Smile 2, the sequel to the original horror hit, offers a thrilling experience for viewers. During my Thanksgiving break, my mother and I decided to watch the film at the AMC Theatre in Boston. The theatre was packed with people aged 17 to 70.
The movie begins with the perspective of New York City celebrity pop star Skye Riley, played by Naomi Scott. Scott delivers a fantastic performance as a bereft celebrity who lost her previous boyfriend in a car accident after a party. After the accident, Skye Riley becomes an addict, whose addiction forces her to cancel her most recent tour. A few years later, freshly sober, she decides to continue her tour. Despite the spinal pain she has suffered since the accident, her doctors refuse to prescribe powerful pain relievers, leaving her in agonizing pain.
Skye contacts her previous drug dealer, Lewis, to retrieve stronger medication for her back because she wants to perfect her tour rehearsal the next day. Once she arrives at his apartment, he suddenly acts unusually as if someone else is in the house trying to harm him; however, nobody is there. He proceeds to look for the medication she is asking for and ultimately ends up committing suicide but with a creepy smile displayed on his face.
From then on, Skye experiences hallucinations… or are they? These hallucinations cause issues in her work and social life making it impossible for her to stay sane. In Smile 2, we get a deep dive into Skye Riley’s perspective on this delusion and the relationship changes once this spirit absorbs with her. Will anyone believe her?
Overall, this movie was a great watch, and I will recommend this to anyone! Not the scariest movie I have ever seen, but it has an interesting plot with good jump scares. The costume designer, Alexis Forte, did a great job with Skye Riley’s outfits making it very entertaining to see her new costume in the next scene. Her clothing made each scene very memorable and created a good imitation of real-life celebrities.
I typically believe sequels for popular movies do not match the original. However, this movie gave a more unique perspective using a celebrity instead of an unfamous person. I prefer horror movies with a more relatable experience because I can truly put myself into the character’s shoes, so this movie did not leave me terrified when leaving the theatre. Many horror films focus on a middle-class character and feature overcast weather, yet this movie was set in a luxurious apartment and ideal conditions. Ultimately, I will give this movie a 7/10!
