As a movie lover who has witnessed the rise and fall of countless celebrities, I must say that Smile 2 is an intriguing exploration of the blurred lines between reality and horror, particularly within the realm of celebrity life. The film’s premise, where the everyday chaos of stardom merges with supernatural terror, is both unsettling and thought-provoking.
The film “Smile 2” ingeniously explores the idea that the chaotic existence of a troubled pop icon is strikingly similar to the frightening scenes of a horror movie. When director Parker Finn capitalizes on this concept, the movie delivers an unsettling and effective impact. Typically, victims in horror flicks are tormented in seclusion, haunted by shadows in deserted houses, forests, or corridors. In contrast, the main character of “Smile 2” is always surrounded by people – entourage, assistants, fans, onlookers. Her suffering is played out publicly, with a crowd nearby who could potentially aid her. This public display of distress proves to be just as chilling as an isolated lake or cabin in the woods, and carries a more profound metaphorical weight.
The movie portrays several days in the life of renowned pop star Skye Riley, played by Naomi Scott, as she resumes her career following a stint in rehab and a prolonged absence due to a horrific car accident that left her injured and claimed the life of her boyfriend, actor Paul (Ray Nicholson). However, things take an ominous turn when Skye’s old friend and suspected drug dealer Lewis (Lukas Gage) shows a chilling grin before deliberately smashing his head with a 35-pound weight plate. From then on, the story takes a darker turn as Skye encounters Lewis’s ghostly presence, along with that of her deceased boyfriend Paul. Most notably, she starts seeing those unsettling, eerie, broad grins – the same ones from the first movie which hint at supernatural possession possibly occurring.
In its peak performance, “Smile 2” leaves viewers pondering whether Skye is experiencing supernatural hauntings or merely dealing with the eccentricities of fans. Is the persistently bothersome fan who demands her autograph and won’t back off a spectral entity, or simply an ordinary stalker? This question also applies to Skye’s overly supportive mother (Rosemarie DeWitt) and submissive assistant (Miles Gutierrez-Riley). Furthermore, given that Skye is in recovery from addiction, could these occurrences be drug-induced hallucinations? To clarify, “keeps us guessing” might be an exaggeration: We are aware of the answers to all these questions, even if Skye isn’t. However, despite the film being more conventional in terms of horror, it does provoke thought about how the fake smiles that surround celebrities aren’t dissimilar from the sinister grins that surround the protagonists of the “Smile” series.
In his subsequent work, Director Finn deliberately chose not to follow the same narrative paths as his initial film. His directorial debut, a surprise smash hit from 2022, was an expansion of a short he created two years prior. However, the movie Smile, despite its intriguing premise of a mysterious viral entity that caused people’s faces to contort into terrifying grins before compelling them to commit suicide, seemed to lose momentum as it fell into the usual tropes of a genre film, eventually becoming predictable. The concept of a world where smiles transformed into sinister threats was visually striking, offering a blend of immediate unease and profound symbolism, but ultimately, the movie lost its way within the expected conventions of the genre.
Regrettably, “Smile 2” struggles to balance its innovative concept with horror conventions. As we watch Skye’s mental decline, it’s hard not to recall numerous real-life celebrities who’ve experienced public breakdowns: the Britneys, the Lindsays, the Amandas and Aarons among others. However, despite an engaging performance by Scott, the film fails to make us emotionally invest in Skye. This is partly because she’s a victim from the outset, and the story never allows for character development due to its rapid pace. The film’s empathy feels detached, with Finn excessively portraying Skye’s deteriorating mind. At crucial moments when we should feel for her worsening predicament, the movie resorts to ineffective jump scares that are cheap, hasty, and poorly timed, accompanied by loud noises on the soundtrack. Furthermore, the recurring dream sequences become increasingly vague and devoid of significance.
In the same manner as in the initial movie, the director repeatedly employs a favorite technique: leading us down a specific narrative route only to unveil that – surprise! – it was not real after all. This twist-heavy approach is intended to baffle and confuse, but it becomes repetitive, diminishing the impact of everything shown on screen. Instead of empathizing with Skye as she struggles to discern reality from dreams, we grow disengaged, finding the whole scenario aimless and somewhat callous. The film ultimately undermines its own aspirations.
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2024-10-17 23:53