Smile 2 (2024)

When I was searching for something horror related to watch last night, I had thought about starting some type of holiday theme. Holiday horror can be fun, but sometimes it really misses the mark. Instead, I decided to watch a sequel. 2024s Smile 2. 

Plot: About to embark on a world tour, global pop sensation Skye Riley begins experiencing increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events. Overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and the pressures of fame, Skye is forced to face her past.

I didn’t know what to expect when I started this one. I am a huge fan of the first movie and was unsure how they would be able to match that. But, they did and possibly took it up a notch. The cast, led by Naomi Scott was amazing and their performances were outstanding. Some will be turned off because there were really no new revelations and it is basically a replay of the first film, but this storyline is really good and uses the lore as a tremendous foundation. The atmosphere, tension and feel are spot on and along with the soundtrack and solid cinematography creates something enjoyable. The decision to focus on some of the psychological issues was great and allowed some realism to soak in.  In the end, I’m sure there will be those that dislike this movie, but I’m not one of those. While I do still like the original more, this one is a very close second. I can’t wait to see what they come up with if they decide to dive into a third installment. 

 

Smile (2022)

It has been quite some time since I dove into my horror blog.  While I never stopped watching movies or feel out of love with horror. Unfortunately,  over the past couple years I have been dealing with some serious medical issues,  one that I hope are now finally in the past.  While I am not fully recovered from the last procedure, I do feel more alive and will in my way to a full recovery. So,  to get back into the swing of things,  I am going to drive into the 2022 film,  Smile.

Plot: After witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient, Dr. Rose Cotter starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can't explain. As an overwhelming terror begins taking over her life, Rose must confront her troubling past in order to survive and escape her horrifying new reality.

I remember hearing about the movie before it came out, with their marketing campaign making headlines by strategically placing smiling people in baseball stadiums- genius. To be honest, while that was impressive, I definitely feel it added something to the overall product.  To me,  this movie was outstanding (especially the ending). The characters were believable and the actors were amassing capturing the overall feel of the film.  There was a heaviness throughout the movie that gave a sense of hopelessness; something that I love in horror. The storyline,  the effects,  and the cinematography worked together really well to create a film with a tremendous atmosphere where the subtle differences between reality and a tortured imagination were hard differentiate in the moment. Overall, this film is certainly worth watching and a movie that should appeal to horror fans. Check it out.