Smile 2 (2024): review

Smile 2 continues the horror of the 2022 original with a new protagonist: pop singer Skye Riley, played by Naomi Scott. Director Parker Finn returns to the story with his familiar dark sensibility.

Fame, trauma, and a spreading curse

Skye is an internationally celebrated singer preparing for a major world tour. After witnessing the violent death of her dealer Lewis, who dies wearing an uncanny smile, she begins experiencing disturbing events. She must face the growing external horror alongside addiction, past trauma, and the pressure of fame.

The film develops themes of guilt, trauma, and the destructive aspects of celebrity through psychological horror. The curse’s transmission gives the story the same sense of inevitability that made the first film tense. Public scrutiny and personal wounds interact in frightening ways, blurring the boundary between reality and delusion.

Naomi Scott carries the film

Scott delivers a strong, emotionally charged performance. Her portrayal of the fractured Skye, caught between past demons and present terror, is compelling. She is particularly impressive when moving between pain, despair, and a collapsing sense of reality. Kyle Gallner also stands out as investigator Joel, providing a connection to the first film.

Direction and cinematography

Finn maintains the dark style of the original. Charlie Sarroff’s inventive camerawork helps establish the oppressive atmosphere, while the film’s unsettling editing adds to the effect. The jump scares work without displacing the story’s psychological concerns. Scenes in which reality and horror merge are especially striking, increasing the sense of confusion and confinement.

The verdict

Smile 2 is a worthy sequel that extends the original’s terror and takes it into new territory. Scott’s intense lead performance is supported by intelligent directorial choices and strong cinematography. This is not a film for the fainthearted: it relies on shocking images and deep-rooted fear. Its powerful ending and disturbing scenes should leave a lasting impression on horror fans.