Smile movie review 2022 old released best horror movie

When future horror historians write about the 2010s, they'll likely associate the decade with trauma metaphors, much as the '80s are synonymous with slasher flicks. Paramount's latest wide-release horror movie, "Smile," which hits theaters on the cusp of a new decade, is no exception. The film follows Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon), who is plagued by a demon or evil spirit that feeds on trauma and is spread by it. The creature specifically preys on those who have witnessed someone else's gruesome and bloody suicide, like Laura (Caitlin Stasey), a PhD student who Rose meets in the psychiatric emergency ward where she works. Laura explains that the entity has been following her ever since she saw her professor bludgeon himself to death with a hammer. At the end of the scene, Laura turns to Rose with a psychotic grin and slits her own throat.

Rose is disturbed by Laura's suicide, particularly given her own mother's suicide years earlier. Her lingering trauma and the surrounding fears and stigma are the movie's most compelling thematic thread. Rose's fiance Trevor (Jessie T. Usher) admits to researching inherited mental illness online, while harsh terms like "nutjobs," "crazies," and "head cases" are used to describe mentally ill people throughout the film. Rose's hallucinations, lost time, and emotional volatility may have an internal cause, which appears to trouble her more than the idea of being cursed. The people around her think the problem is more neurochemical than supernatural until it's too late.

Rose's ex, Joel (Kyle Gallner), is the only one who believes her. Assigned to Laura's case as a cop, Joel and Rose's tentative reunion leads to the film's mystery element, which comprises much of its 115-minute runtime. The film follows your typical beats of a supernatural horror-mystery, escalating from a quick Google search to an in-person interview with a traumatized, incarcerated survivor of the malevolent entity. A brief reference to similar events in Brazil opens the door for a sequel.

"Smile's" greatest asset is its relentless, oppressive grimness. The film's horror elements are as bloody and disturbing as the dark themes they represent. Bacon's shaky, vulnerable performance as Rose enhances this unsparing sensibility. However, despite a compelling lead and strong craftsmanship behind the camera, the movie is not as fresh a concept as it may seem. "Smile" relies heavily on formulaic mystery plotting and horror themes and imagery lifted from popular hits like "The Ring" and "It Follows." Although Parker Finn's debut feature as a writer and director is impressive, it's not as bracing as it could be had it broken the mold more aggressively.

In conclusion, "Smile" is a decent horror movie that introduces Finn as a capable helmer with a talent for elegantly crafted jump scares and a knack for making viewers feel uneasy and upset as they exit the theater. However, fans expecting a wholly original horror film should temper their expectations.

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Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon) witnesses a strange and traumatic event involving a patient, which triggers a series of unexplainable and terrifying occurrences. As the fear consumes her life, Rose must confront her dark past to survive and break free from the nightmare that has become her reality. Directed by Parker Finn and produced by Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey, Isaac Klausner, and Robert Salerno, this horror, mystery, and thriller film is rated R and features an original English language screenplay by Parker Finn. "Release Date (Theaters): Sep 30, 2022, Wide" and "Release Date (Streaming): Nov 15, 2022". Distributed by Paramount Pictures, the film has grossed $105.9M in the USA and has a runtime of 1 hour and 56 minutes