Smile (2022) Review: A Psychological Horror About Trauma, Fear, and a Terrifying Curse

 

Smile | 2022 | 1h 55m
Genre: Psychological Horror / Supernatural Horror / Tragedy / Horror / Mystery / Thriller | Country: US
Director: Parker Finn | Writer: Parker Finn
Cast: Sosie Bacon, Jessie T. Usher, Kyle Gallner
IMDb: 6.5
My Rate: 7/10

Rose, a therapist, becomes trapped in a terrifying curse after witnessing the gruesome death of one of her patients. As strange events begin to follow her, she must confront a fear that threatens her life.

Warning

Contains scenes of violence, suicide, alcohol, and strong language.

 

Synopsis of Smile

Rose (Sosie Bacon) works as a therapist in a psychiatric ward, where she encounters patients struggling with severe psychological problems.

One day, she meets Laura (Caitlin Stasey), a patient who previously witnessed the suicide of a professor. Since then, Laura has been haunted by the appearance of a terrifying figure with a disturbing smile.

Rose initially believes that Laura's experiences are simply hallucinations caused by trauma. Laura feels that the consultation is not helping because Rose does not really listen to what she is trying to explain.

Then the terrifying figure appears again, causing Laura to become hysterical.

Rose attempts to get help, but it is too late. Laura suddenly takes her own life in front of Rose by cutting her throat.

What makes the incident even more disturbing is the enormous smile on Laura's face as she dies.

Rose is deeply traumatized by what she has witnessed, and the incident begins affecting her work. Her supervisor asks her to take some time away to recover.

But Rose soon starts experiencing the same strange phenomena Laura described. As the events become more frequent, Rose begins to fear that her own life is in danger.

Will Rose survive the terrifying curse that seems to be following her?

 

Review of Smile

Smile expands on Parker Finn's short film Laura Hasn't Slept (2020) and marks his feature directorial debut.

The premise is interesting, particularly because the horror does not rely entirely on a traditional ghost or supernatural creature. Instead, the film gradually builds fear through psychological tension and uncertainty.

Unfortunately, the foundation of the story could have been developed more thoroughly. The origin of the curse and the reason behind it are never explained clearly enough.

There is a scene where Rose searches for information about the phenomenon, but it does not lead to a satisfying explanation. By the end, viewers still do not have a definitive answer about where the curse comes from or why it exists.

The cinematography, camera movement, color composition, and visual effects are generally well executed. Some of the camera techniques are particularly interesting and create an unsettling atmosphere.

However, one visual approach is repeated several times, which eventually makes it less effective. What initially feels creative starts to become predictable.

The music is another strong element. It is used effectively to build tension and support the atmosphere of each scene. There are also several jump scares that viewers should be prepared for.

What makes Smile more interesting is the way it uses psychological fear rather than simply presenting a frightening-looking "ghost." The horror slowly develops inside the minds of both the characters and the audience.

The story itself is systematic and easy to follow, but the character development is somewhat lacking. Some supporting characters have unclear connections to Rose, making their roles feel less significant.

The chemistry between the actors also does not feel particularly strong, and the ending becomes somewhat predictable.

The performances are generally good, although none of them feels especially outstanding apart from the emotional expressions shown by Sosie Bacon as Rose.

Some supporting characters also appear slightly stiff, making the performances feel less balanced compared with the protagonist.

One aspect of the film that I found particularly frustrating is its portrayal of therapists.

While therapists who fail to properly listen to their patients can certainly exist in real life, the film repeatedly shows Rose and Madeline dismissing information given by their patients. This makes it difficult not to question how seriously they are taking the people they are supposed to help.

Despite these weaknesses, Smile remains an interesting horror film, especially for viewers who enjoy psychological thrillers and supernatural horror. Its strongest quality is the way it turns fear into something that slowly grows inside the mind rather than relying only on sudden scares.

 

Memorable Scene

Rose loses her cat and later discovers it in a horrifying way: the dead cat has been placed inside the birthday present she prepared for her nephew.

Rose is completely shocked. Her expression shows a complicated mixture of grief and fear, especially as the people around her begin to think that she is losing her mind.

This scene is memorable because Sosie Bacon's expression effectively communicates Rose's emotional breakdown.

It also reminds us that even the people closest to us may not always understand what we are experiencing when something happens outside their expectations. Instead of trying to understand Rose's fear, the people around her mostly react as though she is simply becoming hysterical.

Sometimes, the feeling of being misunderstood can make an already frightening experience even more painful.

 

Memorable Dialogue

"You can't escape your own mind, Rose."

 

Ending

Cliffhanger

 

Recommendation

Worth Watching

(Aluna Uwie)