Smile 2 (2024): So, Nothing Matters?

Back in 2022, Smile (directed by Parker Finn) exploded. It was the horror movie of the year, and I'd venture to say has earned itself a tentative place among the horror movie must-watch lists. Naturally, it was only a matter of time before we got a sequel. Smile 2 (also directed by Finn) hit theatres in 2024 and performed well at the box office, whilst leaving audiences eager for a third instalment. It looks as though we have a franchise on our hands! But what does Smile 2 say about the future of the films?

The film picks up directly where we left off last time, but we don't stay there very long. Instead, the story shifts to pop star Skye Riley (Naomi Scott), as she prepares for her comeback tour, despite still struggling with a lingering injury and, as a result, a dependence on painkillers. A convoluted chain of events leads to the Smile Demon attaching itself to her, unravelling the life she's trying desperately to weave back together.

The strengths of Smile 2 are much the strengths of the original. Skye is a complex character who Naomi plays sympathetically enough to root for, whilst also recognising that she's an angel. The pop star angle adds a degree of complexity and commentary that her coutnerpart, Rose, didn't have. The pressures of fame add to the claustrophobia and horror throughout.

And the horror does deliver. There are several scenes that use the smiling entity to its full effect, ranging from an unsettling fan to a manic dance group in the bedroom. Said manic dance group is the highlight of the movie. The physicality of the scene, combined with artful use of lighting and sound, make for an excellent scare, the cherry on top being the callback to the earlier rehearsal scene. There are several scares that deliver and make good use of the premise. Whilst we'd already seen the entity's true form in the last movie - one of it's highlights - it's a delight to see it again, this time comprised of practical effects. It's just as horrifying and even more real.

Where the film starts to waver is in its need to establish lore. It's a shame not to keep Joel from the original around for this job; instead a new character is shoe horned into the narrative to info-dump onto us. The Final Destination 2 style solution to escaping the entity ultimately doesn't quite hit.

From this plan, Smile 2 goes from wavering to falling flat. We're bombarded with scene after scene of horror. All of which are intense and vibrant, but are retconned by the next. By the time we reach the finale, we find the whole third act was a delusion.

Maybe a good twist, but it feels like more of a cop out. As though Finn had written himself into a corner and wasn't sure where to go from here, or was so set on that final scene from the beginning that he was determined to go for it, even if it didn't follow on correctly.

It's as much of a cheat as any 'it was all a dream' scene, and has been used so heavily throughout the film that it begs the question - does anything matter, then? If we can't trust anything we're seeing, and it's going to be retconned in the next scene, why should we care about any of this? Why stay invested?

That being said, the ending scene leaves huge questions for the franchise, and it's easy to see why Finn would want to keep it. It's possible the third film will deal with an apocalyptic level of Smile entity and completely unlike the other two films.

This would be sorely welcome. As strong as Smile 2 is, it's impossible not to notice how closely it follows the formula of the first. The trauma metaphor is still messy in its final message, with little done to explore or counter it.

Ultimately, Smile 2 has a stronger, more interesting plot than the first and the budget to deliver on grander, more striking scares. Whilst it's probably a good idea to skip the first in favour of the more confident sequel.

Hopefully, the third follows through on the promise of the second, and is not to be missed.