Film Review – Smile 2

2022’s “Smile” has an interesting release history. Originally created for streaming audiences, the movie managed to knock ‘em dead at test screenings, forcing the suits at Paramount Pictures to take the feature seriously, granting it a theatrical release. “Smile” went on to become the third highest grossing film of the year for the studio. Naturally, now there’s “Smile 2,” with writer/director Parker Finn and his production team returning to see if there’s truly franchise life in the brand name. The helmer doesn’t take any bold creative risks with the follow-up, committing to what’s essentially a remake of the previous offering, returning to the creeping madness of a young woman encountering a force of evil she doesn’t understand, ruining her life in the process. “Smile 2” is much too long and repetitive, quickly becoming a series of jump scares in need of a better script. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com