Smile 2: 4K UHD Review
In 2022, Parker Finn gave us one of the year’s best horror films, Smile, which was based on his short film, Laura Hasn’t Slept. Smile was Finn’s feature film directorial debut, and it became a huge box office hit for Paramount. While we still have some time before the inevitable Smile 3, this week sees the 4K UHD and Blu-ray release of 2024’s Smile 2. While the sequel has a slower pace than the first film, having the story focus on a high-profile pop star that lives their life in the limelight was quite an inventive move for Finn, who is also the writer behind the franchise.
Smile 2 picks up six days after the events of the first film. Joel (Kyle Gallner), the police officer that witnessed the death of Rose, unsuccessfully tries to pass the entity curse onto a gang of criminals. Let’s just say that Gallner basically has a cameo here. This is definitely a violent opening and as a fan of Gallner, I did wish he had a bigger role, but the world of the Smile films has rules and having him be around longer, would break those rules.
This time around, the story centers on Sky Riley (Naomi Scott), a New York based popstar who is in-the-midst of kicking off her comeback tour after dealing with substance abuse and surviving a car accident that claimed the life of her boyfriend, Paul (Ray Nicholson). There is a lot of pressure on Skye and having her mother/manager watching her every move doesn’t always help. Because Skye is also dealing with back pain from the accident, she sneaks out to score some Vicodin from her old high school friend, Lewis (Lukas Gage). What Skye doesn’t realize is that Lewis witnessed Joel’s death and now has the entity curse and of course, she witnesses his violent death.
The rest of Smile 2, pretty much plays out like the first film. Our main character is slowly unraveling and the people around her think she is either on drugs again or crazy. There are some truly creepy moments in this sequel. One of my favorites would be when Sky sees all her background dancers in her condo smiling at her. Scott gives a really great performance here and it’s definitely a stand-out in the genre. She brings so much to the Skye character and while she is not always likable, she does make the popstar relatable at times. Finn, also is able to keep the quality up for the sequel. While is does drag here and there, there is some strong writing and Smile 2 even a better-looking film. The ending is also truly bonkers, and I mean that in a good way.
The 2160p presentation with Dolby Vision is phenomenal. With the film’s story set in the modern world of music, we get quite a few sequences, like video shoots and arena concerts, filled with lighting and spectacle. The details in Skye’s stage costumes and make-up are incredibly detailed and simply pop. The Dolby Atmos track also scores high. The music from Cristobal Tapia de Veer (who also worked on the first film) sounds incredible and helps build on the coming dread. If you are a fan of Smile 2, I recommend grabbing this release.
Bonus Content:
- Commentary by Director Parker Finn—Take a peek behind the smile with commentary from writer/director Parker Finn as he goes through the gory details of this terrifying sequel.
- Ear To Ear—Cast and filmmakers dive deep into the SMILE universe and discuss how they brought the director’s vision to life.
- The Rise and Fall of Skye Riley—Naomi Scott brings you into the cursed life of popstar Skye Riley.
- Behind The Music—Take an inside look at the music and choreography from the film.
- A New Smile—SMILE veteran Kyle Gallner gives insight into his character’s gory return and filmmakers break down the film’s intense first moments.
- Smiler: A New Monster—Bigger, bolder, and more insane! Take a behind-the-scenes look at the grotesque monster behind the smile.
- Turn That Frown Upside Down—Meet Lewis, a friend of Skye, and get an in-depth look at the gruesome make-up and prosthetics behind his terrifying smile.
- Show Me Your Teeth—Explore how the filmmakers captured the uniquely horrifying car crash.
- Deleted and Extended Scenes
By: Marc Ferman