‘I Love To Dangle Things In Front Of The Audience’s Nose’: Smile 2’s Director Explains Why You’re Going To Want To See The Horror Sequel Twice

‘I Love To Dangle Things In Front Of The Audience’s Nose’: Smile 2’s Director Explains Why You’re Going To Want To See The Horror Sequel Twice

As a seasoned gamer and cinephile with a penchant for horror movies, I can confidently say that Smile 2 has undoubtedly left its mark on my Halloween 2024 viewing experience. The film’s unique narrative structure and Parker Finn’s masterful storytelling have made it one of the most intriguing and re-watchable horror films in recent memory.


For Halloween 2024, the sequel Smile 2 had a powerful opening at the box office, with ticket sales significantly surpassing those of its 2022 predecessor during its premiere. With Halloween approaching and positive reviews from critics, the film is projected to perform well in its second weekend as well. If it were up to writer/director Parker Finn, everyone who has already watched the new horror movie would watch it again, as he hints that there are intricate details within the film that can only be noticed during multiple viewings.

Smile 2

Smile 2: Release Date, Cast, And Everything Else We Know About The Horror Sequel

In the “Smile” movies, what makes the antagonist so chilling is its power to distort the reality of its victims. This means that viewers can’t always trust what they see on screen. For instance, in “Smile 2”, the audience follows Naomi Scott’s character, Skye Riley, and by the end of the film, it becomes apparent that not all events portrayed actually occurred outside her mind. In a video discussion (linked above), director Parker Finn talked about how he differentiates the horror of the entity from reality. He mentioned that paying close attention is crucial to his creative process.

This concept is consistently at the forefront of my thoughts, whether in the writing process or while directing both the performance and its documentation. I believe it aligns particularly well with the ideas and recurring elements we are investigating – the struggle to rely on one’s own mind.

In essence, during some parts of “Smile 2”, the narrative shifts away from Skye Riley’s perspective, revealing a chilling, underlying truth about her situation. Mostly, though, we follow Skye closely throughout the journey, implying that both she and the audience are being influenced by the demon in unison, as Finn explained further.

Since Skye is deeply connected to us, we often perceive her world, but occasionally step away to notice discrepancies. When transitioning from the first film to the second, it was crucial to me that there remained fresh avenues for astonishing and perhaps misdirecting the audience, mirroring the same approach with the character.

Despite all the discussion, there are numerous unanswered questions left to explore. While Parker Finn’s portrayal offers insights when the movie shifts from Skye’s perspective, it only paints a partial image. The audience encounters intentional inconsistencies designed to steer us towards answers, yet these merely spark more questions. For instance, unless contradicted or backed by reality, can we trust events that unfold beyond Skye’s viewpoint? Could she encounter characters who are purely fictitious (keeping spoilers at bay)?

The viewers are tasked with reaching their own conclusions about certain aspects, as even creator Parker Finn admits that not all questions posed by Smile 2 have definitive answers.

Instead of having all the answers myself, I find it intriguing to sometimes leave room for my audience to add their own interpretations and connections. This approach not only adds an element of fun but also encourages re-watching as new insights can be discovered over time.

Upon re-watching a movie, one can delve deeper into its narrative structure and character development. This second viewing allows for the enjoyment of subtle details and clever foreshadowing that might have been missed initially. Filmmaker Parker Finn ensured viewers would experience this pleasure with Smile 2. As the writer and director stated, these intricacies enrich the overall viewing experience.

I have a preference for movies that offer fresh discoveries upon rewatching, and I strive to incorporate such elements into the films I create. This could be hidden layers of meaning, connections between characters or themes, or subtle references that might go unnoticed at first but become intriguing once spotted. My favorite part is creating moments where I can subtly hint at something, making it elusive on the initial viewing, only for viewers to exclaim, ‘Wow, I didn’t catch that!’ upon rewatching. This sense of discovery is what I enjoy most as a viewer, so I aim to recreate that experience in the films I produce.

Without a doubt, “Smile 2” is a cinematic experience that’s worth revisiting. It stands as one of the most outstanding horror films released this autumn and is among the top genre movies of the year. If you require additional persuasion, I encourage you to peruse my four-star review on TopMob.

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2024-10-23 03:08