No Spoilers
Whether you’re a horror fan or not, Smile 2 is a movie for anyone who enjoys great actors putting on great performances. My debut experience with Naomi Scott, the protagonist and female lead on Smile 2 was in this movie and in my humble opinion and with great metaphorical skill I can say she killed it. I think her performance more than anything else is what kept me invested and on the edge of my seat absorbing the story. Naomi Scott was great and it was a truly delightful experience to watch her perform. Don’t get me wrong, a lone actor or a movie title isn’t enough to carry overarching productions or screenplays however she does such a fantastic job I think her rendition in this role will have me looking forward to more of her work.
Let me step back for a minute and comment on the original Smile. Smile was an excellent addition to the horror genre. Upon seeing the original previews for Smile my mind had already started forming opinions based on the title and previews and I originally didn’t have high hopes. Being a horror nerd it was just another movie I had to see. Well to that end I had confidence the director would put his all into this debut feature film wearing both writer and director hats. With the original Smile my expectations were exceeded so when I found out Smile 2 was going to be a thing, I eagerly awaited its release. I need to put out a nod to Sosie Bacon as well, I mean, who knew?
When I saw the previews and/or trailer for Smile 2 I was hyped! But at that point I had already seen Smile 2. When you’ve seen as many horrors as any horror enthusiast has, the setups, the intro, the previews, even rumors about upcoming horrors are like racetracks, well travelled around and well worn, with new veneers and track upkeep for every new race, but never as exciting as the first time. At times it’s usually an understatement to say something like, “I’ve seen this all before,” but 99.9% of the time it turns out to be true. The original trailer for Smile 2 was great, but I didn’t see it till after I actually watched Smile 2. But that was a good thing. Usually when a trailer/preview is made … hmmm, stop. I actually know nothing about how trailers or previews are made but in my case and specifically with Smile 2, seeing the trailer after actually watching the movie made the movie that much better.
So basically, if you saw the original Smile, and enjoyed it, there’s no doubt you’ll enjoy Smile 2. This is one of those rare occurrences where the sequel to a movie might be better than the original. I don’t really want to say Smile 2 was better than Smile because in my personal opinion I loved them both. I will say Smile 2 seemed a little more polished like maybe the director felt more confident easing back in his directors chair and not forced to outdo himself for the sequel. He came up with a different scenario and playthrough and his qualities as a director really shine through in Smile 2.
About to embark on a world tour, global pop sensation Skye Riley begins experiencing increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events. Overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and the pressures of fame, Skye is forced to face her past. -IMDb Synopsis
Plus, I loved the ending of Smile 2. The technicolor brilliance of seeing the Smile demon so big on the big screen was really something special, and kewl to see. Additionally, there’s no doubt Smile 3 will be made and I eagerly await that as well.
Smile 2 was directed and written by Parker Finn. Featuring Naomi Scott, Rosemarie DeWitt, and Lukas Gage. Released in 2024 with a running time of 2 hours and 7 minutes. IMDb gives it a rating of 6.7 out of 10. I give it a solid 9.5.
BTW: That’s Jack Nicholson’s son in the featured photo above. No doubt who the father is there. 😉