Physically scarred from an horrific car crash and about to embark on her mega world tour, pop star Skye Riley’s very life begins to spiral out of control after being a witness to a terrible curse.
Written and directed once again by Parker Finn, who gave us the massively successful “Smile”, which became the highest grossing horror film of 2022. We take another deep dive into the cinematic universe of terror that is often prone to have more misses than hits. This time however we are in the world of not only the often physically grotesque but more importantly the extreme psychological where the ability to escape one’s own sometimes dark mind and its own powerful ability can lead one on an almost impossible, uncontrollable and inescapable downward spiral.
Based on the dark short story “Laura Hasn’t Slept”, also written and directed by Finn in 2020 and starring Caitlin Stasey as Laura, of “Smile” (available online) we once again inhabit our antagonist’s witness to a devastating supernatural being unseen by the human eye but one that gets under the skin and delves extremely deeply into the sometimes fragile mind none the less.
Fast forward 6 days from “Smile”, which is ideally essential viewing beforehand to fully understand Finn’s possibly disturbed but inventively brilliant mind, (CH4) we find ourselves in the deep rural outskirts of New York in a forgotten, sleepy town of desolation. With this opening dramatic scene being shot in one intense take, Jake played by Kyle Gallner, is the last witness to the devastating smile which he must pass this on to prevent his own death, and this is where this stylish film really takes off over and above the others of this genre. Finn was looking this time for the glitz and the glam of the façade of the pop world whilst having the dark background begin to grow within rather than the dark house style horror so often used previously. Cue an award worthy performance from Naomi Scott as Skye Riley – cast in December 2023 – she is the pop goddess alone in a world of adoring fans surrounded by an invisible curtain of suffocating yes people.
Also staring Rosemarie DeWitt as Riley’s calculating mother Elizabeth, whose cold performance is the required antithesis of Scott’s wild ride with Ray Nicholson (son of Jack) as Riley’s ex-partner Paul whose own smile is reminiscent of his father in The Shining, his screen time like many others in this genre is short lived and yet very effective, but it is Lukas Gage as Lewis who brings the darkly disturbing amongst the supporting cast all too briefly as he uses a blunt tool in an intense ‘peek-a-boo’ style nightmarish suicide in front of Skye. Finn wanted to create a physically natural yet wide smile whilst keeping away from digital effects which is used superbly well.
“Smile 2” is a direct continuation of the successful franchise which brings a powerhouse starring performance that is rarely seen or recognised in this genre. Horror films rarely win or are nominated for major awards, the last being “Get Out” 2017, this however is likely to buck that trend with an acting masterclass worthy of the Academy Award. Naomi Scott elevates this psychological thriller into a more than a mere slasher flick, she takes the deep dive into the world and us with her of mental fatigue and possible insomnia brilliantly as her waking world blurs into what’s real and what is not. Naomi Scott’s attention to detail and work ethic is next level with her own choreography with the ‘Lady Gaga’, style dance routines and the painful water chugging scenes which were full takes each time so as not to miss the best and the ‘freezer’ scene taking an extremely intense four days to shoot. There is so much more besides but best enjoyed on the big screen with the best sound that uses the audio channels superbly on the closing credits.
‘Smile 2’ has improved upon an already great film into something next level that may be several years before this double event with the recent “Substance” happens again. Take a deep dive into the Finn’s world to be absorbed in the darkest of ways.
By the way, it wouldn’t kill you to smile.
Author: Piers, Maidstone Store
