Ominously surreptitious in approach, Smile (2022) slowly slivers under the skin, cleverly infiltrating the psyche through tensely suspenseful cinematography, chillingly clever camera work, and an increasingly disturbed Sosie Bacon.
Smile 2022 Storyline Synopsis
After witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient, Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon) starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can't explain. As an overwhelming terror begins taking over her life, Rose must confront her troubling past in order to survive and escape her horrifying new reality.
Similar to Ari Aster's signature style of horror in many ways, Smile (2022) uses painful introspections into past trauma as a plot motive to drive home its chillingly sinister premise. Like it or loath it, Smile resembles a slow-burn psychological affair, but thankfully for thrillseekers, its darkly delivered jumpscares pack a hefty bite too.
Although somewhat unoriginal in story structure - Parker Finn's narrative cues appear to glean inspiration from films like It Follows and The Ring, Smile remains chillingly effective, largely because of its uncompromising camera shots, eerily jarring jump scares, and a sinisterly spiraling performance from Bacon, whose increasingly unhinged complexion makes for uneasy viewing.
Compile all that with an ominously dread-dispersing musical score and Smile (2022) equates to a worthy watch. Especially so, for fans of freakish thrills and viscerally unnerving tension.
It may meander off course from time to time, but its torturously sadistic descent into psychological insanity will likely prove too compelling for hardcore horror fans.
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