This article contains spoilers.
A smile, typically a symbol of joy and comfort, is meant to soothe and convey happiness. And yet, the horror genre often transforms such positive symbols into chilling nightmares with the addition of blank eyes or far too many teeth. The “Smile” franchise does just that, stripping the joy from an everyday gesture and making it profoundly unsettling.
In terms of story and execution, “Smile 2” builds upon every aspect of the first film while adding a new layer of societal commentary.
The film centers on Skye Riley (Naomi Scott), a pop star who begins to experience terrifying events right before her world tour. Joel (Kyle Gallner), who fans might remember from the first film, opens the movie by passing on a horrific curse to Skye’s drug dealer, Lewis Fregoli (Lukas Gage). Setting the plot in motion, Skye witnesses Lewis’ death and is welcomed to the nightmarish world of the Smile Entity, a monster who will go on to overtake every aspect of her life and eventually kill her if she cannot find a way to pass it on or kill it first. The people around her, including her mother Elizabeth Riley (Rosemarie DeWitt), assistant Joshua (Miles Gutierrez-Riley) and former best friend Gemma (Dylan Gelula), are all pawns in the Entity’s game to psychologically torture Skye.
Scott’s portrayal of Skye Riley grounds the film, drawing on techniques from the iconic scream queens of horror history. Inspired by Lady Gaga, Scott showcases some of the mental tolls that performing can have on an artist — not only mentally, but physically as well. About 50 percent of the horror presented in “Smile 2” is realistic, not supernatural.
Director Parker Finn’s talent lies in the ability to connect these real psychological fears with a greater supernatural entity, as a way to unwrap the psyche. For example, take Skye Riley’s drug-induced car accident. After her former boyfriend, Paul Hudson (Ray Nicholson), crashes the car, she suffers a back injury and takes a break from her career. What impacts her even more is Paul’s death, as he becomes a symbol of fear for her.
Ray Nicholson, the son of horror legend Jack Nicholson, is used to great effect in this movie. His haunting presence is a reminder of the life Skye left behind before the car accident; a life of drugs, abuse, and toxicity. Scott portrays Skye’s fractured mental state with remarkable skill, and the car accident scene is genuinely disturbing, with her raw, chilling sobs. She gives one of the most riveting performances of the year, being able to switch from a haughty, glamorous pop star to a crazed, terrified woman from scene to scene.
Another devastating subplot that grounds itself in realism explores the friendship between Skye and her former friend Gemma. The Entity forces Skye to confront her trauma and her own mistreatment of someone who was once her best friend. Gelula’s monotone, dull performance enhances the film’s authenticity — her character feels real and trustworthy, which makes it even more terrifying when the movie uses her to exploit Skye’s deepest fears: confrontation, betrayal and the loss of friendship.
The film is horrifying, but also overarchingly sad. Skye doesn’t get a happy ending — it’s left up to the audience to decide how much of what we saw was real. This ambiguity is both a strength and weakness of the film. On one hand, I enjoyed the uncertainty it created, but it also risks making the story feel somewhat flat. By the end, we’re left questioning what was real and what was imagined, which may be unsatisfying for some viewers.
In particular, one scene features a fan who begins to taunt Skye at a meet-and-greet. It’s a very real possibility, as celebrities like Christina Grimmie have experienced violence at meet-and-greets firsthand. The ambiguity here leaves the scene feeling somewhat underdeveloped, despite its potential to deepen the film’s emotional and psychological tension.
The film also struggles with its plot, trying to tie in too many ideas at once. Trying to juggle social commentary on fame with an enjoyable horror film meant to advance the Smile franchise is a difficult task, and all things considered, Finn does a good job of handling it.
Despite a muddled plot, the ending sticks the landing. As Skye gets overtaken by the Entity on stage at her tour, she ends up dying on stage in front of thousands of screaming fans. But the fans are not running away — they are screaming, but it might not be with pain or fear. Their expressions are, purposely, left vague.
Not only is the film entertaining on its own, with interesting commentary on modern stardom, but it also plays a crucial role in the franchise. What else could a sequel ask for?
