Although the conclusion of Smile 2 might seem predictable at first glance, the horror sequel skillfully executes a twist that comes as a genuine surprise, thanks to its masterful use of misdirection. Directed by Parker Finn, this follow-up to the 2022 phenomenon, Smile, deepens the established narrative right from its gripping opening scene. The film introduces Joel, an unfortunate antihero, who steps into a perilous trap house populated by drug dealers, intending to pass on the curse. In an unforeseen twist of fate, he inadvertently drags Lewis, a small-time drug dealer portrayed by Lukas Gage, into the deadly mess, setting up a precarious situation for Naomi Scott’s character, Skye.
Skye Riley, a pop star grappling with the aftermath of a tragic car accident that claimed the life of her boyfriend, Paul Hudson, is haunted by chronic pain and PTSD. Dependence on Lewis for Vicodin takes a dark turn when he succumbs to the curse and takes his own life in her presence. This horrifying event leads to Skye inheriting the curse, which unravels her mental state as she approaches a pivotal moment—a comeback tour that threatens her already fragile grip on reality. The culmination of the story delivers a brutal twist that, while it may have seemed apparent, remains shocking due to the film’s intricate setup.
Smile 2’s Conclusion Features A Mass Curse During Skye Riley’s Concert
Fans Anticipated This Twist as Soon as Smile 2’s Premise Was Unveiled
Right from the official announcement of the sequel’s premise, an avalanche of fan theories predicted that Skye would succumb to the entity during a concert, ultimately cursing the entire audience. Enthusiastic online discussions posited that this dramatic scenario felt almost inevitable, especially given Skye’s status as a celebrated pop star, which logically invited more victims into the clutches of the malevolent entity. While the film did indeed execute this predicted ending, its delivery managed to maintain an element of surprise.
As the plot of Smile 2 progressed, early fan theories appeared increasingly irrelevant, even as the narrative unraveled. Skye’s disastrous charity event performance, which culminated in her accidentally tackling an elderly audience member, set an uneasy tone. Upon encountering a relative of a previous victim who proposed a bizarre plan to stop the entity by halting her heart temporarily, chaos ensued. Further complicating matters, Skye tragically took her mother’s life while confined in a rehabilitation facility.
Skye’s Journey Enhanced the Effectiveness of the Twist
By the time Skye unknowingly takes her mother’s life, escapes rehab, and contemplates a stranger’s bizarre plan to temporarily end her life in hopes of halting the curse, the notion of her returning to the stage became an afterthought for viewers. This effectively relegated the potential for Skye to unleash the curse during a major concert to the background of audience expectations. The film artfully returned to the Stephen King-inspired twist, revealing in the climax that much of the final act unfolded in Skye’s mind, all while she stood poised to perform.
While the twist itself may not be groundbreaking—echoing conclusions from films like the 2017 reboot of The Ring and the 2019 feature The Cleansing Hour—the originality lies in the execution. Understanding that Skye is a performer leads the audience to foresee that her downfall would take place before a vast audience, amplifying the curse’s reach among viewers both in attendance and online.
Smile 2 Broadens the Scope of the Original’s Iconic Twist
Both Smile Installments Utilize Deception to Mislead Audiences
The savvy deployment of misdirection is what truly elevates the effectiveness of Smile 2’s ending. It artfully deceives viewers through layers of confusion, mirroring the entity’s manipulation of Skye’s perception of reality. The audience is left to navigate the murky waters of truth and deception, with many events leading up to Skye’s arrival at rehab still feasible within the film’s inherent reality.
Given that Skye’s mother appears alive during the concert, it’s clear her death is a mere construct of the entity’s intricate illusion. However, the revelation that Gemma was never real suggests that Skye’s hallucinations could initiate much earlier in the narrative. In contrast to the first Smile, which had a third of its finale occur in the protagonist’s head, here, nearly half the film could potentially be a figment of the demon’s design. This ambiguity amplifies the horror, leaving viewers questioning the very fabric of Skye’s experiences.
Future Directions for the Smile Franchise
A Post-Apocalyptic Scenario May Be Possible
With the entire audience witnessing Skye’s demise, the entity now possesses numerous individuals to propagate the curse, multiplying its influence dramatically. The scenario is further complicated by the online streaming of the concert, allowing the entity the potential to reach an unlimited audience across the globe. Director Parker Finn has hinted at concepts for additional Smile films, paving the way for a narrative that could evolve into a worldwide epidemic, fundamentally transforming the story’s scale.
This scenario paints a chilling picture reminiscent of films like Bird Box, which introduced an entity causing widespread chaos through a viral visual threat. A similar trajectory for the Smile series could lead to a worldwide descent into disorder, transitioning from intimate tales of personal trauma to a broader narrative about collective terror on a global scale. With limitless possibilities on the horizon, the potential for the Smile franchise is as foreboding as it is thrilling.
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