares, something I'm not a big fan of, but just like the above it isn't a notion that hinders the overall quality of the end result. Based on the ending, the next sequel could be a lot of fun - here's hoping!
This is going to ruin the tour… the world tour
I liked this a bit better than the first one. It’s larger-scale, gorier, and I felt more engaged with the plot this time around. More so than the first one, you really feel like you’re going insane along with the protagonist. The ending was top-notch sequel bait.
My main gripe is that it felt like a cheat that a large chunk of the second half never actually happened. Skye realizing she killed her mother in real life was a great horrifying moment but nope, it actually was a hallucination the whole time.
Good on her for staying hydrated throughout that whole experience!
Shout by KornManiak23BlockedParent2024-10-21T22:25:15Z
The first one is way better