Smile 2 is a horror film, a sequel to 2022's Smile, that follows the path of the cursed entity this time to pop star Skye(Naomi Scott). She is in the middle of relaunching her career after a tragic accident and a year of recovery, with increasing pressure from her label and momager(Rosemarie DeWitt) she struggles to make sense of and survive her mental deterioration at the hands of the titular grin.
Scott is an absolute knockout, bringing raw and deep emotion that grounds the supernatural elements and give them stakes. She's also a thoroughly convincing pop star singing original songs with several full-on dance sequences, and this attention to making this Lady Gaga-esk pop star real again furthers the reality when things get weird. This aspect is more convincing and compelling than the similar device used in this year's Trap you would almost be satisfied if there were no genre element involved and the story was simply about Skye revitalizing her career. DeWitt furthers the texture playing the semi-supportive but clearly manipulative momager and the rest of the supporting cast all give great turns(particularly Ray Nicholson). Its a genre film clearly focused on not only the scares and the gore but equally the characters and they all feel full and real and lived in making all the horror that much more effective.
The film looks great with bold camera work, inventive horror sequences, attention to real and surprisingly good pop music with some solid diegetic performances, and a slowly ratcheting suspenseful score- the production across the board has a thrumming infectious energy. Where it falters is in the pacing, the film is too long, and the script in the final act drags and devolves unable to reach the ambition and talent on display elsewhere. Still. It's a surprisingly fun, effective, evocative, feisty piece of cinema.
A superb Scott helms an electric genre flick that doesn't quite stick the landing.
Currently in theaters.
See It.
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