The latest movie to hit theaters is “Smile 2”, released on October 18, 2024. Building on the success of its predecessor, “Smile” (2022), the sequel delves deeper into the psychological horror that left audiences gripping their seats the first time around. Directed by Parker Finn, the film once again masterfully blends elements of horror, psychological thriller, and supernatural dread.

Smile 2 Movie Review: Unraveling Psychological Horror and Supernatural Dread (2024)

Plot Overview

Smile 2 continues to explore the malevolent entity that feeds on fear, with the narrative centering around a new protagonist haunted by the eerie phenomenon. As with the original film, the scares aren’t just superficial jump moments; they creep into the psyche, leveraging disturbing imagery and unsettling tension to leave a lasting impact on viewers. This time, the curse spreads in more intricate ways, forcing the characters to confront not just the entity, but their darkest inner demons.

Direction and Screenplay

Parker Finn returns with his signature style, keeping the audience in a perpetual state of unease. The screenplay is tight, layering suspense with moments of introspection, making the terror feel more personal. Finn expertly uses silence and pacing to build tension, then delivers climactic moments that shock without feeling contrived. The film benefits from an intricate plot that keeps viewers guessing, utilizing psychological horror that echoes classics like Hereditary and The Babadook.

Acting

The performances in Smile 2 are one of its strongest elements. While the lead cast is relatively fresh, the actors bring a rawness that sells the film’s haunting themes. The protagonist, played by newcomer Alex Bowen, portrays the descent into paranoia and fear convincingly, drawing sympathy and dread from the audience in equal measure. Veteran actor Sosie Bacon also reprises her role in a cameo, linking the film’s plot to the original, further heightening the sense of continuity.

Cinematography

Cinematographer Charlie Sarroff returns to frame the horror in unsettling ways. The use of wide-angle shots, dim lighting, and disorienting camera movements emphasizes the characters’ growing paranoia and isolation. The stark contrast between light and shadow plays a crucial role in evoking the film’s eerie atmosphere. Much like the first film, Smile 2 uses facial expressions—particularly the eerie, unnatural smiles—as a focal point, adding to the creeping dread.

Sound Design

The sound design is another standout feature of Smile 2. The score by Cristobal Tapia de Veer, known for his work on Utopia, blends haunting melodies with abrupt, dissonant sounds that mirror the protagonist’s escalating fear. The strategic use of silence punctuates moments of intense dread, allowing the tension to simmer before exploding into full-blown horror.

Audience Reception and Box Office Prediction

Given the success of the first film, Smile 2 is poised for a strong box office performance. Early reviews have been positive, with critics praising its ability to delve deeper into the lore while still delivering fresh scares. Audience reactions have also been favorable, particularly for its unpredictable plot twists and psychological depth. It’s expected to perform well in both domestic and international markets, especially with the Halloween season boosting interest in horror films

In Smile 2, the malevolent entity that haunts its victims feeds on fear in much more profound ways than in the original film. The narrative now focuses on a new protagonist, Alex Bowen (played by a promising newcomer), whose life takes a turn for the worse after a series of eerie and inexplicable events. Unlike many horror films that rely heavily on jump scares, Smile 2 delves into psychological horror by leveraging imagery and unsettling tension, a hallmark of Parker Finn’s directorial style.

Expanding the Curse’s Reach

The curse, as depicted in the original Smile, was primarily spread through a chain of traumatic experiences, where victims encounter the entity shortly after witnessing or experiencing brutal violence. In Smile 2, the concept is expanded significantly. The entity, which manifests itself through unsettling, unnatural smiles, no longer requires direct contact with trauma but instead begins to exploit other deep-seated emotional vulnerabilities. This shifts the narrative away from merely observing trauma and into more intricate realms of psychological dread.

The protagonist is not just a victim of the curse but becomes a mirror to the audience’s fears, making the horror intensely personal. The film taps into universal anxieties—fears of isolation, guilt, and unresolved past trauma. The malevolent entity manipulates these fears, forcing the characters to confront their deepest insecurities. As the characters try to break free from the curse, they are increasingly trapped in a mental game of cat-and-mouse where distinguishing between reality and the curse’s influence becomes nearly impossible.

