The 2024 horror follow up film Smile 2 grows from a smile to a scream. It gathers steam in the first reel and continues to pump up the volume throughout. It is impressive and scary but it will never top that sister scene in the first Smile film:
This was the one scene that literally had me jumping out of my seat. Had I been in the cinema, popcorn would be airborne along with its container. No other scene in the first film caught me like this one.
Sadly, Smile 2 has no real matching moment. There are moments that jar and scare and are guaranteed to make you look behind you but no jump. At least not for me.
The story
We are still in the “smile verse.” A young man at the start of the film tries to pass his smile on to a “deserving” candidate. This does not go to plan. After a disastrous climax, Smile 2 moves on to Skye.
Skye Riley is a singer who has gone through her own private version of hell. She is making a comeback with the assistance of her domineering mother. Back pain is making it difficult to perform her routines. Because of her drug issues, she cannot get anything stronger than “Extra Strength Tylenol” for pain relief.
Skye goes outside the medical community and enters into a freaky world of a different sort of pain. The smile kind.
We know already this is not going to end well.
The Main Cast
Naomi Scott is Skye Riley.
Rosemarie DeWitt is Elizabeth Riley.
Dylan Gelula is Gemma.
Raúl Castillo is Darius.
The Not so main Cast
Lukas Gage is Lewis.
Miles Gutierrez-Riley is Joshua.
The cool cameo
Drew Barrymore as Drew Barrymore. *Mere seconds on film and the scene rocks because the two actors worked brilliantly together. Plus: It is Drew Barrymore! Nuff said!*
Behind the camera
Parker Finn (The auteur of the first film, Smile.) once again writes and directs this one. Smile 2 has been suitably amped up in terms of gore and the claret (blood) is also impressibly increased.
Charlie Sarroff (The cinematographer on Smile 1.) comes back and makes each frame captivate. While there are no “sister” moments in Smile 2, there are moments that stick with you long after the final reel ends.
Elliot Greenberg as editor makes sure that nothing unintentionally jars here. The jigsaw has been put together seamlessly and it helps the story move along at a ripping pace.
Lester Cohen (Also back from the first feature.) Gives us production designs that are as sumptuous as they are terrifying. Along with Larry W. Brown these two created sets that are beautiful and haunting.
Alexis Forte (You may recognise that name from Bad Times at the El Royale.) gives us costumes to die for. Kudos for another visual treat on top of the remarkable VFX on offer.
Johann Kunz is the maistro who gives the film some brilliant VFX. He and his team deliver.
It all works
Smile 2 may well be a repeat of the first film, but on steroids, but it looks brilliant. It is upscale. For starters it has a bigger budget. *28 mil vs 17 mil for smile.*
It shows.
Each set piece in the film bespeaks of a great deal of money being spent here. In terms of “blockbusters” though, it is not a huge budget. But the film benefits from its upgrade.
It scares in all the right places and that weight scene with Lewis is disturbing to the nth degree.
The Verdict
Smile 2 earns a solid 5 stars despite not having a “sister at the car window moment.” The hallway scenes come close but no cigar here guys and dolls. Still, this is horror with a capital H and it entertains. The movie is streaming on MGM plus and Paramount plus.
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