REVIEW: Smile 2: “The scariest film I have ever seen”
Written by Sam Clark on 18th October 2024
Simple ideas are often a goldmine within horror but only if you can pull it off. 2022’s ‘Smile’ proved this. Taking such a basic premise and then turning it into some form of horror is something that this genre excels at. I’m sure I can speak for most people when I say that there is something everyone finds inherently creepy about someone smiling at you for an extended period without blinking. So what do horror filmmakers do with that concept? Turn it into a feature film and go all-out supernatural, and thus ‘Smile’ was born. Following on from M. Night Shyamalan’s Trap, this, coincidentally, marks the second film this year in which a plot revolves around a fictional popstar.

Photo credit: Pictorial Press Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo
Not only did the first film have a very disturbing idea to run with, its marketing technique was even more daring and frankly genius. Whoever was in charge of promotion decided to hire people (from the videos that I saw circulating these took place at sporting events in America) to stand and simply grin in public, much to the terror of people walking by. Fast forward to today, they’ve gone and done it again, because, why wouldn’t you?
Smile 2’s story takes place six days after the first, as we follow singer ‘Skye Riley’ (Naomi Scott) as she prepares for a tour. She is recovering from a car accident that took the life of her boyfriend and has also just come back from time in rehab due to alcohol and substance abuse. One day, she goes to her dealer who sells her Vicodin to cope with her injuries when all of a sudden he begins acting strangely, as if something is controlling him. He breaks into a demonic stare and commits suicide on the spot, transferring the demon to her in the process.
I will not sugarcoat this one, this is the scariest film I have ever seen, a title which previously belonged to Ari Aster’s Hereditary. That is not to say everyone will feel the same way, but I am fairly confident it will give hardened horror fans a decent run for their money. From the opening sequence – which is one of the best I’ve seen from this genre- you know you are off to the races. The most impressive accomplishment here is that writer/director Parker Finn takes the first film’s stripped down approach and amplifies it appropriately, giving you a horror sequel that is bigger but still feels tamed and controlled. The first film explored mental health, this deals with addiction. Even though this has more ‘action’ to it than the first, the film remembers its story and what its about.
I went in with the knowledge it had been well received, but not quite as well as the first, yet nothing could have prepared me for how much of a blast I was about to have – so much so that this has now become my second favourite horror film of all time, trailing only slightly behind 2023’s Talk to Me. It is far jumpier, has more set pieces and features proper gore, yet none of this felt out of place. In my opinion, this has some of the biggest jumps you will ever have in a cinema and they are very well done , judging by my audience reaction.
Since I saw this in Dolby Atmos – which I thoroughly recommend you do- it just made the experience even better and give you more bang for your buck, especially with the scares. Massive hats off to composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer whose music makes the film even more effective. Without wishing to give too much away, there is one sustained set piece that takes place in Skye’s apartment that is, again, one of the best executed and orchestrated things I have seen within a horror film.
Naomi Scott, who’s most notable credit is ‘Princess Jasmine’ in Guy Ritchie’s Aladdin, is absolutely extraordinary here, and an actual singer, which makes the role more achievable. So good, in fact, that she more than deserves an Academy Award nomination for this. There is one story element that, towards the end, gets slightly too tangled up with itself, but it did not bother me too much. Parker Finn is a name I will be heavily on the look for in the future and I suggest you do the same (from what I gather, he will be remaking one of the all-time classic horrors Possession which will be interesting to see). All in all, the less I say the better other than mainstream horror is finally good again. One of the standouts of the year and one of the best horror sequels ever made.
In cinemas now.
10/10.