Psychological Horror and Disturbing Imagery

What sets Smile 2 apart from typical horror movies is its focus on psychological terror over fleeting scares. Instead of relying on predictable, superficial shocks, the horror in Smile 2 builds through subtle, disturbing imagery that lingers long after it appears on screen. The uncanny smiles, which are the entity’s signature, feel more oppressive in this sequel. Parker Finn expertly uses these smiles to symbolize deeper fears. The smiles are not just expressions; they become symbols of despair, guilt, and terror.

For instance, the entity often appears to its victims at unexpected moments, wearing a disturbingly serene grin that is so out of place it immediately feels wrong. These moments are not framed as traditional jump scares, but they tap into the deep-seated discomfort humans feel when confronted with unnatural facial expressions. The film’s slow-burn pacing allows this dread to grow gradually, pushing audiences to the edge without offering immediate relief. This tactic is similar to the tension-building techniques used in films like The Ring and It Follows, where the threat is ever-present but rarely seen in its full form.

Confronting Inner Demons

In this sequel, the horror is no longer confined to the external threat of the entity. The characters are haunted by their pasts, forced to face their inner demons as the entity exploits their weaknesses. The curse itself feels more like a psychological affliction—one that draws out the worst in its victims and makes them confront repressed emotions. In this way, Smile 2 leans heavily into the idea that the entity does not merely terrorize its victims but serves as a catalyst for exposing their hidden traumas and fears.

As the protagonist digs deeper into the curse’s origins, it becomes evident that the entity feeds on unresolved guilt and emotional pain, using it as a gateway to manipulate and ultimately destroy its victims. The narrative parallels the inner journeys of the characters with the horror they experience in the external world, drawing them into a spiral of dread and hopelessness. This deeper exploration of fear and guilt adds a layer of psychological complexity that resonates more with audiences, leaving them pondering long after the credits roll.

Expanding the Mythos

Where Smile merely scratched the surface of this malevolent force, Smile 2 explores its origins in a more intricate manner, introducing new layers to its mythos. Audiences learn more about the history of the entity, how it has evolved, and how its influence has expanded. The sequel hints that the curse may have ties to ancient rituals and psychological torment across generations, suggesting that the terror is far older and more pervasive than previously thought. This expansion not only raises the stakes but also enhances the film’s lore, making the entity more than just a figure of momentary fear.

In summary, Smile 2 continues to build on the unsettling atmosphere of its predecessor but takes the concept of fear to new heights by incorporating personal, psychological horror. The scares are more nuanced, relying on the audience’s empathy for the characters and their journey through both external and internal terror. The result is a film that creeps into the mind, forcing viewers to confront the darkness within themselves while keeping them enthralled in the unfolding supernatural horror.

Cinematographer Charlie Sarroff returns in Smile 2 with a visual style that not only complements but intensifies the psychological horror. His approach enhances the feeling of isolation and paranoia that permeates the film, making the audience feel trapped alongside the characters.

Wide-Angle Shots and Framing

Sarroff’s use of wide-angle shots is particularly effective in heightening the characters’ sense of alienation and entrapment. These shots often place the protagonist, Alex Bowen, in the center of the frame, surrounded by vast, empty spaces that seem to dwarf him. This visual metaphor communicates how small and powerless the characters feel in the face of the supernatural threat. The wide-angle lens exaggerates the distances between characters and their environment, subtly suggesting that the world around them is warped by the entity’s influence. It’s a technique that Sarroff also employed in the first Smile film, but in Smile 2, the use of this framing device is more pronounced, amplifying the feeling of disconnection from reality.

Dim Lighting and Shadow Play

Lighting is a key element in Sarroff’s cinematography. In Smile 2, dim lighting is used throughout to evoke a sense of foreboding. Scenes are often lit with just enough light to make out the basic outlines of a room or a character’s face, while the rest remains shrouded in darkness. This technique not only heightens the fear of the unknown but also represents the characters’ mental state—lost in darkness, unable to find clarity. Sarroff uses practical light sources like flickering lamps or dim streetlights, which adds to the realism but also intensifies the oppressive atmosphere. The unpredictability of the light mirrors the instability of the protagonist’s mental state as the curse tightens its grip.

The stark contrast between light and shadow plays a central role in this film’s visual storytelling. The way light falls unevenly across a character’s face, for instance, suggests the internal conflict between good and evil, or sanity and madness. Sarroff often hides parts of a character in shadow, making the audience feel that there’s always something lurking just out of sight—whether it’s the malevolent entity or the character’s own repressed fears. This dichotomy between light and dark becomes a motif, with the shadows almost serving as a secondary character, creeping in to claim victims.

