43/49
International pop sensation Skye Riley, who is going on a world tour, begins to experience increasingly frightening and inexplicable events. Overwhelmed by growing horrors and the pressures of fame, Skye is forced to confront her past. Kyle Gallner is the only actor reprising his role from the first film so far. Skye Riley: [Smile to Entity] You’re not in control, I am!. Featured in The 7PM Project: October 17, 2024 episode (2024). Parker Finn’s debut series 'Smile' was a tense horror that commented on the devastating effects of trauma. Along with impressive visual and production design and an atmospheric score, the film was both compelling and terrifying, following a psychiatrist who, after a violent incident, becomes convinced that he is being stalked by an unseen entity. A strong central performance by Sosie Bacon, 'Smile' did well at the box office, grossing $217.4 million on a $17 million budget. Although critical opinions were mixed, just months after its release, Finn was thinking about a sequel, noting that “there’s still a lot of interesting stuff to explore”. the world of smile…" Fast forward two years and 'Smile 2' is upon us. This time, the action follows pop singer Skye Riley, who begins to experience increasingly disturbing events on the eve of a world tour. Can Skye face her dark past, can she get her life under control before it gets out of hand?'Smile 2' is a very rare beast: a sequel that is undeniably better than its predecessor. As in the first one, the theme of trauma is cleverly woven into the narrative, alongside which the themes of control, psychosis, grief and addiction are made into whirlwinds of horror. Riley must fight both her inner demons and the “smiling creatures”. never sure what is reality or fantasy. This makes for both an engaging and unpredictable ride, as Finn, who makes excellent use of both visual and audio jump scares, takes him into the grinning heart of terror. A threat lurks in the corner of every screen, waiting to receive a sharp shock. . From the brilliantly furious opening to the storm of the ending, the film fires on all cylinders and never lets up. Finn characterizes skillful and his story surprisingly funny; it’s a horror with pitch-black comedy at its core: unlike its predecessor’s overpowering gloom; 'Smile 2' has little else to offer viewers. The film reunites Finn with most of his original crew, including cinematographer Charlie Sonoff. His work in the first film created an eerie atmosphere of unpredictable instability; as once again. Sarnoff’s use of lighting effectively creates contrast and mood, while the framing of his images adds tension to the narrative. Likewise, he captures Riley’s performances in a no-nonsense way and gives them an authenticity. While the camera may be inverted to create an ominous effect too many times, Sarnoff’s brilliant work adds to the overall impact of the proceedings. and is hauntingly fascinating. Additionally, Cristobal Tapia de Veer’s score creates a disturbing atmosphere that complements the film’s raw, terrifying power. Although the songs written for the Riley character are fairly generic, they are performed well (and are significantly better than the corresponding songs written for the Lady Raven character in M. Night Shyamalan’s recent film “Trap”). Lester Cohen’s detailed production adds realism and grounds the film despite the fantastic horror of the narrative. In addition, Alexis Forte’s costume design effectively contributes to the personalities of the characters, especially Riley. His work on Riley’s stage costumes is particularly impressive. Additionally, Elliot Greenberg’s editing ensures the film has a steady pace, which means – even at over two hours – it never slows down.