The original was a title that was full of promise horror wise, but didn't really deliver on that promise. But I was very aware that a sequel would be made. And here it is. While I dialled down my expectations, I still had hope that Smile 2 would be an improvement.
For the most part, this is the case. However, and this is a pretty big one. The pacing is awful. A lot of happens in this sequel, but it takes far too long to get the point. After reading a short commentary of writer / director Parker Finn, it's clear to me that this is by design. Part of what he is trying to convey is the slow but deliberate torture a person goes through once they are infected by the Smile virus / demon. Skye Riley played by Naomi Scott is subjected to some true horrors. I do have to give Scott credit for some real good acting on her part. That being said, I think he would have achieved the same had the film been shorter. 90 minutes would have been enough, and actually provided more dread and tension.
Still, I could not have foreseen the twist at the end. Granted, it's a little stupid and illogical. But complaining about logic in a horror full of supernatural elements is a waste of time, so I won't. As someone who sometimes truly loves the weird and bizarre, Smile 2 really takes it up a notch. Almost Lovecraftian. And that is huge. I know that Parker Finn is referring to another part of the twist, which to me, is not that compelling, but the Lovecraftian element (whether intentional or not) made it worth for me.
Overall, an improvement on the original, but it will demand a lot of patience due to its slow pacing.
2 comments:
I was not sure if I would watch this one but I did after reading your review I did and I had a good time. Thanks for always being objective in your reviews.
Thank you. The film does reward you, even if it's immensely slow.
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