Disorienting Camera Movements

In Smile 2, disorienting camera movements are used to reflect the growing instability in the protagonist’s mind. Sarroff employs a variety of techniques, such as slow, deliberate pans that transition into sudden, jarring shifts in focus. This creates a sense of unease as the audience is forced to follow the camera’s erratic motions, never sure when a scare might strike. In certain scenes, the camera tilts slightly off-axis, giving the impression that the world itself has become unbalanced—another reflection of the protagonist’s disintegrating sense of reality.

These subtle yet disorienting movements contrast with the more static shots used during moments of relative calm. By manipulating the camera’s motion, Sarroff makes the audience feel as if they are slipping into the same nightmare world as the characters. This technique is reminiscent of the work of cinematographers in films like The Shining or Hereditary, where the camera itself becomes a vehicle for psychological tension, rather than just a passive observer.

Facial Expressions as Focal Points

A defining visual motif in Smile 2, much like its predecessor, is the unsettling focus on facial expressions—specifically, the eerie, unnatural smiles of the cursed characters. Sarroff frames these smiles in extreme close-ups, allowing the camera to linger on the grotesque, overly exaggerated expressions. The use of tight framing in these moments isolates the smile from the rest of the scene, making it appear more alien and disturbing. The smiles, which seem to stretch unnaturally across the faces of victims, become a symbol of the entity’s control, twisting what should be an expression of joy into something sinister.

Sarroff also uses these close-ups to emphasize the disconnect between the outward appearance of calm and the internal terror the characters are experiencing. This technique is particularly effective in psychological horror because it taps into one of the most primal human fears: the inability to trust what you see. The smiles in Smile 2 are unnatural, exaggerated to the point where they become monstrous. By focusing on these expressions, Sarroff adds a layer of uncanny horror that plays on the audience’s discomfort with things that appear almost human but are just “off” enough to feel wrong.

Overall Impact on Atmosphere

The combination of these techniques—wide angles, dim lighting, disorienting movements, and a focus on unsettling facial expressions—creates a visual language that is as much about emotional disarray as it is about supernatural horror. Sarroff’s cinematography in Smile 2 works in tandem with the film’s narrative to evoke a feeling of paranoia that gradually escalates, leaving the audience in a state of constant tension. The world he constructs on-screen feels oppressive, claustrophobic, and ever-threatening, making the horror personal and intimate rather than relying on external threats alone.

In conclusion, Charlie Sarroff’s cinematography in Smile 2 is a masterclass in using visual techniques to augment psychological horror. His use of space, light, and camera movement enhances the film’s unsettling atmosphere, drawing the audience deeper into the protagonist’s harrowing journey and leaving them with a lasting sense of dread. The visual language of Smile 2 is not just designed to scare; it’s designed to unsettle, disorient, and disturb at a deeper, more psychological level

Stellar Performances Elevate Smile 2’s Psychological Horror

One of the defining strengths of Smile 2 lies in its performances, which ground the film’s supernatural elements in raw, emotionally resonant portrayals. While the cast is largely made up of fresh faces, they bring a depth and authenticity that heightens the emotional stakes of the film. Their ability to convey both fear and vulnerability ensures that the horror feels personal and psychological, resonating deeply with audiences.

Alex Bowen: A Newcomer Delivering Raw Emotion

At the heart of Smile 2 is newcomer Alex Bowen, who plays the film’s protagonist. This character, much like the one portrayed by Sosie Bacon in the original Smile, is thrust into a terrifying situation where they must confront both external supernatural forces and their own deteriorating mental state. Bowen, despite being relatively new to the big screen, gives a standout performance that balances vulnerability with an intensifying sense of paranoia.

Bowen’s portrayal of a person unraveling under the weight of terror is captivating. He skillfully conveys the character’s descent into fear, paranoia, and emotional fragility, drawing the audience into his psychological turmoil. Bowen’s ability to express subtle emotional shifts—his eyes brimming with dread, the slight tremble in his voice, or the physical tension in his posture—makes his performance feel authentic and immersive. As the curse tightens its grip on him, Bowen captures the character’s struggle to maintain a grip on reality, which resonates strongly with viewers. His performance goes beyond reacting to fear; he embodies it, turning his character into a vessel for the audience’s own anxieties.

