By Jacob Ying
[WARNING: SPOILERS FOR SMILE 2]
Want a good scare in the lead-up to Halloween? Check out Smile 2. Paramount Pictures’ new horror sequel to 2022’s Smile has everything you could ask for: jumpscares, tension, blood, and a gripping story about the perils of fame.
This past Sunday, I decided to watch Smile 2 with my dad. I actually hadn’t seen the first film, so I had to do some internet research to fill in gaps after viewing it.
The film begins with an action sequence, where ex-cop Joel, from the original Smile, tries to pass on the curse to two drug dealers. Unfortunately, the plan fails, and it is passed on to Lewis Fregoli, a different drug dealer before Joel is killed by a truck. This section is interesting, but it is only tangentially related to the main plot of the sequel.
We then meet our main character, Skye Riley. Riley is a pop star who has been sidelined for a year after suffering major injuries in a car crash. Riley, after suffering back pain, goes to visit Lewis. She wants some Vicodin, which her doctors will not prescribe to her due to past addictions. Fregoli then brutally commits suicide by smashing his face in with a weight while smiling eerily.
The remainder of the movie involves Skye grappling with her curse while attempting to manage the pressure of being a superstar. She is haunted by visions of Lewis, fans, and her ex-boyfriend Paul Hudson, all smiling creepily at her.
Eventually, a man named Maurice gives her an idea. He claims the demon can be defeated by forcing the heart to stop and then reviving her. She rebukes this idea. However, when the curse leads her to kill her own mother, she decides to try Maurice’s plan. The plan is unsuccessful because of the hold the spirit has on her. Skye commits suicide in front of a shocked concert crowd, passing the curse on to thousands.
Believe it or not, that’s where the movie ends.
But, my article won’t end so abruptly. Smile 2 is scary. The jumpscares are good. They build tension and scare you with both startling images and terrifying sounds. The premise that the curse cannot be beaten is equally frightening. Besides a boring half-hourish portion, the movie remains tense with effective jump scares and creepy smiles.
While Smile 2 excels as a horror film, it also is a good film without the horror. Smile 2 stands under the umbrella of elevated horror. It fits this genre well. The film explores various themes, particularly the challenges of being a famous, highly exposed person. Skye faces immense pressure from her mother, her fans, and herself. She copes with this by falling into addiction and substance abuse.
The horror aspect of the film functions as a metaphor for her brokenness. Skye feels so much pressure to perform, which messes up her relationships with her friend Gemma and ex-boyfriend Paul Hudson. Smile 2 encourages viewers to grapple with complex ideas. Is fame good? How should you let pressure affect you? What does addiction do to the mind? How do you maintain relationships healthily?
And what does it feel like to have people creepily smiling at you all the time?
