By Keith Walther | Rose Law Group Reporter
It is rare to find a horror sequel that surpasses the original, but that’s exactly what happens here. “Smile 2” hits fast and hits often, slamming the gas pedal to the floor and taking the audience on a wild ride of terror that leaves them exhausted yet smiling in satisfaction. The story is taken to the next level with much higher stakes at play, refusing to be a regurgitation of the first film.
Attempting to rebound from a tumultuous past, Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) is a pop star sensation about to embark on a new world tour. Recovery has not been easy for the starlet with both physical and emotional scars causing her constant pain. In an act of desperation, the former addict meets Lewis Fregoli (Lukas Gage), an old friend who also deals a variety of drugs. His unhinged appearance and sudden suicide rattle Skye and leave an impression that becomes more than a haunting memory.
Gripped by paranoia and fear over being discovered at the horrific scene, Skye attempts to get back on track and focus on her upcoming show in New York City. When visions of her past mixed with troubling encounters of vacantly smiling people begin to consistently plague her, her grip on reality starts slipping. Unable to discern between what is real and what is distorted by the evil entity residing in her brain, Skye realizes that she has little time left to solve this curse before she succumbs to the same insidious smile that killed her friend.
Parker Finn made his directorial debut two years ago with “Smile,” and its surprising success opened the door for this sequel to be made. Finn also writes and directs “Smile 2,” and he does the unthinkable, improving upon what he started in the first movie to solidify a foundation for a long-lasting horror franchise. Setting the sequel six days after the events of the first film, he immediately moves the audience to the edge of their seats with the opening scene. That suspenseful, chaotic action sequence prepares viewers for the thrill ride they’re about to experience.
Finn expands on the accomplishments he made in the first film with outstanding cinematography, using an assortment of handheld effects, closeups, and slow panning to enhance the tension. The sound and eerily unsettling score also help raise that feeling of tension to an almost palpable level. Finn keeps viewers uncomfortable throughout by incorporating visceral imagery and distorting reality, thereby exacerbating the main character’s regression of sanity. Like he did in the first film, he uses plenty of gore, but he learned from the first film how to use the gore without distracting from the chilling storyline. Whether it’s a nightmare sequence or a conscious sequence in daylight, Finn unbalances the audience with unpredictable jump scares that provide a memorable horror experience.
Even the acting is upgraded from the first film. English actress, singer, and songwriter Naomi Scott delivers a knockout performance as a troubled pop star with skeletons in her closet who tries to keep it together despite an encroaching madness taking hold. Her brave façade slowly dissolves into abject terror as she loses her mind, taking the audience with her every step of the way to experience the same spine tingling fear. As a singer, she even performs the songs herself, which are quite good and intoxicating as well, especially the song entitled “Blood On White Satin.” This is a multi-faceted performance of a highly complex character with a rich backstory that would normally earn her Oscar consideration if the film was any genre except for horror.
The supporting cast is also an improvement with veteran actress Rosemarie DeWitt playing the main character’s mother/manager who seems more concerned with keeping her daughter’s career on track than her mental wellbeing. Lukas Gage provides a noteworthy and manic performance that sets the stage early on for what the main character is about to endure. Kyle Gallner is the only actor to reprise his role from the first film, and while he was previously forgettable, he is largely responsible for providing that explosive opening to this film. He’s had a good year thus far, having recently starred in another unnerving horror film, “Strange Darling.”
For those who appreciate a well-crafted, traditional type of horror film with adrenaline pumping jump scares, then this movie will have you grinning from ear to ear. “Smile 2” is the perfect way to ring in Halloween this year, don’t miss the chance to see it on the big screen. However, it is highly recommended to watch “Smile” first if you haven’t already, because it does lay the foundation for the sequel.
This movie earns:
