Put on a smile, horror fans! Smile 2 is a sequel to 2022’s Smile, and is directed once again by Parker Finn and stars Naomi Scott in her best role yet. After the success of the previous film, it was only natural that it would get a sequel in the same vein due to the never-ending stream of ideas that could come from such an interesting and engaging story concept. The question is: will this film give audiences an even bigger grin than the first, or will it leave them with a disappointed frown?

The answer to that question is actually quite straightforward. Not only is the film quite good, but it is actually better than the first one. While the original Smile had a great concept and convincing acting, it had some issues with pacing and felt incredibly predictable by the third act. Thankfully, Smile 2 is able to take what worked well in the original and make something completely new and engaging out of it. It is a very well-written narrative from beginning to end that constantly leaves you in a state of wanting more and curious to where it will go next. The story works in a way that makes you care about Naomi Scott’s character, Skye Riley, empathizing with her struggles while feeling catharsis as she often gets what she deserves. This is a great way to write a horror film protagonist that we are meant to love and hate at the same time.

It goes without saying that a lot of the credit to Skye’s character being so interesting has to go to Naomi Scott herself, who delivers an outstanding performance throughout the film. Skye is a spoiled and egotistical pop star whose life is thrown for a loop when she is cursed with the smile entity from the previous film, which has found its way to her. She has incredible range, being able to effectively make herself an unlikable person who can easily be empathized with. The struggles she goes through as the smile entity slowly ruins her life are communicated so well through her acting that she makes one feel as though the same thing could happen to them, because of how relatable she comes across. This is expertly done through her captivating facial expressions and ability to deliver dialogue in a way that comes across humorous, tragic, and ultimately very human.

On a technical level, the film also manages to deliver in ways the first film only scratched the surface of. The cinematography, editing, and sound design all manage to come together in a way that blurs the lines of reality and fantasy, creating a sense that anything can happen at any time, which allows for an exciting and terrifying experience for the audience throughout. Because of all of these fantastic elements, Smile 2 is a perfect horror film to check out during the Halloween season, and should leave most fans of the genre grinning from ear to ear.