SMILE 2 (2024)

Genre: Horror/Thriller
Director: Parker Finn
Cast: Naomi Scott, Rosemarie DeWitt, Kyle Gallner, Lukas Gage, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Peter Jacobson, Raúl Castillo, Dylan Gelula, Ray Nicholson
Runtime: 2 hrs 7 mins
Rating: M18 (Violence and Gore)
Released By: UIP
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 17 October 2024

Synopsis: About to embark on a new world tour, global pop sensation Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) begins experiencing increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events. Overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and the pressures of fame, Skye is forced to face her dark past to regain control of her life before it spirals out of control.For centuries and across cultures, parents have warned their children of the legendary Bagman, who snatches innocent children and stuffs them into his vile, rotting bag-never to be seen again. Patrick McKee (Sam Claflin) narrowly escaped such an encounter as a boy, which left him with lasting scars throughout his adulthood. Now, Patrick's childhood tormentor has returned, threatening the safety of his wife Karina (Antonia Thomas) and son Jake (Caréll Rhoden). 

Movie Review:

Of course there’d be a sequel to Parker Finn’s 2022 movie which made a whopping $217 million worldwide on a budget of $17 million. People love scaring themselves in a dark theatre with a good horror flick, and that’s what the movie about a psychiatrist who uncovers a terrifying curse that manifests through smiling did – the simple concept was effective in making audiences cower in fear while wanting more.

And judging from the reactions of the viewers during the preview screening of this louder and evidently more pompous sequel (thanks to a bigger budget), Finn is likely to be given a pat on his back for delivering yet another worthy scare fest.

If you have watched the first movie, you don’t need any introduction to the premise. After an opening sequence which adequately links one of the surviving characters from the original to this sequel, we are introduced to Skye Riley (Naomi Scott, whom you may fondly remember as Princess Jasmine from the 2019 live adaptation of Disney’s Aladdin), a pop star who is trying to let go of a traumatic accident that happened while she was at the peak of her career.

When we first see Skye, she has just returned from a break and is ready to embark on a world tour. She even gets interviewed by Drew Barrymore on her talk show. Needless to say, terrible things begin to happen and the poor girl becomes increasingly engulfed by the curse. If you have seen the movie trailer, the violent scenes are just a teaser for the many gory (and hence, scary) sequences you can expect from the 127 minute horror thriller.

The story written by Finn doesn’t offer anything new, but it is not a problem because the scares are so well executed, you forgive the filmmakers for banking on what already works. Scott gives her all to play Skye (she even gets to show off her vocals in some songs specially written for the movie), a victim of her own pursuit for fame in showbiz. It’s what you usually read in media – a celebrity who turns to substances while trying to stay afloat in the cruel industry.

Here, Scott does a fine job in portraying someone who spirals into insanity, no thanks to the monstrous curse. You will peer on in dread as Skye goes through one mental breakdown after another, and be startled as the effective jump scares happen. It’s probably more fun if you are in a crowded theatre where other audiences will break out in screams and nervous laughter with you.

It is also recommended that you watch this movie in a theatre with a good sound system, because your experience will be greatly heightened during scenes where sound design is emphasised to make you feel all jittery in your seat. One recurring action sees Skye scratching her head and literally pulling her hair out, and the screeching sound effect may be particularly disturbing to some.

No prizes for guessing that the movie ends on a note which leaves room for a sequel. Let’s see whether this will be an upcoming horror franchise that will leave fans craving for more.

Movie Rating:

(Scream your heart out as Naomi Scott delivers a committed performance in this bigger, louder and gorier sequel)

Review by John Li