In 2022, the original Smile surprised many people at the box office. A visceral, psychologically uncomfortable carnival of dread emerged from what appeared to be a bland, flavor-of-the-month horror movie "about trauma," not to mention one of the meanest major studio horror movies of this decade. It appears that writer-director Parker Finn is full of surprises. Smile 2, his sequel, is the perfect horror follow-up. Smile 2 is a unique studio horror film that looks straight at its audience and smiles before hollowing them out and leaving them wanting more. It builds on and refines everything that worked in the previous movie, introduces a new angle, and never lets off the gas.
Scott plays the role of international music sensation Skye Riley. Skye is getting ready for a big comeback global tour after nearly a year in recovery from substance abuse. The crew wants to turn this into a huge success story, requiring many rehearsals and sleepless nights. However, Skye is unable to realize her full potential due to her persistent back problems. Skye gets some Vicodin from her former acquaintance Lewis (Lukas Gage) to ease her agony. When she gets there, she finds Lewis dazed and hardly aware of his surroundings. Skye sees Lewis commit suicide before realizing what is going on.
Skye's hold on reality starts to erode gradually. She quickly finds the root of her suffering: a metaphysical being that will psychologically torment her until it compels her to commit suicide in front of another person, then it will spread like a parasite to a new victim. Filmmaker Parker Finn creates a stifling environment right away. Supposedly shot in a one-take, the amazing 10-minute opening sequence of the sequel takes place just six days after the events of the original Smile. Smile 2's opening is a powerful set piece that quickly informs the viewer that this will by no means be a rehash or a low-effort sequel, however, it's better not to give away the surprise.
But once the catastrophe occurs, Naomi Scott gets down to business creating something truly unique. Maintaining composure in the data-face of personal difficulties is one thing, but Scott portrays a lady who is utterly unraveling. She must not only battle her inner demons but also maintain the confidence of everyone around her that she is not crazy. Skye is caught between three different worlds: her prior trauma, attempting to avoid her impending death and navigating the music industry by making nice with prominent male personalities (one of whom is portrayed with exquisite subtlety by Raúl Castillo).
Finn deftly incorporates background for Skye through jump scare sequences, according to the format of his debut movie. However, they didn't work as well for this story's storyline. Since Rose's mental health journey was made clear to us from the beginning of Smile, it was simple to feel empathy for her while also wondering what was really going on. Maybe this is just a bad consequence of Smile 2 being a horror sequel, but everything is more clear. Even though Scott makes every effort to persuade us differently, a lot of the events don't feel real.
The ensemble as a whole puts forth strong, entertaining performances. Particularly when she's on television, Naomi Scott never ceases to amaze. She could have won this hands down with a stronger script. Smile 2 is fun despite not taking its own plot seriously enough. Be prepared for some jump-scare fun, but don't expect the horror movie to offer the finest commentary on mental health concerns.
Overall, Not just a good horror sequel, but a superior one.Ratings: ⭐⭐⭐⭐