Smile 2 Hit the Screens: What Is It About & Is It Better Than the First Movie?
It has never been so scary to smile.
Two years ago, the first Smile took theaters by storm. Parker Finn's horror offered a commentary on mental trauma, which is so easy to acquire and the consequences of which are impossible to eradicate.
In the original movie, which grew out of a short film, psychiatrist Rose witnessed the suicide of a patient in a clinic, after which she began to be haunted by a demon that manifested itself through hallucinations and took the form of smiling people.
An attempt to get rid of the demon ended in failure: the entity dealt with Rose and moved on to her friend Joel. The second part begins with Joel and his unsuccessful attempt to transfer the curse to the "bad guys."
What Is Smile 2 About?
Skye is an insufferable pop star who suffered a terrible tragedy a year ago. She and her husband were in a car accident while under the influence of drugs. Skye survived, but her husband did not. A year later, Skye has completely stopped using drugs and alcohol.
But the only thing that relieves her back pain is Vicodin, which doctors will not prescribe because of her history of addiction. The pain drives the woman to pay a late-night visit to Lewis, a drug dealer she has known for a long time. Lewis behaves strangely, attacking Skye and talking nonsense about some hallucinations.
In the end, Lewis smashes his face until it bleeds and dies in front of Skye, handing her the baton of battles with a smiling demon that feeds on human traumas and fears.
Smile 2 Has a Much Better Main Character
Skye had enough demons in her life without smiles around every corner: an endless pile of thoughts, guilt over her husband's death, unhealed wounds and a shaky mentality on one side, an upcoming tour and pressure from managers and her mother on the other. Now, hallucinations and imminent death have been added to the mix.
Unlike Rose, Skye is not a positive character at all, which makes the sequel better. Skye's egocentrism pushes away those close to her, which she knows very well, but she can't do anything about her character.
Smile 2 Explores PTSD Again, but More Dynamically
Once Skye becomes completely unbearable, the main reason for her mental instability enters the ring – her mother. This time, metaphorical PTSD takes the physical form of generational trauma, and it becomes clear why the pop star cannot control herself.
Endless pressure, high expectations, lack of humanity from the person closest to her do not allow the woman to breathe and feel free, even for a second. The demon only exaggerates the already frightening situation Skye finds herself in.
The plot of Parker Finn's horror is simple: the ending is more than predictable, the metaphorical statement about generational trauma hangs on the surface. However, this straightforwardness only benefits Smile 2, which brilliantly fulfills its main function – to give the viewer an exciting ride.