Writer-director Parker Finn burst onto the scene in 2022 with Smile, an original horror film that he first conceived two years earlier as a short titled Laura Hasn’t Slept. Initially meant to debut on Paramount+ as a streaming movie, Smile was instead sent to theaters due to overwhelmingly positive test screenings. That proved to be one of the most fruitful decisions Paramount Pictures has made in years. With the studio’s faith and a viral marketing campaign at its back, Smile became the highest-grossing original horror movie of 2022. Of course, this sealed Parker Finn’s fate as one of Paramount’s most trusted filmmakers, meaning that the pressure couldn’t be higher to deliver even more chills and thrills in Smile 2.
Following up on a true cultural phenomenon like 2022’s Smile could go wrong in so many ways, yet Parker Finn defies expectations by totally reshaping the playing field. Smile 2 ups the ante by taking the anxiety-inducing horrors of the franchise’s main villain, the metaphysical and parasitic “Smile Entity,” into the world of celebrity fame. Audiences follow global pop sensation Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) as she attempts to embark on a comeback tour. Recovering from both a battle with substance abuse and a tragic car accident, Skye is ready to put her dark past behind her. But when she pays a poorly timed visit to her former drug dealer, Lewis (Lukas Gage), she unknowingly becomes the Smile Entity’s next host.
Crafting a Fresh and Unexpected Horror Sequel
Smile 2‘s advantage over other recent horror sequels comes with its change of setting. Furthermore, Parker Finn’s use of this new environment makes way for some fresh commentary on stardom that is totally unique to this sequel. As the Smile Entity slowly drives Skye Riley to the brink of insanity, it disguises itself as creepy smiling versions of those closest to her, music industry professionals, and even her diehard fans. What slowly unravels is a narrative about the weight and responsibility of being in the spotlight. Moreover, Finn’s script dives into the unfortunate way many celebrities today feel like their own life is under everyone else’s control, with Skye’s story reflecting many elements from real-life modern pop stars.
Parker Finn on the set of ‘Smile 2’
Courtesy of Paramount
In an exclusive interview with DiscussingFilm, Smile 2 writer-director Parker Finn delved into his creative process when approaching this sequel. By making some unexpected, sharp left turns from the early conceptual phase, the filmmaker was able to easily avoid making a “traditional continuation” or “simple retread” of the first Smile. As Finn tells us, Smile 2 uses what we know about the original Smile against us, leading to a truly unpredictable horror experience. Read his full quote below…
Parker Finn: “In approaching a sequel, I wanted to make sure that I wasn’t just doing a traditional continuation or any sort of simple retread of the first film. I wanted to deliver a fresh and unexpected experience for the audience. And that meant for audiences who might be sort of hip to how things work — having seen the first movie — I wanted to see if maybe I could use that information against them and find new ways to scare them. Also, I wanted to throw some sharp left turns where they might not be expecting.”
Expanding the Smile Entity’s Powers and Lore
Like all horror sequels, Smile 2 ramps up the intensity and scares. However, unlike most horror sequels, the main monster is still kept largely in the shadows. Yes, the Smile Entity does have a true form of sorts that was seen at the end of the first Smile film, but Parker Finn’s sequel doesn’t rush into showing more of it, at least in this specific way. What it does do is expand upon its lore and supernatural powers, showing more of the Smile Entity without necessarily showing “more” of it physically. It’s a cunning move on Parker Finn’s behalf that elevates the levels of fear Smile 2 instills in the audience.
As established in the first Smile movie, the Smile Entity is a metaphysical, supernatural force that attaches itself to a human host. It is unseen, pure evil, driving its host crazy by appearing as hallucinations and warping their perceptions of reality until it makes them take their own life in front of someone else, who then becomes the next carrier. This is how Skye Riley gets it from her former friend Lewis, who creepily smiles as he smashes his face in with a large weight plate. But we see the Smile Entity stretch its abilities in Smile 2 to new lengths, making it feel like we’ve only scratched the surface of its malevolent reach.
Naomi Scott & Parker Finn on the set of ‘Smile 2’
Courtesy of Paramount
When asked about expanding on the Smile Entity’s supernatural abilities and also unveiling more of its history in Smile 2, filmmaker Parker Finn had the following to say…
Parker Finn: “I thought it was really fun to dole out a little more about the Smile Entity. We close a few doors and certain questions that people had from the first film. But then, anytime one door closes, two more open. I love furthering the enigma and making sure that things stay a little slippery. Every time we think that we can sort of put our thumb on the Smile Entity, it wriggles out from underneath.”
Parker Finn is Open to ‘Smile’ Spin-Off Films
Given its Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and box office prospects, Smile 2 has seemed to all but guarantee the franchise’s future at Paramount. Additionally, fans will mostly definitely be asking Parker Finn about what ideas he has for Smile 3 after the terrors of Smile 2 have some time to settle down. There are other prospects that the studio could look into, however. More specifically, the conversation might move from more Smile sequels to potential Smile spin-off movies.
Given the mass success of the Smile franchise, it’s hard not to think about Paramount’s other horror IPs. More specifically, Smile‘s road to becoming a cultural phenomenon mirrors that of A Quiet Place. Both started out as original, genre-driven horror movies with relatively small $17 million budgets. Now, though, A Quiet Place is a full-blown franchise that just grew this year with a critically acclaimed prequel, A Quiet Place: Day One, and even a survival video game titled A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead. Paramount would be foolish not to grow its stock in horror, with A Quiet Place and Scream being their current heavy-hitters.
So, could Smile spin-off films be on the table? Series creator Parker Finn certainly thinks so! But, as the old saying goes, he doesn’t want to count his chickens before they hatch. We asked Finn for his thoughts on franchise expansion and if he would ever be open to other filmmakers coming in to tell their own variation of this horrifying story. Good news for Smile fans because his answer does sound more hopeful about what’s to come in the near future…
Parker Finn: “I think there are a lot of interesting directions and roads that Smile could go down. For me, of course, the through line is the Smile entity itself — this extraordinary supernatural concept that flows through both films. But what I also love is the really intense, harrowing character stories that it allows. I think there could be any number of intriguing directions to take it. Right now, I’m really excited to release Smile 2, and I hope that audiences will engage and connect with it. You know, we’ll just have to wait and see what the future holds.”
Smile 2 hits theaters on October 18!
Release Date: October 18, 2024.
Directed by Parker Finn.
Written by Parker Finn.
Based on characters by Parker Finn.
Produced by Parker Finn, Isaac Klausner, Marty Bowen, Robert Salerno, & Wyck Godfrey.
Main Cast: Naomi Scott, Rosemarie DeWitt, Kyle Gallner, Lukas Gage, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Peter Jacobson, Raúl Castillo, Dylan Gelula, & Ray Nicholson.
Cinematographer: Charlie Sarroff.
Composer: Cristobal Tapia de Veer.
Production Company: Temple Hill Entertainment.
Distributor: Paramount Pictures.
Runtime: 127 minutes.
Rated R.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q: Will there be a Smile 3 after Smile 2?
A: While nothing concrete has been confirmed, the success of Smile 2 opens up the possibility for a continuation of the franchise, potentially leading to a Smile 3 in the future.
Q: Are there any plans for Smile spin-off films?
A: Series creator Parker Finn has expressed openness to the idea of Smile spin-off films, hinting at the potential for exploring different aspects of the Smile universe in standalone movies.
Credit: discussingfilm.net
