26/19
The scar on Skye’s knee is in the shape of a smile
Line of Events
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.. In one scene Skye places a VOSS water bottle down on a stone /marble kitchen counter and a noise matching the sound of something plastic being placed down is heard. VOSS water bottles are glass, something that is actually specifically highlighted in the film, and so the audio doesn’t match the action seen.. Skye Riley: [to the Smile Entity] You’re not in control, I am!
Featured in The 7PM Project: Episode dated 17 October 2024 (2024)
. Parker Finn's debut feature 'Smile' was a tense horror that made commentary about the devastating effects of trauma. Featuring striking visuals and production design, alongside an atmospheric score, the film was both compelling and creepy, following a psychiatrist who becomes convinced an unseen entity is stalking her after witnessing a violent incident. Boasting a strong central performance from Sosie Bacon, 'Smile' performed well at the box office, taking in $217.4 million on a $17 million budget. Although critical opinion was mixed, only months after its release, Finn was thinking about a sequel, noting "there is still a lot of interesting stuff to explore in the world of Smile…" Fast forward two years, and 'Smile 2' is upon us.
Menace lurks in the corner of every frame, waiting to give you a sharp shock
This time around, the action follows pop singer Skye Riley, who starts experiencing increasingly disturbing events on the cusp of a world tour. Forced to face her dark past, can Skye regain control of her life before it spirals out of control?'Smile 2' is a very rare beast: a sequel that is arguably better than its predecessor. As in the first, the theme of trauma is cleverly interwoven into the narrative, alongside which themes of control, psychosis, grief and addiction are made the lynchpins upon which the horror revolves. Riley must battle both her internal demons as well as the 'smile creature,' never sure what is reality or fantasy. This makes for both a compelling and unpredictable ride, as Finn, making excellent use of both visual and audio jump-scares, takes one into the grinning heart of terror.
Similarly, he captures Riley’s performances with aplomb, lending them authenticity
From the brilliantly frenetic opening to the barnstormer of an ending, the film fires on all cylinders, never letting up. Finn’s characterization is astute, and his narrative surprisingly funny; it’s a horror with pitch-black comedy at its core: in contrast to the overwhelming bleakness of its predecessor; 'Smile 2' has a bit more to offer viewers. The film reunites Finn with the majority of the crew from the original, including cinematographer Charlie Sonoff. His work on the first film created an unnerving atmosphere of unpredictable instability; as it does once again. Sarnoff’s use of lighting effectively generates contrast and mood, while his framing of images heightens the narrative’s suspense.
Night Shyamalan’s recent ‘Trap’) Lester Cohen’s detailed production adds an element of realism, grounding the film despite the fantastical horror of its narrative
Although the camera might be flipped upside-down to create an ominous effect one too many times, overall, Sarnoff’s stellar work compounds the impact of proceedings; and is creepily captivating.Moreover, Cristobal Tapia de Veer’s score generates a disturbing ambience, imbuing the film with a raw, horrific power. While the songs written for the Riley character are fairly generic, they are performed well (and are considerably better than the similar tunes written for the Lady Raven character in M.
