Parker Finn’s Smile 2 is not just a sequel—it’s a meticulously crafted horror experience that dives deeper into psychological terror, elevating the already impressive foundation laid by its predecessor. This time, the tension is sharper, the scares are nastier, and the imagery is more grotesque. What makes Smile 2 exceptional, though, isn’t just its ability to frighten—it’s the film’s ability to weave horror into every detail, from its stunning cinematography to its razor-sharp sound design, and, of course, its powerhouse performances, led by the extraordinary Naomi Scott.
This is a film that stays with you long after the credits roll, embedding itself in your mind with haunting smiles, unsettling silences, and moments of visual brilliance that refuse to be forgotten.
Naomi Scott’s Tour de Force Performance
At the core of Smile 2 is Naomi Scott’s electrifying portrayal of Skye Riley, a global pop sensation whose fame is both her armor and her undoing. Scott, best known for her previous roles in films like Aladdin and Power Rangers, takes on a role that showcases her as a true dramatic force. Skye is a character of contradictions—onstage, she exudes confidence, charm, and star power, but offstage, she’s a woman haunted by past trauma and rapidly spiraling into madness as she becomes the latest victim of the curse.
Scott’s ability to embody both the glamorous and vulnerable sides of Skye is nothing short of masterful. As a pop star, she is radiant, believably commanding the stage with original songs that are as polished as any chart-topping hit. But beneath the surface, her character is teetering on the edge of a breakdown, and it’s in these quieter, more intimate moments where Scott truly shines. She effortlessly captures Skye’s terror, her growing self-loathing, and her increasing paranoia as the curse takes hold, making her descent into madness both heartbreaking and terrifying.
RELATED: PIECE BY PIECE Review – A Film Truly Built to Inspire
What’s more, Scott’s vocal performances in the film are so compelling that you might find yourself wondering if she has a secret career as a pop star. Her musical numbers, while catchy, are infused with an underlying melancholy that mirrors the dark, psychological journey she’s on. It’s this duality—Skye’s public persona versus her private suffering—that makes Scott’s performance so mesmerizing, grounding the film’s supernatural horror in real human emotion.
Cinematic Tension
Cinematographer Charlie Sarroff returns to collaborate with Finn, and the result is a film that is as visually stunning as it is terrifying. From the very first frame, Sarroff’s camera creates an atmosphere thick with dread, using a visual language that turns ordinary smiles into symbols of fear. The recurring smile motif is present throughout the film, whether subtly mirrored in the reflections of Skye’s apartment or plastered unnervingly across the faces of those around her. It’s a brilliant visual strategy that reminds the audience that in this world, even the most innocent expression can mask something far more sinister.
Close-ups are used with devastating effect in Smile 2, capturing moments of excruciating discomfort. Sarroff’s camera lingers on Skye’s face as her terror builds, forcing the audience into the most intimate corners of her unraveling psyche. These close-ups make the horror feel inescapable—whether it’s a lingering shot of Skye’s haunted eyes or the grotesque contortion of a cursed victim’s face, you’re left powerless to look away.
The film’s color palette is another masterstroke, with Finn and Sarroff using muted tones and harsh contrasts to reflect Skye’s inner turmoil. Her glamorous life is bathed in cold, clinical light, creating a stark contrast with the vivid nightmares that haunt her. This visual dichotomy between Skye’s public persona and her crumbling mental state underscores the film’s larger theme of identity and perception, turning every scene into a visual representation of her fractured reality.
Music, Silence, and Screams
In Smile 2, sound is as important as the visuals in creating the film’s relentless atmosphere of tension. Finn’s use of music, silence, and sound design is nothing short of brilliant, transforming each into a weapon that heightens the audience’s sense of unease. The original pop songs performed by Naomi Scott are undeniably catchy, but there’s an eerie undercurrent to them that mirrors the growing darkness in Skye’s life. These tracks, which range from anthemic to melancholic, feel authentic enough to make you believe Skye Riley could sell out arenas in real life, yet they also serve as haunting reminders of her inner demons.
But it’s in the quieter moments where Smile 2 truly excels. Finn understands that sometimes the most terrifying sound is no sound at all. The film is punctuated by stretches of unsettling silence, which allow the tension to build to unbearable levels. These moments of quiet are often followed by explosive bursts of sound—whether it’s the sharp, sudden scream of a victim or the gut-wrenching crunch of bones breaking—that leave the audience in a state of shock. This balance between silence and noise creates a rhythm of fear that keeps viewers on edge, never knowing when the next scare will come.
