If I ever think twice about going to see a horror film at the cinema, I'll remember my experience today. Sometimes that shared experience elevates a film even more.
Also, it's nice to go to an 18 certificate. If it's horror, make it an 18. Please.
So, I saw the first Smile at the cinema and really enjoyed it. You never know how sequels are going to go, but there are sequels which overshadow the original. John Wicks anyone? Well, Smile 2 will enter that list. I mean this is ramped up and then some and in a VERY good way.
If you don't know the story, some kind of demon/spirit/evil entity, starts to take over/possess someone's mind until the host descends into madness and gets killed by the spirit/demon/entity etc, just after it has displayed a manic grin. It then passes on to anyone who witnesses the death.
Right from the opener to the end shot this is just everything I love about proper, bloody horror. These days I'm usually more into the ghostly, psychological horror, rather than blood and guts, however, Smile manages to bring the psychological element too, where you're really quite unsure of what is real and what is not. So I can cope with a bit of blood and guts too, especially when it's done this well.
Naomi Scott's performance as the pop star Skye Riley is rather stunning. This is a character and a brilliant story to get your teeth into as an actor and she does that completely. Fighting the force trying to take her over. Her utter confusion and how she almost descends into madness. It's not a spoiler to say that one of the most sinister parts of the film involves one of the most terrifying dance/performance sequences I've ever witnessed.
The opening has such brilliantly ominous and foreboding music, feeling a little bit like the music from The Shining's opening drive. Heavy and bleak. The music and the pace of the opening scene really sets the audience already on edge. You know you're going to be in for one hell of a ride.
You certainly are. Yes, there are plenty of jump scares, but they work because they come just when you're on that cusp of relaxing and not sure where this is going. It's so clever.
It's not just jump scares, it looks amazing too. The whole score is sinister. The cinematography keeps you as the audience suitably off-kilter even in the scenes which are a bit of a breather from the scary bits. When the whole scene is upside down or off-kilter, you feel the same way.
At one point myself and a lady next me nearly hit the ceiling, I looked over at her and she was clutching her chest going "I thought I was going to have a heart attack", I realised I was doing the same and we both burst into somewhat nervous laughter. The cinema experience can be one of annoying wrappers, phones and chatter, but when the shared cinema experience is like this, it is pure magic, moments for a film-lover to absolutely cherish. Which is why I always want to see everything at the cinema.
My one regret, I didn't take a cushion to hide behind!
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