Smile 2

Story: Smile 2 picks up soon after the harrowing events of the first film after a series of mishaps transfers the curse to a new protagonist: pop star Skye Riley (Naomi Scott).

Review: One of the most intriguing elements Smile 2 introduces is the idea of a haunted pop star. The marketing promised a twist on the formula, suggesting that the protagonist’s celebrity status and gruelling world tour schedule would play a significant role in the story. However, this idea isn’t explored as deeply as it could have been. Despite the grand setup of a Taylor Swift-esque tour, most of the movie takes place in isolated environments—mainly Skye’s apartment—echoing the claustrophobic feel of the first film. While this decision enhances the tension and focuses on Skye’s unravelling psyche, it feels like a missed opportunity not to fully explore the chaos and public scrutiny that could come from a haunted pop star on tour.

But Smile 2 succeeds beyond its scare in its lead performance. Naomi Scott’s portrayal of Skye Riley is one of the film’s strongest assets. She brings a compelling vulnerability to her role, capturing the desperation of a star struggling to maintain control over her life while haunted by her past traumas and the supernatural terror looming over her. Skye’s fame, strained relationship with her overbearing manager-mother (Rosemarie DeWitt), and mental health challenges make her a more complex character than the protagonist in the original film. Scott’s nuanced performance adds emotional weight to what could have been a one-dimensional scream queen role, and her portrayal of Skye’s gradual unravelling feels grounded, even as the film’s horror elements become increasingly surreal.

Director Parker Finn delivers on the promise of heart-pounding, aggressive scares that will keep audiences on edge. The film’s sound design is particularly effective in creating moments of sudden terror. From quiet, tense scenes that explode into loud, disorienting chaos, the movie ensures that even seasoned horror fans will be jolted out of their seats at least a few times. That said, the novelty of these scares begins to wear thin as the movie progresses. Since Smile 2 follows many beats as the first film, the viewer quickly becomes conditioned to expect the reality-warping tricks the demon plays on its victims. What was shocking in the original, such as the realisation that an entire scene was a hallucination, feels more predictable in this sequel. The demon’s manipulations of Skye’s reality are still creepy, but they don’t pack the same punch as they did the first time. The ending does provide a memorable moment of dark, twisted humour that fans of the genre will appreciate. It’s a satisfying conclusion, though it’s easy to see where the film might have benefited from more creativity and risk-taking.