RELATED: MY HERO ACADEMIA: YOU’RE NEXT Review – The Heroes Are Stretched to Thin to Go Plus Ultra
Even the ambient soundscape adds to the unease. The subtle hum of a fluorescent light or the distant thrum of a crowd at Skye’s concerts takes on a menacing quality, making every corner of the film feel alive with the potential for horror. And when the entity itself makes its presence known, the sound design crescendos into something nightmarish, amplifying the grotesque visuals with bone-chilling audio cues.
Parker Finn’s Masterful Direction: A Visionary at Work
From the very first scene, it’s clear that Parker Finn has honed his craft to perfection in Smile 2. As both writer and director, Finn’s vision is evident in every frame, every beat of tension, and every carefully orchestrated scare. He doesn’t just want to frighten his audience—he wants to immerse them in a world where fear is omnipresent, where the lines between reality and nightmare blur until you’re not sure which is which.
What makes Smile 2 stand out is Finn’s ability to blend different tones without losing control of the film’s atmosphere. The grotesque imagery—whether it’s a victim’s mutilated face or Skye’s increasingly disorienting hallucinations—is often tempered by moments of dark, biting humor. This delicate balance between horror and levity keeps the film from feeling too oppressive, giving the audience just enough room to breathe before plunging them back into the nightmare. Finn’s skillful direction ensures that Smile 2 never loses its forward momentum, with each scare building on the last in a crescendo of terror.
Finn also shows remarkable restraint when it comes to the film’s pacing. Rather than relying on cheap jump scares, he allows the tension to simmer, slowly tightening the screws until the audience is left on the edge of their seats. When the horror does hit, it’s all the more impactful because of the careful buildup. Whether it’s a shocking moment of violence or a subtle shift in Skye’s perception of reality, Finn ensures that every scare feels earned, making Smile 2 one of the most effective horror films in recent memory.
Relentless Tension
One of the most impressive aspects of Smile 2 is how it sustains a sense of dread throughout its runtime. From the opening scene, the audience is thrust into a world where the curse is an ever-present threat, and there is no escape from its grip. This relentless tension is what makes the film so unnerving—just when you think you’ve caught your breath, another scare pulls the rug out from under you.
Parker Finn masterfully controls the pacing, weaving together moments of quiet suspense with shocking bursts of horror. The film’s structure mirrors Skye’s unraveling mental state, with the tension escalating as she sinks deeper into the curse’s clutches. Each scare feels like a logical progression of the nightmare she’s trapped in, making the audience feel just as helpless as she does.
RELATED: MICKEY 17 – Bong Joon Ho’s Mind-Blowing Epic Sci-Fi Journey Arrives in Theaters January 31, 2025
By the time the credits roll, Smile 2 has left you emotionally and mentally drained, its relentless tension having worn down even the most hardened horror fan. But that’s precisely what makes the film so effective—this is not a movie that lets you off the hook. It stays with you, its images and sounds echoing in your mind long after you’ve left the theater.
A Haunting Masterpiece
Smile 2 is more than just a sequel—it’s a film that pushes the boundaries of what modern horror can achieve. With Naomi Scott delivering a career-defining performance, Parker Finn’s visionary direction, and a stunning blend of visual and auditory horror, this film transcends the genre. It’s a visceral, emotional, and deeply unsettling experience that will haunt you long after the credits roll.
For horror fans, Smile 2 is a must-see, a film that takes everything you loved about the original and amplifies it tenfold. It’s a movie that will make you scream, laugh, and gasp in equal measure, and it cements Parker Finn as one of the most exciting directors working in horror today. Simply put, Smile 2 is a masterpiece.
For it’s lingering terror, genuinely exhilarating cinematic experience, and a surplus of nightmare fuel my Smile 2 review gets a
9/10
Smile 2 release in theaters on October 18, 2024.
About Smile 2
RELEASE DATE: October 18, 2024
WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY: Parker Finn
PRODUCED BY: Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey, Isaac Klausner, Parker Finn, Robert Salerno
CAST: Naomi Scott, Rosemarie DeWitt, Lukas Gage, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Peter Jacobson, Ray Nicholson, Dylan Gelula, Raúl Castillo and Kyle Gallner
SYNOPSIS
About to embark on a new world tour, global pop sensation Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) begins experiencing increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events. Overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and the pressures of fame, Skye is forced to face her dark past to regain control of her life before it spirals out of control.
What are you most excited (or terrified) to experience in Smile 2? Do you think Naomi Scott will redefine horror heroines? And how do you think Parker Finn will top the original’s relentless tension? Share with us on social media!
KEEP READING: JOKER: FOLIE à DEUX – Why Hollywood Needs to Stop Catering to the White Male Ego
