The evil grinning demon from Smile is back, this time targeting a pop star. Skye Riley, played by Naomi Scott, is a famous singer struggling with her rebound after a career-threatening crash. The demon, who loves to make people smile through fear, is now using the pressures of fame and constant scrutiny to its advantage. Skye must deal with her overbearing mother, a demanding record label, and her own guilt, all while dreading the start of her comeback tour. The best parts of the film show the brutal reality of stardom, like when Skye’s teleprompter fails and she has to improvise, or when she encounters a dangerous stalker. While not as scary as the first movie, Smile 2 still has its fair share of jump scares and creepy moments. The ending is especially satisfying, playing on our parasocial relationships with celebrities. Overall, the film is a fun, if not slightly less terrifying, follow-up to the original.
