Tue Oct 15 02:50:00 UTC 2024: ## Smile 2: More Than Just a Horror Sequel, it’s a “Harrowing” Character Journey
Director Parker Finn and star Naomi Scott promise that “Smile 2,” the highly anticipated follow-up to the 2022 horror hit, is much more than a simple sequel. In an exclusive interview with Den of Geek, Finn emphasizes the film’s unique approach, building on the mysteries of the original while exploring new themes and characters.
“We wanted to have something that felt unique and really its own thing,” Finn shares, explaining the challenges of creating a sequel that lives up to the first. “The challenge became an opportunity,” he continues, highlighting the film’s exploration of audience expectations and subverting them. “I love this idea of partway through the movie if the audience might start to feel like, ‘Oh, wow, wait. Am I the evil? Am I doing this to the character?’”
“Smile 2” follows Skye Riley (Naomi Scott), a pop sensation who witnesses a suicide and finds herself entangled in the same terrifying curse that plagued the original film’s protagonist. Scott, known for her role in “Aladdin,” describes Skye’s journey as “a harrowing, dramatic journey” with a “grounded performance” that explores the character’s trauma and relationship with her mother (Rosemarie DeWitt).
The film also features captivating musical performances by Scott, who sings and dances in elaborate costumes. Director Finn reveals that the film’s disturbing “Smile” expressions are achieved through intricate makeup and acting techniques, rather than relying on CGI.
“Smile 2” promises to be “bigger, scarier, weirder, crazier” than its predecessor, offering horror fans a chilling and thought-provoking cinematic experience. The film hits theaters on October 18th.
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