‘Smile 2’ is a Gripping, Psychological Thrill Ride

Smile 2

★ ★ ★ ½

Smile 2 is a surprising sequel to the 2022 horror hit ‘Smile.’ It’s surprising because most horror sequels are generally poorly executed retreads of their predecessors. Not so here. While Smile 2 follows similar beats of the original storyline, this sequel is full of its own surprises and relies very little on viewers having seen the first film.

This film opens six days after the events in the previous film. Joe (Kyle Gallner) sits in his car trying to gather the gumption to rid himself of a spiritual entity that plagues its victims.

The entity attaches itself to victims by invading the mind and psyche, tormenting the person with terrifying visions and a distorted reality. It’s able to navigate and infect victims’ minds so well, they eventually become unaware of what’s real versus distorted.

Naomi Scott and Dylan Gelula
© 2024 Paramount Pictures

Once the entity has taken complete control, it forces its host to commit suicide – often in a brutally violent manner. The entity needs a witness to the suicide, because once it’s host dies, it can then attach itself to the traumatized observer. The new host will go through a similar psychological attack and the cycle repeats.

The one way around this is for the host to commit murder. This also must be done in front of a witness, but this time it will leave its host for the new witness.

That’s why Joe is sitting in his car. He does kill a drug dealer and another drug dealer witnesses it. But it goes horribly wrong. A shootout commences leaving Joe wounded and both drug dealers dead. A third dealer, Lewis (Lukas Gage), has been watching in panic-stricken horror from a back corner of the room. Joe feels terrible but must escape when other dealers arrive. He does so while being shot at and tries to run across the street to his car.

Skye Riley is tormented by a vision of her deceased boyfriend at a benefit event
© 2024 Paramount Pictures

We’re next introduced to a fictional famous pop singer Skye Riley (Naomi Scott), who is in the process of resurrecting her career. She has been dealing with a substance abuse problem and overcoming the tragic death of her boyfriend, famous actor Paul Hudson (Ray Nicholson). They were both in the same car, and were both strung out on cocaine, when Paul lost control of the vehicle and crashed it down an embankment. He died instantly; she survived.

Skye is managed by her mother, Elizabeth Riley (Rosemarie DeWitt), who is doing everything she can to keep Skye’s career resurrection on track. For the most part, it’s working and Skye seems to be on a healthy road to recovery and a good career trajectory.

Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) signs a fan’s shirt
© 2024 Paramount Pictures

At a dance choreograph session for her upcoming comeback concert, Skye twists her back and is in severe pain. She downplays it, because this setback could delay her performance. Later that evening, the pain becomes intolerable. She reaches out to a friend who can get her some Vicodin.

Her friend is Lewis, who is obviously unstable when she goes to his apartment. Lewis kills himself in front of Skye, giving an evil smile as he does it.

Skye is now afflicted and must try to find a way to get rid of the entity. Seeing horrific visions and experiencing terrifying distortions in her reality doesn’t help her journey to resurrect her career.

Peter Jacobson as Morris
© 2024 Paramount Pictures

From the film’s first scene, to Skyler’s affliction to her psychological and physical battle to win her life back, Smile 2 is, in every way, a captivating horror-thriller. It will nudge you to the edge of your seat.

What makes a horror film work is a strong connection to at least one character and some plausible reality within the plot. Scott does a fantastic job of bringing Skyler to life and portraying her psychological and physical torment. As the audience, it’s easy to empathize with her and we genuinely want to see her overcome this nightmare.

Horror films are hit and miss. Sequels rarely hit the mark. Smile 2 takes you on a psychological thrill ride that grips you by the throat and never lets go.

It’s so well done, even the jump-scares make sense.

Horror, Mystery & Thriller