Reviews
‘Smile’ Review – A Scary Grin Exposes a Familiar But Effective Horror Movie
Bloody Disgusting’s Smile review is spoiler-free.
Reality begins to blur, then quickly unravels at the seams for the unlucky in Smile. One ghastly grin followed by a traumatic event causes those who witness it to succumb to its influence slowly. Smile takes the concept of the cursed object to a new level with a mental health-focused threat that bides its time, tormenting its victims through isolation and past traumas. While it wears its influences proudly and follows a familiar path, Smile offers compelling, affable leads and a few scary tricks up its sleeves to appease mainstream audiences.
Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon) works 80 hours a week at her hospital’s emergency mental health ward. She’s a workaholic that uses her job as a means of avoiding, or perhaps even repressing, painful childhood memories. That changes when she attempts to speak with a brand new patient that tells of a relentless entity pursuing her, smiling as it confronts her with horrible visions. Then that patient shockingly commits suicide in front of Rose. Shortly after, Rose begins to suffer horrific visions from what she saw, and it slowly escalates. The more Rose realizes time is running short as something is closing in around her, the more others become convinced she’s unwell.
Sosie Bacon and Kyle Gallner star in Paramount Pictures Presents in Association with Paramount Players A Temple Hill Production “SMILE.”
Writer/Director Parker Finn picks up where he left off with his short film “Laura Hasn’t Slept” for his feature debut. The continuation passes the baton of mental health-related horror from the eponymous Laura (Caitlin Stasey) to Rose, who has her own history with mental health to wrangle. Framing Smile as more of a sequel rather than a longer adaptation is a smart choice to build upon the ideas introduced while centering the story on a different side of mental health.
Bacon makes for a capable lead. Her Rose is a convincing and put-together professional who comes undone in the most empathetic ways. Despite the supernatural chills, it’s a credit to Bacon that she makes us question Rose’s sanity almost as much as Rose does. Kyle Gallner also instills rooting interest in a smaller capacity as Joel, a detective invested in Rose’s case for multiple reasons, some personal. Their chemistry goes far in propelling the narrative.
Finn bides his time in doling out the scares, keeping the focus instead on Rose’s slow unraveling. That’s not to say there aren’t any; expect quite a few chilling moments that’ll induce goosebumps. But there’s a careful restraint to the scare crafting. Finn wants to make you invested in Rose’s plight, first and foremost, as her loved ones slowly turn their backs on her.
But Smile might be a little too restrained in the scare department. Savvy horror fans will likely also recognize some of the scare tactics and influences, which could dampen some of the impact. It makes it easier to guess where Rose’s story might be headed. The third act picks up the pace and packs in some potent horror imagery, making for a grand finale that’ll leave you wanting more.
Overall, Parker Finn presents some interesting ideas about trauma and its insidious, parasitic nature on our psyche, using horror in effective ways to convey it. Bacon deftly maintains our attention even in the lulls between unsettling scare moments. There’s a familiarity to the curse’s nature and formula, drawing easy comparisons to several beloved horror films. Even still, it’s well crafted and introduces a fresh feeling mythology, with some genuine scares along the way. Smile makes for a solid enough crowd pleaser heading into the Halloween season.
Smile releases in theaters on September 30.
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The tenth entry in any franchise, let alone horror, is a monumental milestone. What began in 2004 with Saw, a twisty thriller that introduced John “Jigsaw” Kramer as a mastermind trap engineer, quickly gave way to an enduring horror franchise where the traps got gnarlier and the timeline increasingly more convoluted once Jigsaw and favorite apprentice Amanda Young (Shawnee Smith) were lethally removed from the equation. Both are back in Saw X, a milestone sequel that goes back to the franchise’s roots to a deeply satisfying degree.
Saw X, set between Saw and Saw II, introduces John Kramer as he struggles with his terminal cancer diagnosis. Facing months to live, Kramer finds hope from fellow cancer support group member Henry (Michael Beach), whose radical life-saving procedure points him in the direction of elusive Dr. Cecilia Pederson (Synnøve Macody Lund). Dr. Pederson offers reassurances and a coveted spot in her experimental medical program, but it requires a steep price tag and a trip to Mexico City. Desperate to live, Kramer’s willing to pay the price.
But when he realizes there’s something deeply amiss with Dr. Pederson’s program, well, hell hath no fury like Jigsaw scorned.
Paulette Hernandez as Valentina in Saw X. Photo Credit: Alexandro Bolaños Escamilla
Director/Editor Kevin Greutert, who’s been with Saw since the start, knows this franchise well, and it shows. Working from a screenplay by Pete Goldfinger & Josh Stolberg, Greutert takes time to establish the setup, reestablish Kramer’s code of ethics, and introduce the new group of unwitting players. While that means a slower start to the trademark traps than more recent entries, it’s necessary groundwork for the emotional stakes that build to a gratifying payoff later.
The traps seem straightforward at first, but that simplicity lets the gore shine in exhilarating, jaw-dropping ways. Not only does the carnage flow freely, impressively handled by Fractured FX, but it’s bolstered by an impressive cast of newcomers that fearlessly commit to the harrowing acts. While Saw X marks a return to form, this new group of survivors with a palpable determination to live lends a refreshing new angle. That strong will to live is matched by a cunning intelligence in Dr. Pederson, changing the game for Kramer in unexpected ways.
Greutert, Goldfinger & Stolberg approach this tenth entry with a reverence for the franchise’s history while making it accessible for newcomers. Setting it so early in the timeline allows for fan favorites to return, with Bell and Smith picking up as if they’d never left. Bell brings gallows humor that reminds audiences why Jigsaw and his penchant for traps became an instant horror icon in the first place. His engineering skills and strict moral code make him fearsome for enemies, but Bell brings a tender warmth here. Smith’s Amanda feels perfectly in line with where we meet her in Saw II, a fragile former drug addict deeply loyal to Kramer and his quest.
The franchise callbacks don’t end there – stay for a mid-credit scene – but the script ensures no homework is necessary going in.
Saw X. Photo Credit: Alexandro Bolaños Escamilla
The carefully plotted Saw X builds so thrillingly that by the time “Hello Zepp” kicks in, the urge to cheer and holler is overwhelming. The traps are brutal and unrestrained; prepare for a lot of wincing at the screen. But they carry with them an emotional impact on both the characters and the story. The only misstep here is a loose ending for one character that feels more in service of a potential plot continuation. If that means we get to see more of Kramer and Amanda in the future, that’s a small price to pay.
Saw X delivers a franchise high, and that’s no small feat ten installments deep. There’s a comfortable sense of awareness and humor found in a sequel that utilizes its pared-back simplicity to showcase the characters and gore. Whether you’re new to the franchise or a diehard fanatic, Saw X is an easy recommendation this Halloween season. Welcome back, Jigsaw.
Saw X releases in theaters on September 29.
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