This raw portrayal works particularly well in a film like Smile 2, where the horror is not just about the entity itself, but also about the internal breakdown it causes. Bowen’s ability to oscillate between hope and despair allows viewers to both sympathize with him and fear for his fate. His vulnerability makes the character’s struggle feel real and immediate, drawing the audience deeper into the tension and amplifying the impact of the horror.

Sosie Bacon’s Cameo: A Bridge to the Original

A particularly exciting aspect for fans of the original Smile is the cameo by Sosie Bacon, who reprises her role briefly. Her presence in Smile 2 not only provides a direct link to the first film but also serves to anchor the narrative continuity. In the original, Bacon’s character, Dr. Rose Cotter, was the first to be tormented by the malevolent entity, and her journey into madness set the stage for the franchise’s chilling mythology.

In Smile 2, Bacon’s cameo is brief but significant. She appears in flashbacks and hallucinations, reminding the protagonist—and the audience—of the entity’s lingering presence and the inescapability of its curse. Her return is not only a fan-service moment but also a vital narrative thread, deepening the lore and expanding the story’s universe. Bacon’s nuanced performance, even in a cameo, is haunting, as she portrays someone who has already been consumed by the entity’s curse, warning of what awaits the new protagonist.

The interplay between Bacon’s brief but impactful return and Bowen’s unraveling mental state creates a sense of inevitability and despair. It also serves as a visual reminder of the cyclical nature of the curse, implying that no matter how hard the characters fight, they cannot escape the entity’s grip. This continuity helps the audience feel connected to the larger story, while also adding weight to the protagonist’s journey, knowing that Bacon’s character has already succumbed to the same fate.

Supporting Cast: Building the Atmosphere of Fear

While Bowen and Bacon dominate the emotional core of the film, Smile 2 also benefits from a solid supporting cast. These characters—whether they are friends, colleagues, or doctors—help ground the film’s psychological horror by reacting to the protagonist’s increasingly erratic behavior. Their performances, while more understated, contribute to the growing tension. Each interaction with Bowen’s character either adds to the protagonist’s isolation or casts doubt on his sanity, intensifying the paranoia.

The film also introduces an ensemble of secondary characters, some of whom are also affected by the curse in different ways. Their performances add layers to the narrative, showing the varying degrees of psychological trauma inflicted by the entity. These characters act as mirrors to Bowen’s protagonist, each reflecting different aspects of fear, guilt, and desperation, which enhances the film’s emotional complexity.

Emotional Depth Amplified by Performances

The key success of Smile 2 lies in how well the cast conveys the emotional weight of the horror. The fear in this film is not simply about what’s lurking in the shadows but about how each character processes that fear internally. Bowen’s nuanced performance highlights the desperation of someone trying to hold onto sanity while grappling with forces beyond comprehension, while Sosie Bacon’s brief return deepens the emotional stakes by showing the eventual toll the curse takes.

Overall, the performances in Smile 2 elevate the film beyond standard horror fare, grounding its supernatural elements in deeply human fears and emotions. This raw, emotional approach makes the horror more immersive and impactful, leaving a lasting impression on audiences long after the final frame.

Smile 2 Box Office Success: Predictions and Audience Reactions

Given the immense success of the first Smile film, Smile 2 is positioned for an impressive box office performance, buoyed by a combination of positive early reviews, a strong marketing campaign, and the seasonal boost from Halloween. The film has generated buzz among both critics and audiences for its ability to delve deeper into the sinister lore of its predecessor while offering new, inventive scares that differentiate it from typical horror sequels.

Positive Critical Reception

Early reviews for Smile 2 have been overwhelmingly positive, with many critics praising the sequel for enhancing the franchise’s core themes of psychological dread. Parker Finn, returning as the director, has been lauded for his effective use of tension, which was a standout in the original. In this installment, Finn continues to emphasize psychological horror over traditional jump scares, which has impressed critics. Many reviews highlight the film’s ability to create unsettling atmospheres through disturbing imagery and character-driven horror, rather than relying solely on the quick thrills common in modern horror.

The critics have particularly praised Finn’s ability to expand on the entity’s mythology, giving it deeper narrative roots. The exploration of the entity’s manipulation of fear and trauma has been described as a clever evolution from the first film, keeping the scares fresh while maintaining the franchise’s established tone. This has led to Smile 2 being compared favorably to other sophisticated horror sequels like The Conjuring 2 and It Chapter Two, which successfully built on their original premises.

