Smile 2 Movie Review

“Smile 2” is a horror movie that continues with the same features as the first movie (“Smile”). This movie is effectively disturbing, or perhaps just disturbingly effective. The idea of a nameless demon monster, the “Smile Entity”, which can transfer from one person to another person is scary. Plus — the ‘infected’ person gives a future ‘host’ a patented “Creepy Smile”, just before they kill themselves. Would that be ‘Smile-icide’?

 

At the beginning, it helps to have a bit of knowledge of the prior “Smile” movie. There was a character of an ex-cop named Joel (played by Kyle Gallner). He is six days removed from watching his girlfriend flash a big toothy smile – and then commit suicide. After that, she was gone forever…

 

He knows that he must pass this demon entity off to another person. The worst person in the world is a Russian mob drug dealer. And he knows where he can find a suspect who can take the demon, and who will not be missed in this world. Maybe he will be free…

 

However, a minor buyer is at the drug house when Joel crashes in. This unknown guy, named Lewis (played by Lukas Gage) is the unlucky one who gets the “Creepy Smile” from Joel. It is by mistake, and all hell breaks loose. Joel thinks he might be free from the monster that has plagued him for the past six days. But in the shootout — the Russians are dead, and Lewis has fled with some drugs. Joel is gone forever, never to be in another sequel…

 

Just out of nowhere, the main focus is on a female pop star who is ready for a major comeback tour. The talented singer and songwriter is Skye Riley (played by Naomi Scott). She really needs a comeback, because of the way she had screwed up her life in the prior years.

 

A year ago, she was out with her big movie star boyfriend, Paul (played by Ray Nicholson). After a night of doing copious drugs and some heavy drinking – they both had an argument in the car. It crashed and Skye was severely injured and Paul was gone forever.

 

Skye has a manager, and it is her mother Elizabeth (played by Rosemarie DeWitt). She is always driving Skye to work hard and earn the most she can get. But Skye has a drug use history, and she can get nothing strong for her back pain. So, under cover — the pop star goes to see an old high school friend with ‘connections’. Of course, she goes to see Lewis.

 

And Lewis was infected with the horrible “Smile Entity”. It has been driving Lewis crazy, and he has gone without sleep for about six days. And before you know it — there is a new “Creepy Smile” from Lewis. Followed by a ‘Smile-icide’ — this time using exercise equipment.

 

Skye has seen the whole thing. So now is she next up in the “Smile Entity” batter’s box. Just in time for a new album to get released, and a new tour to go on. It is also a time when social media keeps hounding her day and night.

 

Skye is not able to sleep, because she keeps having lucid dreams. She is not able to tell reality from her worst nightmares. She has a best friend from high school, but she blew her off about a year ago.

 

She calls Gemma (played by Dylan Gelula). She is surprised that Gemma comes right over and forgives what she said a year ago. Skye tries to tell Gemma about her wild and scary dreams. She explains that she went to see Lewis, and now Lewis is gone forever.

 

Elizabeth has planned a quick event for Skye the next day. The head of the record label is named Darius (played by Raúl Castillo) and he is hosting a fundraiser. It is for underserved inner-city youth. That is exactly the type of event that will get Skye back on track to being the most popular pop star in the world.

 

Well besides anyone named Taylor Swift. Skye is ready to give a canned speech off the teleprompter. But, of course, the “Smile Entity” starts to play with her mind — and the event goes … poorly.

 

There is strange phone text from an unknown caller — and this person knows about the death of Lewis. They can tie Skye to being there as Lewis died, and the person says they know how to stop the evil demon from destroying Skye’s life. She has not slept since Lewis died, and even telling Gemma has not helped Skye resolve what is going on.

 

Skye goes under cover — to meet a guy named Morris (played by Peter Jacobson). He is an EMT, and had a brother who got the nasty “Smile” bug. He knows as much about the “Smile Entity” as anyone can know. There could be a risky method that could save her. Oh, you have to die — by the way…

 

But not be gone forever. Morris thinks his EMT training can allow him to medically stop her heart and start it back up after two minutes. Skye says — ‘Hard Pass’ on that idea. But then she goes back home. There are even more psychotic events.

 

Her background dancers are there with her in the apartment. All have big “Creepy Smiles”, of course. The next thing she knows Skye is with Elizabeth at some private rehab facility. She wants Skye to rest a few days before the big tour starts.

 

Things begin happen, and Skye is unable to tell what is true and what is not. She escapes from the private rehab, and she doesn’t know if Elizabeth is gone forever. Skye decides that it is now time to contact Morris.

 

If she is in the batter’s box — she is going to swing for the fences. Gemma is there to help her, until Skye realizes that Gemma is actually at home right now. Morris is ready to try out his totally untested theory. Skye is today’s Guinea pig.

 

But will the “Smile Entity” be able to take over Skye completely? Will Morris come to the rescue at the last minute? Will Skye find a way to block all of her pain and sorrow and inner loathing to come up with a solution? Will it have a happy ending, one that will make you “Smile”?

 

---

 

 

“Smile 2” takes what seems to be a weak concept and turns it into stomach-churning scare-fest…. Somebody smiles at you, and then you’re done for? Yeah – right! But for second movie in a row Parker Finn has proven that he knows what he is doing.

 

You may be able to turn that frown upside-down, but you will never get that the “Creepy Smile” out of your memory. Just like Jason’s hockey mask, and Michael’s plain white mask — this thing has a way to turn the fear up to eleven.

 

Naomi Scott gives a fully committed performance as Skye. She does not hold back with her expressions and actions. Skye is quite a flawed person, with an addictive personality and a self-centered attitude. But Scott makes her dilemma real, and lets the audience know that she is slowly driven crazy by her inner-most fears.

 

This movie has a spooky level of tension that rises during the entire run time. It might last a little too long, but the ride to the end is filled with jump scares and freaky visuals. The production values are great, since it needs to reflect the life of a diva pop star. It does not look cheap at all.

 

“Smile 2” is wild ride in the vein of the first “Smile” movie, in that it takes a person put into an unwinnable situation and turns the screws tighter and tighter. It makes you think twice if you see someone across the room with a “Creepy Smile”.