Sonríe 2

Smile 1 was far superior for me. The main character of this film wasn't likeable or relatable. I really wish the film would have been about Joel, would have been really interesting and he's much more likeable. Way too many jumpscares, I didnt like how the hallucinations went way way overboard. I felt frustrated while watching this, rules were thrown out the window. We didn't get any new information about the entity which is what really interests me. None of the characters were likeable. This movie was dumbed down big time to please the dumbed down masses. Way too many loss water plugs, I couldn't stand thr hair pulling. I can go on and on. The first one was terrific, this one falls short.

It's pretty similar in structure and how it plays out to the first movie, so if you liked 1 then you'll like 2. But where this movie really shines is Naomi Scott. She gave this movie 1,000% and I was absolutely blown away by her performance. She demonstrates so much range and brings an intensity to the movie that was definitely not present in the first movie. They also really amped up the gore here, which I enjoyed.

As for issues, as mentioned previously it's quite similar to the first movie. I was hoping for the formula to get changed up a little, but it follows the same blueprint. Also, as this movie is almost completely standalone, it treads some similar ground in terms of lore and learning about what the "entity" is. So if you've seen the first movie, you'll get some repetitive aspects there.

It's still solid enough on its own though. There are some very creepy sequences, great gore, and Naomi Scott being the absolute shining star of the movie. It's definitely worth seeing just for her performance alone.

I did not have the highest hopes for 'Smile 2'. It seemed like a concept that had one film in it and nothing more. How wrong I was. This film took an above average horror film in the original, and said we are going to better it in every way.

I mean don't get me wrong, it's still popcorn horror, but it's popcorn horror of the highest quality. Jump-scares rarely get anything out of me these days. This one had be jump out of my chair multiple times. I do have to make a note on this however - these did seem like the loudest jump-scares I've ever heard in a cinema. Even when the fright didn't work the sheer noise was capable of being quite startling. Not entirely sure if that was just the volume in my cinema or the sound mixing.

I worried when we were introduced to the lead character, and she was a pop-star, that it was going to be hard to side with her. Pop-stars in real life haven't exactly made themselves the most likeable of people over the last couple of decades. Her character was quite well created though. She was flawed, but she was also very personable and easy to side with. It helped that we got a terrific performance out of Naomi Scott it has to be said.

A good opening scene in horror movie has become a lost art. It's so important to get your audience hooked from the get go and set the standard. Many modern horror films forget about this, but not this film. The opening scene was great and really kicked the film off on the right note.

This film is pretty long for a horror film, coming in at over 2 hours. That's an ambitious ask to keep the quality up for that long and I kept wondering when it was all going to fall apart. It never did though and it even stuck the ending which I was really worried it wasn't going to do. I never thought I'd be writing this, but 'Smile 2' is going to be a contender for one of the best horror films of 2024. 9.5/10.

Smile 2 takes the foundation of its predecessor and runs with it, offering a premise that lends itself to endless possibilities. The filmmakers made a unique choice by centering the story around the descent into madness of a pop star, giving the psychological horror a fresh angle. This creative decision keeps the narrative compelling, especially with the main actor delivering an outstanding performance, fully capturing the unraveling of the character's mind on screen.

Visually, the film excels. It's well shot, with a stunning opening sequence that immediately sets an unsettling tone-a mood that persists throughout the entire movie. The tension never truly lets up, which keeps you on edge from start to finish. The gore is another highlight, unapologetically upfront, making sure those moments are as visceral and disturbing as they need to be for the story.

However, the supporting cast doesn't add much to the overall narrative. In fact, a late addition to the story introduces an eye-rolling amount of exposition, which feels unnecessary and jarringly pulls away from the madness that had been steadily building throughout the film. This shift undercuts the psychological intensity that the movie had worked so hard to establish. While the supporting characters may not be memorable, the film still manages to maintain its suspense thanks to its strong lead and striking visuals.

Smile 2 delivers a few decent scares, but it fails to bring anything fresh to the table. The story feels repetitive, and the ending is both confusing and anticlimactic, as if it was abruptly cut short. The film's bloated runtime only adds to the frustration, dragging out a narrative that could have been much tighter.

However, Naomi Scott's stunning performance is the highlight, infusing the film with emotional depth and intensity. While she shines, the rest of the movie feels like an unnecessary sequel, more of the same but stretched too thin. It's mediocre at best, offering little beyond what the first film already accomplished.