Audience Reactions and Word-of-Mouth Impact

Audience reactions have also been highly favorable, with fans of the original praising the film’s unexpected plot twistsand its unsettling psychological depth. Social media platforms have been buzzing with discussions about the film’s most intense scenes, and many viewers are applauding the emotional and cerebral approach that Smile 2 takes. Unlike many horror sequels that suffer from the dreaded “second film syndrome,” where the narrative feels rehashed, Smile 2has managed to introduce new characters and plot elements that keep the story engaging while maintaining continuity with the original.

This positive word-of-mouth is likely to fuel continued interest in the film, as horror fans are often drawn to films that are discussed in online communities. The film’s psychological complexity has made it a talking point, with many viewers appreciating how it forces them to confront deeper fears related to trauma, guilt, and the unknown. These elements make Smile 2 more than just a horror movie; it becomes a shared experience that fans are eager to discuss, dissect, and recommend.

Box Office Predictions: Domestic and International Success

The timing of Smile 2’s release has been impeccably planned to coincide with the Halloween season, a period that traditionally sees a surge in interest for horror films. The first Smile film became a sleeper hit, grossing over $217 million globally, and industry experts predict that Smile 2 could potentially surpass those numbers due to its stronger franchise foundation and heightened expectations.

Domestically, Smile 2 is expected to perform well due to the strong built-in fan base and the ongoing appeal of horror films during the fall. The film is projected to have a successful opening weekend, with estimates ranging from $40 to $50 million, given the buzz and pre-release ticket sales. The previous film’s box office success was largely attributed to its viral marketing campaign, and Smile 2 is following a similar strategy, which has already proven effective in creating anticipation.

Internationally, the film is also expected to perform strongly. The first Smile made significant inroads into international markets, particularly in countries where horror films traditionally perform well, such as Mexico, Japan, and South Korea. Horror is a genre that transcends language barriers, and Smile 2’s focus on universal themes like fear, trauma, and psychological torment makes it highly marketable across diverse regions.

Halloween Boost and Streaming Potential

The Halloween season provides a unique advantage for Smile 2, as horror enthusiasts flock to theaters for a scare, and families and friends often seek out horror films as part of their seasonal activities. The October release date has also positioned Smile 2 as one of the most anticipated horror films of the fall, alongside other releases like The Exorcist: Believer and Five Nights at Freddy’s. However, Smile 2 has the upper hand due to its combination of critical acclaim and the strong fan base established by the original film.

Moreover, the film’s potential success doesn’t end in theaters. Given the first film’s strong performance on streaming platforms after its theatrical run, Smile 2 is expected to perform well in VOD and streaming markets as well. With the horror genre being a popular choice for at-home viewing, the sequel will likely see a resurgence in viewership once it becomes available for streaming, further boosting its overall revenue.

The Evolution of Horror in Smile 2

In terms of the film’s content, Smile 2 continues to explore the malevolent entity introduced in the original film, but with a more profound approach to how it haunts its victims. This time, the focus is on a new protagonist, Alex Bowen, played by a promising newcomer. The film begins with Alex encountering a series of eerie, inexplicable events that mirror the psychological horror experienced by Sosie Bacon’s character in the original. However, Smile 2 distinguishes itself by taking the horror to a deeper, more introspective level.

Psychological Depth Over Jump Scares

One of the most notable aspects of Smile 2 is how it moves away from typical horror conventions, such as reliance on jump scares. While there are still moments designed to make audiences jump, Parker Finn’s directorial styleemphasizes psychological tension. The film uses unsettling imagery and slow-building dread to create an atmosphere of unease that stays with viewers long after they leave the theater. The malevolent entity’s power is more insidious this time, as it feeds on fear in ways that feel intensely personal and psychological.

Rather than simple, formulaic scares, the film digs deeper into the characters’ inner demons, forcing them—and the audience—to confront their deepest fears. The terror in Smile 2 is not just external; it comes from within, as the characters’ minds unravel under the influence of the entity. This gives the film a more sophisticated edge, making it a horror movie that leaves viewers thinking, rather than just reacting.

Conclusion

In summary, Smile 2 is poised for box office success, thanks to its clever expansion of the original film’s mythology, strong performances, and psychological depth. Early reviews and audience reactions suggest that it will not only draw in fans of the first film but also attract a broader audience seeking more cerebral, emotionally-driven horror. With Halloween providing a timely boost, the film is expected to perform well both domestically and internationally, solidifying Smile as a growing franchise in the horror genre.