Day 14: Smile 2
If the first Smile had you jumping at every little grin, Parker Finn’s follow-up takes that tension and pumps it up proper. After his debut pulled in over $217 million, Finn comes back with Smile 2, picking up just days after the original, with that same sinister, smirking entity still on a mission to terrify. But instead of spilling all the tea about where this thing came from, Finn keeps the mystery tight and decides to play the horror through a bigger, flashier lens, giving us new ways to squirm without over-explaining anything.
This time, the story moves from the quiet, psychological terror of trauma to the chaotic, spotlight-heavy world of fame. Fake smiles everywhere, fans losing their minds, diva behaviour, and stalkers that a restraining order can’t even touch—Finn uses all of that to turn celebrity life into a playground for horror. You find yourself laughing at the absurdity one moment and clutching your chair the next, because in this world, no matter how famous you are, that grin can still get you. Finn clearly had fun poking at the entertainment machine, showing just how ridiculous fame can get, though with a runtime over two hours, some parts do drag and could’ve been tighter.
The scares themselves? Still sharp. Finn builds tension slowly, letting unease creep in before hitting you with grotesque, up-close body-horror moments—broken bones, dislocated jaws, and hospital scenes that make your skin crawl. The sound design is next level, with squelchy, unsettling foley that keeps the dread simmering. There are some creative fake-outs too, like death by backing dancers, that keep you on edge. Sure, knowing the possession rules from the first film eases some tension, but the scares still hit enough to make you jump.
Smile 2 is bigger, louder, and shinier than the first film. Finn takes the same creepy premise and turns it into a spectacle, mixing horror with dark humour and sharp commentary on celebrity culture. Sosie Bacon delivers well, carrying scenes of panic, fear, and vulnerability like a pro. The film’s critique of fame, obsession, and performative life hits, and it weaves through the horror without feeling forced
That said, bigger doesn’t always mean better. While Smile 2 is entertaining and ambitious, it doesn’t quite recapture the quiet, creeping tension of the original. That subtle, bone-chilling dread—where a single smile could linger in your mind for days—is replaced here by a more in-your-face, flashy approach. Still, if you love horror that mixes scares with social commentary, and you don’t mind a more extravagant ride, this sequel delivers. Just remember, in this world, even the slickest smile could be hiding something deadly.