As a horror enthusiast with a knack for spotting connections, I must say, the return of Joel in Smile 2 is a thrilling twist that ties both films together. Having watched countless slasher sequels where characters miraculously escape their fates only to meet them again, it’s refreshing to see a character like Joel who is still under the curse of the entity.
The eerie sequel titled “Smile 2” is set to make its appearance in cinemas on October 18, 2024, providing a spooky treat for Halloween. This continuation of the unsettling supernatural curse was initially crafted by writer/director Parker Finn back in 2022. The initial chilling tale centered around Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon), a therapist who became progressively troubled by a group of grinning specters after witnessing one of her patients take their life. With most of the original cast members absent, “Smile 2 ” now revolves around Skye Riley (Naomi Scott), an up-and-coming pop star.
Apart from the recurring director/writer and chilling plotline, there is another significant link between “Smile” and “Smile 2”. To grasp how these two films are intertwined, let’s delve into the character who continues their role from the initial film and serves as a connector for the broader narrative. In essence, exploring this connection will reveal how “Smile” and “Smile 2” form an authentic cinematic horror movie sequel.
What Is Smile About?
In September 2022, Parker Finn, an American writer/director making his feature film debut, released the psychological horror film titled “Smile.” This movie was inspired by Finn’s 2020 short film “Laura Hasn’t Slept.” The story follows a therapist named Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon) who meets a troubled teenager named Laura Weaver (Caitlin Stasey) in a psychiatric hospital. After witnessing Laura’s eerie smile before self-harm, Rose encounters a mysterious affliction that causes an unsettling grin to appear on those affected, causing her significant distress.
After the tragic demise of Laura, I found myself delving into the enigmatic curse that seemed to haunt me with its chilling, cryptic grins. However, my pursuit was often met with skepticism from those who thought I had succumbed to the ravages of my own mind. For instance, my previous therapist (Robin Weigert) attributed this experience to residual trauma from my childhood, while my fiancé, Trevor (Jessie T. Usher), expressed concerns that I was slipping into madness.
Rose can only rely on her former boyfriend, Joel (Kyle Gallner), a police officer, for assistance. He has access to criminal records and death certificates related to suicides. Rose requests that Joel search his files for any unusual signs connected to the supernatural curse. As they delve deeper, Joel and Rose start to unravel the origin of the mysterious curse.
What Happens to Joel in Smile?
After examining historical police files, Rose and Joel uncover multiple suicides linked to the eerie grin occurring within a single week. Meanwhile, as Rose strives to reconcile with Trevor, he teams up with her therapist to orchestrate an intervention. This action angers Rose, who blames her elder sister Holly (Gillian Zinser) for neglecting her care after their mother’s passing. Joel assists Rose in recognizing that one individual managed to overcome the sinister grin’s curse – a convicted killer named Robert Talley (Rob Morgan).
During a prison visit, Robert discloses that an otherworldly force behind the grinning doom targets individuals’ past childhood wounds. Even more unsettling, Robert reveals that to escape the curse, one must brutally slay another person in front of a spectator, thus inflicting the necessary trauma, creating a horrific cycle of death and ruin. After Rose becomes privy to this secret, the entity materializes in various guises through optical illusions.
Hurrying towards her old family home, Rose unexpectedly comes across the entity that took the shape of her mother. This entity assaults Rose just as a blaze erupts in the house. Frightened, Rose rushes to Joel’s apartment, where she finds Joel grinning menacingly – a chilling sight indeed. However, when Rose discerns that Joel is merely another illusion, the true villain reveals its face at last.
In a chilling turn of events, Rose catches sight of the true shape of the entity – a grotesque, skinless creature with an enormous maw filled with sharp teeth. This horrifying vision leaves Rose so traumatized that the entity manages to invade her body through her mouth and fully take control. As a result, Rose sets fire to the house. Unfortunately, Joel arrives just seconds too late, witnessing Rose’s terrifying smile amidst the flames. This harrowing sight curses Joel as well.
Joel’s Return in Smile 2 Connects Both Films
As a devoted cinephile, let me share some exciting news about the upcoming horror sequel, Smile 2. The one and only Joel will indeed make a comeback! Interestingly enough, Kyle Gallner is the lone star to revisit their character from the first Smile movie, creating a seamless continuity between the two films. When Smile 2 starts rolling, it’s clear that Joel is still grappling with the terrifying curse of the entity, thereby setting the stage for an entirely new narrative featuring pop sensation Skye Riley.
Besides Naomi Scott taking the lead role, the cast of Smile 2 includes Drew Barrymore, Rosemarie DeWitt, Lukas Gage, Peter Jacobson, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Raul Castillo, Dylan Gelula, and Ray Nicholson.
According to Paramount Pictures, Smile 2 picks up when:
Talented artist Skye Riley encounters an escalating string of unsettling and intimidating situations, just as she prepares for a global tour. To maintain grip on her life, she must confront the shadows from her past, before they lead to chaos.
As a devoted cinephile, I must say that Paramount has been masterful in keeping the secrets of Smile 2 tightly under wraps. When asked about Joel’s return in the sequel by Deadline, Gallner was careful not to spill any spoilers. However, he did share his excitement about collaborating with Parker Finn once more, expressing:
I’m thoroughly impressed by Parker’s work; I believe he’s exceptionally intelligent and gifted. In my opinion, he’s currently among the top directors in the industry. His creative ideas and thought process are truly astounding, making it a pleasure to collaborate with him again on set. Additionally, meeting a fresh cast and forming new relationships is always enjoyable. It’s not often that you get the chance to work with a director more than once or even on a sequel, so I consider myself fortunate to have been involved in both projects.
Joel serves as the link between the movie “Smile” and its sequel “Smile 2”, with Kyle Gallner being the only actor who returns to play his character from the first film.
Smile 2 opens in select cinemas on October 18, 2024.
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2024-10-20 05:01