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Featured in The 7PM Project: 2024 October 17 series (2024)
Story
World pop sensation Skye Riley, who is about to embark on a world tour, begins to experience increasingly frightening and unexplained events. Overwhelmed by the escalating horror and pressure of fame, Skye is forced to confront her past. Kyle Gallner is the only actor to reprise his role from the first film. Skye Riley: [Smile entity] You’re not in control, I am!. Parker Finn’s debut “Smile”; was a tense horror film that commented on the devastating effects of trauma. Striking visuals and production design, along with an atmospheric score, made the film compelling and haunting as it follows a female psychiatrist who, after witnessing a violent incident, becomes convinced that she is haunted by an unseen entity.
USD of 17 mln
Boasting a strong performance from Sosie Bacon, “Smile”; it performed well at the box office, earning $217.4 million. USD budget. Although critical reviews were mixed, just a few months after release, Finn reflected on the sequel, noting that "There are still many interesting things to explore in the world of Smiley…" Fast forward two years and 'Smile 2' is behind us. This time around, the action follows pop singer Skye Riley as she begins to experience increasingly disturbing events at the peak of her world tour. Forced to face her dark past, can Skye regain control of her life before he does?'Smile 2' is a very rare beast: a sequel that is undeniably better than its predecessor. As in the first, the theme of trauma is cleverly incorporated into the narrative, alongside which themes of control, psychosis, grief and addiction become the main pillars on which the horror revolves.
I am never sure what is reality or fantasy
Riley must fight both her inner demons and the “smiling creature”. It makes for a thrilling and unpredictable ride as Finn, who makes good use of both visual and audio jumps, takes it into the grinning heart of horror. There’s a threat lurking around the corner of every frame, waiting to hit you hard. . From its wonderfully frenzied opening to its stormy ending, the film fires on all cylinders and never lets up. Finn’s characterization is smart and his story is surprisingly funny; it’s a horror film with a dark comedy at its core: unlike the crushing bleakness of its predecessor; '2 smile' has a lot to offer the audience.
Similarly, he captures Riley’s performances with a confidence that lends them authenticity
The film reunites Finn with much of the original crew, including cinematographer Charlie Sonoff. His work in the first film created an unsettling atmosphere of unpredictable instability; how does he do it again. Sarnoff’s lighting effectively creates contrast and mood, and the framing of the images heightens the tension of the narrative. While the camera can be turned upside down a few too many times for ominous effect, overall Sarnoff’s stellar work adds to the impact of the action; and is terribly charming. Additionally, Cristobal Tapia de Veer’s score creates an unsettling atmosphere and lends the film a raw, terrifying power. Although the songs written by Riley are fairly generic, they are performed well (and are significantly better than similar songs written by Lady Raven on M.
Night Shyamalan’s latest Trap album)
Lester Cohen’s detailed work adds an element of realism that grounds the film despite the fantastic horror of its narrative. Also, Alexis Forte’s costume design effectively complements the personalities of the characters, especially Riley. Her work on Riley’s stage costumes is particularly impressive. Additionally, Elliott Greenberg’s editing creates a steady pace for the film, meaning it never drags for more than two hours.
