Fame is a monster in more ways than one. That’s a fact that most can reasonably agree on, especially in the age of social media and parasocial standom. And while a handful of backstage documentaries and dramas have explored the true misery of pop stardom, it took something like Smile 2 to bring a supernatural bent to the whole ordeal.
The sequel to Parker Finn’s 2022 feature debut is, in many ways, a much bigger film. That it follows a disgraced starlet as she struggles to survive a demonic parasite and gear up for a worldwide comeback is just one example of its scope. But Finn also delivers a follow-up that’s crueler, glossier, and even funnier than its predecessor, with a relentless narrative supplemented by twisty, off-kilter visuals and camera work that samples from the best parts of “elevated horror.” Barring Neon’s excellent Longlegs, Smile 2 may be the best — and most terrifying — horror of the year. It didn’t perform quite as well as the original in theaters, but there’s still a chance to give the film some love as it finds a new home on Paramount+.
