Run time: 2hrs 12mins

I went to what was advertised as a “fan event” for this film. I expected there to be some hired scare actors, as I had seen videos of other theaters doing something similar. However, it was just a music video before the movie started. The advertisements for this series in general just do not do the films justice. Trailers and posters suggest a typical October horror film. They hint at cheap jump scares and unsatisfying endings (looking at you Barbarian). However, what you actually get is an incredibly impactful, and effective commentary on the violence and fallout of mental illness. I can honestly say I liked Smile 2 even better than the first. When the first movie came out, they made the unfortunate mistake of including one of the best scares in the trailer. This detracted from the scene’s effectiveness when I saw it in the theater. I was really glad to see they didn’t do that with Smile 2. It’s quite rare for a sequel, a horror sequel especially, to actually improve on the original concept. It also expands the story in an incredibly satisfying way. I did predict the ending to a degree, but I had no idea how we were going to get there. Being an avid horror fan since a young age, it takes a good deal to really get under my skin. However, I’m not ashamed to admit Smile 2 had me covering my eyes at points. Now that I’m home and it’s dark, I keep looking over my shoulder as if someone is going to be there. I also found out that both the first and second film utilize practical effects. It’s incredibly impressive and mind blowing what they were able to do. I’ve always said that any monster they create in a movie is not going to be half as scary as one you create in your head. Smile 1 and 2 are the exceptions to that rule. As a random side note, Google says this movie is 2 hours and 12 minutes. However, my showing started at 5:30 and I was out by 7:12. I’m not sure where those 30 minutes went. The other strange thing about it was the constant Voss water product placements. I’m not exaggerating when I say there is a Voss water bottle in almost every scene of this movie. There’s even an entire scare surrounding a broken Voss bottle. It’s almost humorous. Over the top product placement aside, this is a great sequel with incredibly effective scares that will stick with you for a while. It is not a movie for the faint of heart. It’s incredibly violent and upsetting, and there’s really no hope for the characters. However, if you’re a horror fan or liked the first one, you’re going to love Smile 2. I’ll give it an 8.5/10. Thank you for reading!

Let’s be honest, Charlie Kirk’s smile is scarier than both movies. If you know you know.