MY CALL: For non-highbrow popcorn horror, this is outstanding. Everything about this movie is well done, from the acting to the atmospheric dread to the gore and the fun scares. It was intense and visually pleasing all at once. I even liked the ending. MOVIES LIKE Smile 2: Of course, Smile (2022). And in similar theme, perhaps The Ring (2002), One Missed Call (2008), and It Follows (2015). But in similar quality, I’d turn more towards The Substance (2024).
Attempting a comeback after a substance abuse blowout, young pop star Skye (Naomi Scott) is having a tough time. She is haunted by her past, and now haunted by horrific visions of sinister smiles after an infectious evil infiltrates her mind.
This trauma-transmitted demon enters Skye when she witnesses her schiz’d out drug buddy Lewis (Lukas Gage; The White Lotus, Euphoria, You) horrendously mutilate himself with a gym weight in one of the most gloriously graphic scenes in recent horror history. WOW! This is truly a macabre inspiration and a grossly beautiful mind child of the director and effects team. And this is how this spiritual virus spreads… after feeding on the suffering of its present victim, the victim dies. Whoever witnesses this death becomes the new host, which toys with her mind with all the facility of the Devil himself.
Now afflicted with the Smile (2022) demon, Skye endures unimaginable trauma. We (i.e., she) witness the most terrifying nudity of 2024, traumatizing car crash aftermath imagery, bloody matricide, and a jaw-droppingly horrendous case of unintentional elder abuse. And then there’s the violence—the very, very violent violence. There is so much truly intense imagery that it’s often thrillingly hard to watch.
Skye is planning her comeback tour as all this is transpiring. Good Lord, all the music video scenes look every bit as brilliant as actual high budget music videos; and Skye’s mental breakdown outbursts feel quite convincing for a wealthy, privileged pop starlet. And while she’s clearly a painfully over-privileged, histrionic star, we feel for the mania she suffers. It’s a lot and it’s cruel. Watching Skye go through all this is stressing the crap out of me—in a “good” way, I guess. Her manic episodes become really intense. The hair pulling makes me wince every time.
With all this come great jump scares. I know they’re usually a cheap tactic. But these are some Grade-A, carefully curated jump scares that complement Skye’s paranoia. And it’s not all jump scares. This film infects viewers with a deep sense of dread; scenes slowly draw us in and toy with our anticipation. Oh, but there are also some gruesome creature effects to be enjoyed. That Smile (2022) demon is a gangly horror to behold. So much bonkers, wild, unnerving imagery!
Writer and director Parker Finn (Smile) returns for his second feature film. There’s a nice cameo connection to part 1 (e.g., Kyle Gallner; Smile, The Cleansing Hour, The Cleanse, Jennifer’s Body) creating an awesome opening sequence. Also an awesome ending! This was an awesome horror movie! Can Parker Finn just do all the new horror movies now? With how much I have enjoyed Smile 1-2, I need more of this guy’s work!