Smile 2: A Confused Sequel with a Strong Lead Performance
Director: Parker Finn
Cast: Naomi Scott, Rosemarie DeWitt, Peter Jacobson, Dylan Gelula
Rating: 2.5 stars
Smile 2, directed by Parker Finn, tries to follow the formula of its predecessor, Smile. However, it falls short of offering anything new or engaging. The plot revolves around Skye Riley, played by Naomi Scott, a rehabilitated rock star battling her inner demons and the relentless pressures of fame. The movie, though packed with jump scares and eerie smiles, lacks the substance needed to elevate it beyond the typical horror sequel.
A Familiar Demon
The story picks up two years after the events of the first Smile. The same ghostly figure haunts the characters, moving from body to body. The demon jumps to a new host after its previous victim dies while flashing a grotesque smile. While this premise worked for the first movie, it feels overplayed and repetitive in Smile 2. The film doesn’t offer much explanation about the demon’s origins or motivations, leaving the audience in a state of confusion. Why are people smiling in such a bizarre way? Who’s really dead, and who’s not? The constant back-and-forth between reality and illusion starts to feel tiresome rather than terrifying.
Writer-director Parker Finn seems to lose control of the plot as it progresses. In horror, timing is everything. You need to know when to reveal and when to hold back. Unfortunately, Smile 2 keeps showing its hand too many times, and the result is a loss of tension. The scares become predictable, and the excessive body horror starts to feel more like filler than part of a meaningful narrative.
Naomi Scott Shines as Skye Riley
The saving grace of Smile 2 is Naomi Scott’s performance. She plays Skye Riley, a former rock star recovering from a traumatic car crash that claimed her boyfriend’s life. A year later, she’s sober and trying to rebuild her life, but the pressure of fame continues to weigh heavily on her. Scott portrays Skye with raw vulnerability, capturing her internal struggles while maintaining a brave face for the public.
Skye’s return to the spotlight is driven by her mother (played by Rosemarie DeWitt), who pushes her to resume her career. The scenes showing Skye’s frantic schedule—photo shoots, interviews, promotional events—reveal the suffocating nature of celebrity life. Scott brings depth to her character by highlighting Skye’s fragility. The contrast between the image she’s forced to project and her crumbling mental state is heartbreaking.
Her costumes reflect this inner turmoil. Skye wears flashy, oddly cut outfits that mirror her unraveling mind. Even her apartment, with its bizarre jungle-themed wallpaper, seems like a reflection of her chaotic mental state. These visual cues add to the sense that Skye’s real horror lies not in demons but in the crushing demands of fame.
Real-Life Parallels
The film indirectly touches on the darker side of fame, especially in today’s relentless 24/7 entertainment industry. Skye’s character and struggles echo recent real-life tragedies in the world of show business. The death of One Direction’s Liam Payne serves as a stark reminder of how fame can consume those who live under its constant spotlight. The pressure to perform, to stay relevant, and to maintain an image can be just as devastating as any supernatural force.
Skye’s journey could easily stand alone as a psychological thriller, without the need for the demon subplot. The mental breakdown she experiences—brought on by trauma, addiction recovery, and the pressure of her career—is horror enough. In fact, her descent into confusion and fear feels more compelling than the actual ghost story the film tries to tell.
Missed Opportunities
Smile 2 had the potential to be more than just a horror sequel. The film could have explored Skye’s personal struggles more deeply, using her character’s journey as a metaphor for the destructive nature of fame. Instead, the movie focuses too much on tired horror tropes and not enough on its main character’s emotional arc.
Parker Finn’s direction feels scattered. The film repeats the same formulaic jump scares and grotesque smiles from the first movie, without adding anything new to the mix. This lack of innovation hurts the film, making it feel like a rehash rather than a fresh continuation of the story. The demon itself never evolves, and the film provides no deeper insights into its origins or motives.
Supporting Cast and Subplots
The supporting cast, including Rosemarie DeWitt as Skye’s mother, plays their roles adequately, but their characters feel underdeveloped. DeWitt’s portrayal of a pushy stage mom could have added complexity to the story, but the film never fully explores the dynamic between mother and daughter. Instead, it focuses on superficial tensions without delving into the emotional core of their relationship.
Peter Jacobson and Dylan Gelula, who also feature in the film, contribute little to the overall narrative. Their characters feel like placeholders in a script that’s more concerned with keeping the plot moving than developing meaningful interactions.
The film introduces several subplots, including Skye’s complicated relationship with her fame, her strained family ties, and her struggle to stay sober. But none of these threads are fully explored, leaving the audience unsatisfied. The demon’s presence overshadows what could have been a more engaging psychological drama.
Violence and Body Horror
Smile 2 leans heavily into body horror, but it does so without much purpose. The violent scenes feel excessive and unnecessary, as though they are there just to shock rather than serve the story. The gore adds little to the tension and, at times, detracts from the emotional stakes of the film.
Rather than building a sense of dread, the constant barrage of graphic violence becomes numbing. The film misses an opportunity to use horror in a more thoughtful way, opting instead for cheap thrills that don’t last. This over-reliance on shock value diminishes the overall impact of the film, making it feel like it’s trying too hard to be scary without actually succeeding.
Conclusion: A Disappointing Sequel
Smile 2 tries to capture the success of its predecessor but falls short in almost every way. The plot is muddled, the scares are repetitive, and the demon’s presence feels more like an afterthought than a driving force in the story. Parker Finn’s direction lacks the clarity needed to guide the audience through the film’s many confusing twists and turns.
Despite its flaws, Naomi Scott’s performance stands out as the film’s brightest point. Her portrayal of Skye Riley—a woman on the edge, fighting both her inner demons and the relentless pressure of fame—elevates the movie. Scott’s emotional depth brings a sense of realism to an otherwise unconvincing plot.
Ultimately, Smile 2 is a missed opportunity. It had the potential to dive deeper into Skye’s psychological turmoil and explore the horrors of fame, but instead, it settles for recycled scares and unearned violence. Fans of the first Smile may find some enjoyment in revisiting the familiar formula, but those looking for a more substantial story will likely be disappointed. With a rating of 2.5 stars, Smile 2 fails to leave a lasting impression, despite its strong lead.
