‘Smile’ is a nerve-wracking albeit fun horror experience and hands down the scariest horror film in decades.
While ‘Smile’ is an amalgamation of several horror films, most notably ‘It Follows’ and ‘The Ring’, it is a well-executed machine of familiar elements and functions because of a simple premise- the protagonist is being stalked by a creature the appears human except it displays an unsettling smile. Director Parker Finn handles the story and the terror with incredible finesse.
The real brilliance of the film is the sound design. Paramount made the right choice to make this film a theatrical release instead of streaming. The cinematic experience truly is amplified on a massive screen with a state of the art sound system. Horror films are known for having false scares and jump scares and using loud noises to enhance them, but ‘Smile’ makes an art form out of it. The jump/false scares not only get pretty creative, but they are used to build tension and induce a sense of paranoia. The genius of this approach is it reflects the grating and corrosive nature of trauma that the film sets out to portray.
The cinematography plays a similar function, often creating a sense of discomfort through subtle and not so subtle disorientation.
Sosie Bacon plays the film protagonist, Rose, with a sympathetic and engaging performance that sells what might have otherwise been a ridiculous premise. Kudos to the casting directing for hiring performers that not only play their parts well but deliver some of the most disturbing smiles to grace the silver screen.
‘Smile’ isn’t just for the horror fans, it makes for an exceptional film that hold its own beyond the scares. Ultimately time will tell, but ‘Smile’ is a contender for one of the scariest films of all time.
MY STAR RATING 3.75/5 STARS
Come to The Brown Deer Public Library and choose from our collection of deliciously frightful films.
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