As a seasoned cinephile who’s braved countless horror masterpieces ranging from the classics to the modern-day chills, I must confess that Smile 2 left me longing for the comfort of my favorite blanket more than any spine-tingling terror. The concept of an evil spirit infecting a chain of victims is intriguing, but the execution in this sequel was akin to listening to a high-pitched alarm blaring for two hours straight – excruciatingly exhausting!
A devotee of horror films, responsible for scripting both “Smile” and its sequel, found that an individual standing with an unsettling smirk is terrifying. However, the monotony of such scenes featuring a person with a peculiar broad grin can become tiresome after a while. “Smile 2”, released in 2022, follows the storyline of a malevolent spirit roaming the globe, targeting victims who are eventually driven to commit suicide in front of horrified onlookers. As each victim succumbs, the spirit infects the witness, creating a deadly chain of individuals who meet their demise at the hands of this ominous entity.
In this installment, our protagonist is a renowned pop singer reminiscent of Taylor Swift, now joining the line of individuals tormented by an evil entity possessing their bodies. Naomi Scott portrays Skye Riley, a famous singer, with her signature feature being incessant high-pitched yells that dominate the soundtrack for these two hours. Unfortunately, this recurring scream technique loses its impact after the third or fourth such outburst in this sequel.
As a horrified viewer, I’ve found myself confronted with some truly unsettling scenes in this film, where characters are shown inflicting self-harm, whether it’s attempting to mutilate their own faces or using heavy weights to brutally damage their visage. At times, it’s almost unimaginable that such gruesome content is marketed as horror entertainment, given that the excessive graphic violence doesn’t seem essential for scaring an audience.
In the unexpected climax, we encounter yet another shockingly gruesome finale, with elements such as a monstrous, blood-drenched alien emerging from Skye Riley’s body. By this stage, I had seen more than enough and eagerly anticipated wrapping up my viewing of this film.
According to critic Sean Collier, if we were to illuminate this film, it would no longer evoke fear. Additionally, he points out that the sudden, abrupt sounds lack a clear purpose and instead of being terrifying, they become annoying.
As a devoted film enthusiast, I can’t help but feel somewhat baffled by the overwhelmingly positive response to Smile 2 on Rotten Tomatoes, with an impressive 83% rating. In contrast, my personal opinion is far more skeptical, as I’ve given it a 50%. With a heavy heart, I can’t help but hope that this would be the final chapter in the Smile saga. However, considering the box office success and the industry’s tendency to capitalize on popular franchises, we might just find ourselves facing another Smile movie within the next two years.
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2024-10-20 15:49