19/14

Skye Riley: [Entite Smile] You're not in control, me!

Tale

World pop sensation Skye Riley, who is about to embark on a world tour, begins to experience increasingly terrifying and unexplained events. Overwhelmed by escalating horrors and the pressures of fame, Skye is forced to confront her past. Kyle Gallner is the only actor to reprise his role from the first film so far. In one scene, Skye places a VOSS water bottle on the stone/marble kitchen counter and there is a sound matching the sound of something plastic being put down. The VOSS water bottles are glass, something that is actually specifically emphasized in the film, so the sound doesn't match the action seen.

What a performance

Appears in The 7PM Project: Episode 17 October 2024 (2024). Smile 2 started hard and fast. With its long "one take" the opening, which was bloody and insane, provided continuity to the original. The cinematography and lighting of the films were great, the use of panning shots and the use of reflections definitely added to the horror sequences. Naomi Scott!

She was tough and authentic

The descent into madness was terrifying (in a big way). I'd love to see an actress in a horror movie get an Oscar nomination, but unfortunately, it's hard to break the genre when it comes to awards. I would like to see more of her in similar roles. Unfortunately, the film (in my opinion) relied too much on jumping and loud noises. I understand that they are an important tool of the genre, but they should be used to add to the story and not scare the audience.

up jump scary

The film really shined in scenes that were more creepy and disturbing than straightforward. Shout out to the dance troupe apartment scene. The scenes where the audience realizes that Skye is actually hallucinating are the most memorable and offer far more weight than the jump scares. I would have appreciated learning a bit more about the entity's lore and perhaps delving into its origins and history. Therefore, a sequel that offers more to the overall story is warranted.

This was a big disappointment and it took away from the penultimate moment

There is one scene (that I know others will feel the same way) that the director chose to use with CGI over practical effects. The film provided the audience with some great horror moments and one stellar performance. However, the film is a bit too reliant on jump scares and flashy-ness driven away from the original's gritty and dark tone.