Smile 2 is set to hit theaters this Friday, and in anticipation of its release, Paramount Pictures has unveiled a gripping final trailer. Released on Tuesday, the trailer showcases a more intense and gruesome perspective of the film, featuring new footage alongside early reviews that describe the sequel as “nightmare fuel” and “not for the faint of heart.”
The upcoming film serves as a sequel to the 2022 hit Smile. This time, the horrifying smiling entity escalates its reign of terror, taking its curse on a global tour. The plot follows Skye Riley, portrayed by Naomi Scott, a global pop sensation who begins to experience a series of increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events as she prepares for her world tour. Faced with mounting horrors and the pressures of fame, Skye must confront her dark past to regain control of her life before it spirals into chaos.
Smile 2 features an ensemble cast that includes Naomi Scott, Rosemarie DeWitt, Lukas Gage, Miles Gutierrez-Rile, Peter Jacobson, Ray Nicholson, Dylan Gelula, Raúl Castillo, and Kyle Gallner. The film is penned and directed by Parker Finn, who also helmed the first installment based on his short film Laura Hasn’t Slept.
The timing of the final trailer’s release is particularly strategic, aligning closely with the film’s debut. It follows an unexpected marketing moment during Major League Baseball’s National League Championship Series on Monday night. An actor promoting Smile 2 inadvertently broke character when a foul ball landed in the crowd, generating viral attention. While this may not have been the promotional scenario Paramount Pictures envisioned, the unsettling trailer helps to reestablish focus on the film’s horror theme.
The current climate for horror films appears promising, as evidenced by the recent success of Terrifier 3, which topped the box office with a $19 million opening weekend, surpassing the much-anticipated Joker sequel. Despite notable differences between Smile 2, a psychological supernatural horror film produced by a major studio, and Terrifier 3, a slasher film with a smaller budget distributed by Cineverse, the box office performance indicates a strong appetite for horror among audiences. The new trailer and positive early reviews suggest Smile 2 will resonate with viewers looking for a thrill.
Related topic:
Barry Keoghan’s Powerful Role in ‘Bird’
Trailer Released for “The Man in the White Van”
Filipino Film “Hello, Love, Again” Set for North American Release