Smile 2 Review
Let me start off by saying not only did this film not need a sequel but since we got one, this is not only one of the best horror sequels but also one of the best films of the year. I've known Naomi Scott since the Disney Channel original film, Lemonade Mouth. She's had a Rollercoaster of a career thus far with hidden gems like Power Rangers (to which has now become a cult classic) and not so well received films like Charlie's Angels. However, I will be damn if anyone says that Smile 2 isn't her best performance.
In this sequel it picks up six days after the first film and we get a stellar opening with Kyle Gallner who plays police officer Joel the new host of the demonic Demon. He attempts to pass it on to a couple of drug dealers but is unsuccessful when he accidentally kills one of them. A drug dealer named Lewis Fregoli witnesses this and the entity is passed onto him. When Lewis attempts to flee after being chased by some more criminals he is killed by an incoming truck.
Skye Riley (played by Naomi Scott) makes her first public appearance since going into rehab after being in a car accident a year prior that kills her partner. She's a year sober and promises not to let her audience and loved ones down again. It turns out that Skye still has back pain from the car accident and is secretly taking vicodin to ease the pain. After seeing Lewis Fregoli (her former high school classmate and now drug dealer) killed by the entity, we see the best acting from Naomi Scott yet. Seeing Skye go into this downward spiral into insanity is truly sad especially considering she hasn't mentally recovered from losing her partner and she's still in chronic pain with her back.
I think what makes this film scary is the excellent score. It feels like icing on the cake and it adds to the suspense. What makes this film so great is not only the acting but the subject matter as well. This is a great discussion topic on fame and how it can make or break some people. You can be at the peak of your career and all of that can come to a immediate stop rather it's because of drugs, alcohol, an abusive relationship, etc.
Whoever, was the costume designer for Naomi Scott deserves an award because her costume changes her phenomenal. Skye is very talented and I do believe that she is a good person but the entity is only making her relationships with her loved ones and even her fans worse than they already were before her accident. What makes Naomi Scott's performance so great are the small things: she twist her hair when she's anxious, taps/rubs her chest when she is scared, she even takes down big bottles of water when she thinks about using again. It's a great coping mechanism that her therapist taught her that I think works really well for her.
Naomi Scott deserves to be nominated for something for this spectacular performance. She displays so much anxiety, fear with the spectacular Score adding to the tension and the horror of scenes. Whoever, would’ve thought that a horror film about a pop singer being posessed about a demonic demon while battling her own demons with drugs would be her best performance? Not me. Definitely, give this a watch guys, Naomi Scott is spectacular.
Star Rating: 4½/5
