Smile Movie Review – Trauma Follows
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
As a horror fan, you are bound to compare the 2022 movie “Smile” with the 2014 critically acclaimed horror thriller “It Follows.” Apart from the common genre, the basic plot is also somewhat similar in both titles – an evil entity haunts a person, appearing to them in different forms, usually a person they know. The haunting continues until the entity eventually kills them and then attaches itself to someone else.
Written and directed by Parker Finn, “Smile” follows psychiatrist Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon), who witnesses a patient’s gory suicide. But actor Caitlin Stasey sets the pace for this sinister story with her brief introductory cameo as Laura Weaver, a PhD student. Caitlin is riveting as the tormented Laura, who confides in Dr. Rose Cotter about a smiling entity haunting her before she brutally kills herself, despite desperately pleading for help seconds before. Her contradictory last moments confound Rose Cotter, who initially interprets the disturbingly bizarre behavior as a manifestation of trauma. However, when she starts to experience similar incidents, she becomes convinced that whatever drove Laura to her death is now after her.
What sets “Smile” apart from “It Follows” is the slightly more psychological and logical approach to the story, despite the dubious supernatural elements. For the first half of the runtime, the movie delves into Rose Cotter’s mental breakdown due to the traumatic suicide she witnesses, and then her attempt to pull herself together and investigate a possible pattern and cause of the entity terrifying her. At one point, she even pretends to be a journalist to find answers, reminiscent of Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s role in “The Unholy,” where he plays a freelance journalist attempting to expose “miraculous” incidents in a small town.
The cinematography diverges from typical horror aesthetics, with bright and pleasant settings filling the screen, whether it be the modern but comforting psychiatrist’s office or well-done homes that are a far cry from the usual “spooky mansions.” The juxtaposition of uplifting backgrounds against the dark themes of the tale, offer an interesting contrast to the tale. Sosie Bacon’s portrayal of troubled Rose Cotter appears rather bored in parts, but the make-up department does a fantastic job of subtly transforming her face as the plot progresses. As her mental health deteriorates, so does her physical appearance. Conversely, when she thinks she might be winning against the demon or whatever it is, she looks a lot less exhausted and defeated. Kyle Gallner as Rose’s ex-boyfriend and cop Joel, fits well into the story as he is able to help her in ways other characters cannot, including her therapist. Some viewers might be unimpressed with the “therapist needing a therapist” subplot; however, it’s a theme done well – showcasing that mental health professionals aren’t immune to mental agonies and childhood wounds.
Parker Finn and the team slowly build up tension through the story, creeping viewers out with a bunch of good jump-scares. There’s one scene somewhere in the middle that gave me the chills, even though it was a simple enough shot, yet unsettling. However, the makers are stingy with supernatural scenes, wasting a lot of potential in the first half. Then, in the last 15 minutes, they go all out with ghastly ghostly entity, giving it a ridiculous visage that screams cheap effects and is laughable in comparison to the more subtle thriller tone of the rest of the film. All that said, I really liked the core metaphor of the tale – trauma follows.
It’s a 7 on 10 from me. Stream “Smile” on Prime Video.
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