Global pop sensation Skye Riley (Naomi Scott)  is preparing to embark on a world tour before experiencing terrifying and inexplicable events. Overburdened by the intense horrors and the immense pressure of her fame, Skye is forced to face her deep past in an effort to salvage her future in this chilling, anxiety-filled film. 

The curse hasn’t changed in the sequel: its carriers still go through mental breakdowns and kill themselves soon after they witness someone else die. These mental breakdowns are caused by the same evil entity we saw in Smile- changing the victim’s perception of time and reality, and provoking mind-boggling hallucinations of people with creepy smiles, among other bizarre things.  

Part of the reason the movie was so engaging was because of all the plot twists. Typically when I watch a horror movie, it’s easy to point out what’s going to happen next, or the jumpscares are so predictable that it’s boring. There weren’t too many plot twists to the point where the narrative got confusing but just enough to keep my jaw on the floor. 

“Personally, Smile 2 was one of the best movies I’ve ever watched,” junior Ashley Mancera said. “Scary movies are usually pretty boring honestly but everything in this movie was so unexpected. It kept me well entertained, kept me spooked, and kept me engaged.” 

This film was Naomi Scott’s debut, and she nailed it. She uses not only her speech but also her ability to convey strong facial expressions to get the audience to feel a certain way. Not to mention, Ray Nicholson makes the occasional appearance in the film. He has the same iconic and blood-curdling smile as his father, Jack Nicholson, a star in The Shining

Overall, Smile 2 succeeded as a good movie through its combination of emotional depth, clever storytelling, and a clear understanding of what makes psychological horror so effective. It was a more complex and unsettling movie compared to its original.