How One Big ‘Smile 2’ Reveal Sets Up ‘Smile 3’

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As a seasoned horror enthusiast who has braved countless chilling tales of the supernatural, I must say that the looming specter of a third “Smile” installment initially filled me with dread. The idea of following the mental deterioration of thousands of concertgoers seemed like a recipe for disaster, or rather, a horror movie cliché.

However, upon closer inspection and reflection on the series’ underlying themes, I found myself reassured. The secret revealed in the first film—that the entity can only prey on those experiencing intense guilt—provides an intriguing loophole that could breathe new life into the franchise. By focusing on a select few among the concertgoers who are most vulnerable to the demon’s influence, the filmmakers can maintain the isolated atmosphere that makes the series so terrifying and avoid the pitfalls of a disaster movie narrative.

In essence, this secret offers an opportunity for the series to continue exploring the psychological torment of its characters while keeping things fresh and engaging for audiences. After all, it’s not every day you get to watch a horror movie about survivor’s guilt—unless you count that one time with the haunted Ouija board. But let’s try to keep our Ouija boards in check, shall we?

In simpler terms, the finale of “Smile 2” left audiences stunned, both in the theater and within the film itself. The brutal conclusion appears to seal the fate of the horror series. However, while the ending is bold and risky for where it leads the franchise, “Smile 2” and its precursor hint at a possible escape route from the film’s shocking ending that could save future installments.

Similar to how Smile unveiled that part of the narrative unfolded within the protagonist’s shattered psyche, Smile 2 delves into the troubled mindscape of pop star Skye Riley (Naomi Scott). Unlike the final ten minutes of Smile, which were set inside Rose’s (Sosie Bacon) mind, a substantial chunk of Smile 2 appears to be set within Skye’s mental realm.

The movie concludes with Skye discovering that she was hallucinating while onstage, implying that most, if not all, of the film’s events might not have been real. Her concert attire and her mother in the audience, who she had supposedly killed earlier in the movie, add to the confusion about what actually occurred.

As Skye stirs awake, she encounters the Smile entity in its hideous demonic guise for the first time. In response, she gives a chilling grin that mirrors every victim of the entity before her, followed by plunging her microphone into her own eye socket. Given what we’ve learned from the Smile films, it seems the entire audience at the concert may be in grave danger.

How Does the Smile Demon Choose a Host?

The method by which this entity moves from one individual to another is quite clear-cut. Once someone becomes host to the entity, they experience terrifying visions and hallucinations. Within seven days, the entity’s influence inside them drives them to commit suicide violently. If this suicide occurs in the presence of a spectator, the entity transfers to that witness, setting the cycle in motion once more.

As a seasoned movie critic with decades of experience under my belt, I’ve seen it all – the good, the bad, and the downright terrifying. But when I sat down to watch “Smile 2”, I was immediately gripped by its chilling premise: an entity that haunts people, driving them to their doom unless they can pass it on by committing a murder in front of a witness.

In the first movie, our protagonist Rose finds herself entangled with her ex-boyfriend Joel (Kyle Gallner), who hatches a desperate plan to transfer the entity onto someone else. In “Smile 2”, we see this plan unfold at the start of the film, but it quickly goes awry in a gruesome and unexpected turn of events.

As a connoisseur of horror films, I was impressed by the innovative twist on the genre’s typical haunting tropes and the way it kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. If you’re looking for a spine-tingling watch that will leave you questioning your own sanity, “Smile 2” is definitely worth checking out.

As Skye tragically ended her life before an audience of thousands, it seems plausible that the haunting presence she carried may have been transferred to each and every person in attendance that fateful night. This is based on the pattern we’ve seen so far, with every victim passing on this entity. So, if Smile 3 were to unfold, it would mean thousands of characters grappling with the entity’s chilling visions and a multitude of fresh storylines to explore. That’s quite a heavy load for any franchise, but fortunately, the series has already hinted at a secret to steer clear of such intricate plotlines.

In all the films thus far, a distinctive feature unites the victims: they all grapple with intense survivor’s guilt. This suggests that not every person who attended the concert would be vulnerable to the demonic entity. For instance, Rose and Skye both harbored deep guilt over the loss of their mother and boyfriend, respectively.

The Demon Is Drawn to Victims With Survivor’s Guilt

In my opinion, as a movie-goer, the beginning of “Smile 2” finds us with Joel, a man haunted by an otherworldly curse. This torment stems from his inability to save Rose, who tragically lost her life before him, leaving him vulnerable to the entity’s grasp due to his lingering guilt.

Each individual who has been affected so far carries some level of survivor’s remorse. In the initial film, Rose’s patient was plagued by guilt over seeing their roommate commit suicide, Rose herself grappled with guilt regarding her mother’s demise, Joel felt accountable for Rose’s passing, and Lewis (Lukas Gage) was deeply affected by witnessing Joel execute his drug dealers. However, Skye’s survivor’s guilt might have been the strongest of all, given that not only did she harbor feelings of remorse over her boyfriend’s death, but also played a role in it.

It appears quite clear that the Smile demon primarily attacks individuals burdened with immense guilt and regret. Those grappling with sorrow and remorse tend to be psychologically fragile due to their emotional turmoil, which makes them easier for the entity to approach undetected. The characters in both movies were particularly susceptible to the entity’s influence, given Skye’s role in her boyfriend’s demise. It seems that this demon cannot choose victims arbitrarily but instead requires its targets to be emotionally distraught and ridden with guilt.

How This Secret Will Help Set Up ‘Smile 3‘

The fate of the franchise appeared destined for failure until they discovered a way out through a gap in the rules established in the first movie. A third installment focusing on the mass mental breakdown of thousands at a concert seems more like a disaster film than a chilling psychological horror, offering a less captivating and immersive narrative, and potentially becoming confusing. Since it appears that this entity can only affect susceptible individuals, only some fans who attended the concert might be afflicted.

If the third installment focused on the widespread psychosis experienced by many, it might dilute the eerie, isolated ambiance that characterized the first two films. The singular perspective is what gives the series its chilling quality at times.

So far, both main characters have endured the chilling curse inflicted by the Smile demon individually. No one else believes their tales until it’s too late, leaving them with no one to verify the presence of this entity. The idea of going through something like that all alone is petrifying in itself. If the filmmakers stick to the secret they hinted at in the first movie, it would preserve the originality of the series and prevent an unwarranted change in the franchise’s tone.

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2024-12-31 01:32