As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that the upcoming horror sequel, Smile 2, has piqued my interest like no other. The first film was a chilling ride that kept me on the edge of my seat, and the shift in focus to a fictional pop star feels fresh and exciting.
Following the shocking success of “Smile” as a horror phenomenon in 2022, its creator, writer-director Parker Finn, returns with an intriguing twist: instead of revisiting familiar characters, he’s delving into the life of fictional pop sensation Skye Riley for this sequel.
At the premiere of his film in L.A. on Monday, the filmmaker admitted to The Hollywood Reporter that when he first began contemplating a sequel, any ideas that popped into his mind were immediately dismissed because they seemed too obvious to him. He confessed to having a deep interest in the realm of pop music and being captivated by certain female personalities – these enigmatic figures concealed behind velvet curtains. One such character, Skye Riley the mega pop star, piqued his curiosity and ignited an intense fascination within him. He became fixated on this idea.
Following the debut film introducing an enigmatic presence symbolized by chilling smiles, a psychiatrist character portrayed by Sosie Bacon encountered this menace. In the sequel, the popular artist Naomi Scott finds herself confronting progressively disturbing and incomprehensible incidents, all while grappling with the mounting terrors and stresses of stardom.
Finn mentions several influences for the rising star, such as Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Britney Spears, Sia, Olivia Rodrigo, Tate McRae and Charli XCX. The aim is to develop an artist who feels recognizable yet possesses a distinct, individual style.
Naomi Scott arrives at the premiere of #Smile2
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) October 15, 2024
As a gamer, when Finn presented his unique spin on the film being less about horror and more focused on characters, I was hooked right away. During production, it became a daily challenge for me – am I supposed to sing, dance, or just cry and scream today? At the end of each day, I made sure to leave the character behind, because if I didn’t, I honestly believe I would lose my mind.
Finn additionally shared his methods for helping actors capture the movie’s distinctive smiles, playfully mentioning, “At times, the actors arrive exceptionally prepared, as if they’ve spent hours practicing at home in front of a mirror. On other occasions, a bit more guidance is needed.
He explained that your intention seems to be a genuine smile, not an overly dramatic one that might strain your face. To achieve this, you should separate your eyes from your smile and adjust your head position slightly. This often includes a slight head tilt and a hint of the ‘Kubrick Stare’ – a term we borrowed from a famous director. Ultimately, it’s about mastering the art of filmmaking techniques such as framing and sound design.
Jack Nicholson is best recognized for his iconic stare, while his son Ray shares the screen in the movie, featuring alongside him on promotional posters with a chilling grin. Nicholson mentioned that he completed the smiling scenes in just one take, humorously adding, “Naomi had prepared me beforehand, ‘Finn is quite particular, he works well with everyone, so don’t worry if you feel like you’re doing something wrong, it’s just his way.’ And we went ahead and did it, only to have Naomi say afterwards, ‘Well, that’s one take, that’s done.’
Regarding the future of the Smile franchise, Finn expresses positivity, stating, “There are numerous intriguing paths that Smile could take. We’ll need to observe how audiences respond to Smile 2, but what makes Smile fascinating is its potential to explore a wide range of diverse stories and situate itself in various worlds, only for Smile to disrupt the norm.
Smile 2 hits theaters on Friday.
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2024-10-15 21:24