As a movie enthusiast who has witnessed the rise and fall of countless cinematic franchises, I must admit that Smile 2 left me both intrigued and slightly bewildered. The first film was a refreshing take on horror, with its unique premise and skillful execution. However, the sequel seemed to veer off course, focusing more on the life of popstar Skye Riley than the titular Smiling Curse itself.
The eagerly awaited follow-up to last year’s surprise blockbuster, “Smile,” is “Smile 2.” Originally penned and helmed by Parker Finn, the film was inspired by his 2020 short movie titled “Laura Hasn’t Slept.” A clever viral marketing campaign and an intriguing premise captured people’s interest, allowing it to earn nearly double its budget during its opening weekend. The movie became a sensation, with its layered narrative sparking ongoing discussions among viewers even after the credits rolled. For Finn, who had no prior experience directing a full-length film, this was an outstanding debut. Given the excitement surrounding the sequel, it’s not surprising that fans are eager to know more about it. However, details regarding its plot remain elusive at this time.
What Is Smile 2 About?
The next installment resumes immediately following Rose Cotter’s suicide from the previous film, with Joel – Rose’s police officer confidant who has inherited the curse – as the central character. In an attempt to rid himself of the curse, Joel targets a pair of criminals he’s pursuing. However, his efforts to pass it on prove unsuccessful. In a fateful turn of events, just before Joel is struck by a truck, the curse inadvertently transfers to drug dealer Lewis.
After an initial focus on another character named Joel, the film shifts its focus onto Skye Riley, portrayed by Naomi Scott, who becomes the central figure in the story. Initially, we find Skye gearing up for her upcoming tour, a comeback effort following a scandal related to substance abuse and a tragic car accident that claimed the life of her boyfriend. Due to her ongoing struggles with drug issues and the aftermath of the crash, Skye is constantly under observation and supervision, primarily by her mother and manager, Elizabeth.
In a seldom quiet instance, she slips away to meet Lewis, the previously mentioned drug dealer. Upon finding him, it’s clear that he’s already been afflicted by some calamity, leading him to fatally injure himself in her presence. Due to her past controversies and fear of damaging her reputation or delaying the tour, a shaken Skye chooses not to contact the authorities but instead departs. Consequently, the curse seems to have shifted to Skye.
The Smiling Curse
Following Lewis’s demise, Skye attempts to resume her routine life, focusing on her upcoming tour, but she’s persistently haunted by intense hallucinations. These hallucinations share a chilling similarity – the eerie grins of people who appear in each one. As a result, Skye becomes increasingly uncertain about what’s real and what’s not, which is why she’s unsure whether to trust a mysterious text message warning her of danger.
At a charitable gathering organized by a music mogul, one of Skye’s hallucinations presented Paul with a smile, leading her to injure someone. In a moment driven by despair, Skye responds to the enigmatic number she had received earlier, hoping for a response. She consents to meet the text’s sender at a bar. The individual who appears, Morris, discloses that his brother perished due to the curse, and he has been chasing it ever since. He shares what he knows about the curse with Skye, and suggests a theory on how to eliminate it – he hypothesizes that it’s a parasitic entity and can only survive with a host. He proposes that terminating and reviving Skye would eradicate it.
In the aftermath of hearing this shocking revelation, Skye abruptly departs from Morris at the bar. Subsequently, attempting to reestablish her routine life, Skye encounters a harrowing encounter with the curse’s source, resulting in a concussion for her. It is later disclosed through flashback that Skye’s boyfriend’s death in the car accident was no mere accident; they had been engaged in a heated argument, and Skye intentionally caused the crash. Upon regaining consciousness, Skye discovers herself in a healthcare facility under the guise of her mother, who is actually the malevolent entity. This chilling memory of her mother taking her own life with a mirror shard proves to be Skye’s tipping point.
Smile 2’s Ending
In a daring escape from the institution, Skye reaches out to Morris, now fully resolved to exorcise the persistent curse. They rendezvous at an abandoned pizza parlor to test Morris’ unusual method – a heart-stopping 8-minute pause to ensure the entity is completely banished. As they ready themselves in the pizza parlor’s freezer for this risky procedure, unexpectedly, the entity strikes again, ambushing Skye before they could even begin. Regardless of her desperate efforts to end her own life and put an end to this torment, the entity overpowers her and traps her in the freezer.
On the opening night of her tour, as the audience watches, Skye emerges onto the stage, but to their surprise, a joyful version of Skye is already there. This cheerful Skye then transforms, revealing its true form before fully taking over Skye. In a chilling moment, the possessed Skye plunges a knife into herself on stage, seemingly transferring the curse to everyone in attendance.
Will There Be More Smile Movies?
Regardless of my efforts, I could never shake off the enchantment’s grip. In the final analysis, I found myself yielding to its power – embracing the reality that I was destined to become another piece in this curse’s puzzle, allowing it to claim me and bestow it upon others.
If the entity successfully spread its curse to more individuals simultaneously than ever before, it might suggest that there could be another sequel if Parker Finn decides to pursue one. Perhaps Morris’ strategy would succeed if those carrying it out could momentarily evade or misdirect the entity, allowing them to execute their plan effectively. However, it remains uncertain whether anyone can truly defeat the entity. These are all queries that could potentially be addressed in a future sequel, should one ever be made. Alternatively, Finn might opt for a concluding ambiguity, leaving viewers unsure of what will happen now that numerous individuals are afflicted by the curse.
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2024-10-19 01:31