‘Smile 2’ Movie Review: Naomi Scott Shines In An Excellent Psychological Horror Sequel That Tops The First In Every Way
Photo from Paramount Pictures
From Joe Peltzer
Much like any other genre, horror suffers from deteriorating sequel entries that milk the success of their first installments in usual cash grabs and get weaker as they go on; these films are cheap to make and often held to a lower bar. In a delightful turn of events, Smile 2 surpasses expectations and delivers an excellent second entry that is better in every way: scarier, funnier, more interesting, and anchored by a powerhouse performance from Naomi Scott.
Picking up just six days after the events of the first film, Smile 2 follows pop star Skye Riley (Scott) on the verge of a major comeback and new tour after an accident that almost cost her everything just a year prior. An attempt to manage the physical pain from said accident leads her to old high school acquaintance Lewis (Lukas Gage), setting off a chain of events that sends her spiraling into a psychological war zone. It cannot be overstated just how good Scott is in this film, portraying a range of emotions with flawless delivery and keeping the audience engaged every step of the way. There are times where we are left just watching Scott on screen, patient, slow beats that add to the tension that nonetheless remain captivating because of her commitment. Gage for his part is solid as a junkie experiencing the oddities of whatever is happening as he self-medicates with every drug under the sun. His death scene, teased in the marketing, is absolutely brutal and gory. The supporting also aptly delivers, from Rosemarie DeWitt as Skye’s manager-mother to Dylan Gelula has Skye’s bestie, and certainly with Ray Nicholson’s limited, yet memorable presence; his creepy smile may be the most memorable of the franchise, harkening back to his father’s wide grin.
Most impressive here is that writer/director Parker Finn has managed to take all of what worked in the first film, one that I was underwhelmed by, and transmute it into a well-balanced and extremely crowd-pleasing horror sequel that will go down as one of the best in many years. It’s clear from the jump that Finn has taken a lot of care in crafting a story that logically leaps from the first film into the events of the second. Smile 2 feels larger, but more contained; crazier, but more layered; scarier, but more earned. It’s also quite funny in the most unexpected of times, vacillating successfully between its many elements thanks to a well-balanced script. The film manages to deliver horror for the masses while also serving as an intelligent exploration pressure (especially for a star like Skye Riley), mental health, drug use, and ongoing trauma. It’s is a psychological guessing game that navigates the expected jump scares with expert skill, keeping you guessing until the very end with a wild, adrenaline-filled third act. Though it’s our second horror film centered around a pop star this year, Trap fails to compare.
The other pieces that work so well for Smile 2 are all of the technical aspects, from the cinematography that is engaging and unique from the very first frames to the soundtrack and score that skillfully balances familiar eerie beats with musical interludes featuring the vocals of the talented Scott. Truthfully, the film is firing on all cylinders. I do however wrestle with whether it relies too much on a slow burn at about 2 hours long, or if it’s just what this story needed. There are a few scenes that likely could’ve been cut that would have made this and even better, more contained film than it already is. That’s likely me just being picky. Nevertheless, Scott pulls Smile 2 out of any potential slugs and continues to demand the attention of the audience throughout.
Look, I was not expecting to like Smile 2 as much as I did, a follow up to a film that received high praise, but to me was a silly premise delivered in a clunky product. I’m glad that I’m wrong as this is a worthy horror sequel that learns lessons from the first and creates an even better product that will unquestionably establish a larger, long-running franchise that we’ll be enjoying for years. Finn has the goods, and I’m so excited to see what comes next for this story with a threequel undoubtedly in our future. Smile 2 is an example of why you go to the theater for horror films, one of the best in recent memory.
Rating: 4/5
Smile 2 hits theaters on Friday.
