Creating a sequel to a surprise hit is a formidable task, as initial success rarely anticipates franchise longevity. When writer-director Parker Finn embarked on the sequel to his 2022 horror sensation "Smile," many were skeptical, including myself. The burden of living up to such unique success weighed heavily. Nonetheless, "Smile 2," opening Friday, delivers a mostly satisfying evolution for Finn and his growing horror series, even if it doesn't firmly establish a continued universe. This stands in its favor because rather than attempting excessive world-building, Finn opts for another hair-raising tale, using a similar framework but amplifying it in scale.
"Smile 2" excels when unraveling the mental deterioration of Skye Riley (played by Naomi Scott), a pop singer carrying the same terrifying curse that plagued therapist Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon) in the first film. The expansion into the series' mythology is the weakest aspect, as the horror thrives on the fear of the unknown. The film opens with a “Six days later” title card, directly linking to the previous movie by featuring Kyle Gallner’s returning role as a detective. For those unfamiliar with or forgetful of the first "Smile," this bridging effort might be disorienting, yet it seamlessly transitions into the main narrative, self-sufficient enough to stand independently.
The foundational concept mirrors horror films like "The Ring," "Final Destination," and "It Follows," where a curse transfers from person to person through witnessed macabre suicides, marking each viewer as the subsequent victim. Skye finds herself cursed after witnessing her drug dealer's grim demise, thus starting to see sinister smiling figures at every turn, with only a week to avoid the same deadly fate. Unlike Rose, Skye, entrenched in a high-profile lifestyle, is reeling from a harrowing car crash and battling a serious cocaine addiction. Her manager, played by Rosemarie DeWitt, is a domineering force, urging her to resume touring, unaware of Skye's worsening condition even before the supernatural threat looms.
Although Skye’s trajectory from denial to defiance parallels Rose's, the glamorous showbiz backdrops breathe a fresh air into familiar scares. Rather than falling into cheap tactics, the jump scares align with the building tension and Skye's unraveling mental state. In many ways, "Smile 2" is more adept at portraying emotional turmoil than supernatural explanations. The curse heightens Skye's existing trauma as she strives to reconstruct her career and personal life post-crisis. Naomi Scott shines as the tightly wound artiste navigating physical and psychological pains. The narrative could easily sit alongside films examining the intense pressures of female stardom, such as "Her Smell," "Vox Lux," and "A Star Is Born" (2018).
As horrors intensify in the climactic third act, Skye's urgency to overcome the curse escalates, necessitating the usual horror trope of a knowledgeable character providing the means to vanquish the evil. However, scenes with Peter Jacobson as an expert figure drag, contributing to a convoluted finale where Finn’s narrative ambition overtakes execution. The conclusion's reliance on an overdrawn device, detracting from a necessary dreamlike escapism, underscores Finn's shortcoming. Despite this, "Smile 2" impresses with vivid, unsettling imagery, leaving audiences perturbed yet fulfilled, as a good horror film should.
It's commendable for a sequel seemingly inessential. However, one can only hope Finn recognizes the art of timely cessation, avoiding risks with a potential "Smile 3."
