Directed by: Parker Finn
Written by: Parker Finn
Produced by: Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey, Isaac Klausner, Robert Salerno
Starring: Sosie Bacon, Jessie T. Usher, Kyle Gallner, Kal Penn, Rob Morgan
Cinematography: Charlie Sarroff
Edited by: Elliot Greenberg
Music by: Cristobal Tapia de Veer
Release Dates: September 22, 2022 (Fantastic Fest), September 30, 2022 (United States)
Running Time: 115 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English
Budget: $17 million
Box Office: $217.4 million
Overview of Smile
“Smile” is a psychological supernatural horror film that digs within one’s mind and has these awful imaginations produced by trauma. Written and directed by Parker Finn on his debut feature, marking also his debut in film directing with the short film Laura Hasn’t Slept from 2020, and starring Sosie Bacon as Rose Cotter, who has to go through increasingly terrifying experiences after she witnesses an astonishing suicide by a patient. Not only does the film shine based on its chills but, more importantly, because of the strong focus on psychological aspects that are interwoven within horror and resonate with audiences around the globe.
Plot Summary
The film opens in a psychiatric ward where therapist Rose Cotter is introduced to Laura Weaver, a graduate student who witnessed the suicide of her professor. Laura repeats that she’s being tormented by some unseen entity in the guise of various smiling figures, who foretell her death. In one of the most cringingly disturbing scenes, she suddenly cuts her throat in front of Rose, traumatizing the latter.
The next morning, Rose meets another patient, Carl, who smiles out, revealing a death threat. The unhappy lot pushes Rose into paranoid hallucination. Her boss, Dr. Morgan Desai, instructs her to take a few days off, but her hallucinations increase. The last is shown by disturbing visions: a surreal birthday party with the replacement of a gift for her cat, which just died. She proceeds to break down in public.
As Rose peels back the layers of mystery regarding her supernatural tormentor, she is compelled to face her past-traumatic involvement with her mother’s overdose. The movie becomes an enthralling suspense thriller constructed on heightened psychological tension that ends in an unforgettable climactic question of where reality is and where madness is left.
Cast
- Sosie Baconas Rose Cotter, the haunted therapist
- Kyle Gallneras Joel, Rose’s ex-boyfriend and a police officer
- Jessie T. Usheras Trevor, Rose’s boyfriend
- Robin Weigertas Dr. Madeline Northcott, Rose’s therapist
- Caitlin Staseyas Laura Weaver, the cursed patient
- Kal Pennas Dr. Morgan Desai, Rose’s supervisor
- Rob Morganas Robert Talley, a survivor of the Smile Entity
- Gillian Zinseras Holly, Rose’s sister
Film Production and Development
The idea for “Smile” came through after Parker Finn’s breakout short film, which won the Special Jury Recognition Prize at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in 2020. Paramount Pictures announced the feature-length adaptation titled “Something’s Wrong with Rose” for June 2020, with filming commencing in October 2021 in New Jersey.
Cinematography included significant locations of filming through major cities as well as other landmarks such as the Murphy Varnish Lofts as well as Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, therefore conferring a sense of unease upon the entire film. Post-production was concluded in May 2022 with the visual effects being handled by the-Artery, under Vico Sharabani.
The score is composed by Cristobal Tapia de Veer, and the haunting soundtrack importantly features the daxophone, such an instrument that is very versatile as well as somewhat unusual, to bring a sense of unease and vulnerability to the film.
Release and Marketing
“Smile” premiered on Fantastic Fest on September 22, 2022, where it picked up some positive word of mouth for its creepy story and great frights. The pic was originally set as a streaming title for Paramount+, but with strong test-screening results from the studio, Paramount Pictures has opted to the theatrical route. It’s now opening in theaters across the U.S. on September 30, 2022.
The campaign also included a viral stunt at Major League Baseball games, where actors simply reproduced in the audience in the movie the creepy smiles which only added to the creepy ambiance. However, “Smile” soon discovered its own niche, which deserved a big push in promotion-the studio reportedly spent $50 million on advertisement.
Reception and Box Office Success
Reviews generally positive from critics, and audiences, when “Smile” was released for public viewing. Worldwide, the film took in more than $217 million; its budget was only $17 million. Opening weekend in the United States and Canada for the movie was a record for a horror film: it took in $22.6 million.
The movie continued on well in its second weekend and did so by continuing to hold the lead in box office. It holds impressive legs going forward that far surpassed other weeks, becoming the highest grossing R-rated horror film during the pandemic era.
Songs and Soundtrack
The entire score of “Smile” adds to its intimidating feel. Cristobal Tapia de Veer’s score entirely takes on jarring soundscapes, especially daxophone, which heightens the tension beginning to end. No one really memorable song in the movie is present, but the entire sound design is the key element in creating the sense of an immersion experience for horror.
Conclusion
“Smile” is something more than a horror movie. It’s serious work into trauma, mental health, and the supernatural, with performances from Sosie Bacon that are incredibly strong, as well as with the really adroit direction of Parker Finn, who sets an atmosphere that makes it fascinating and terrifying at the same time, leaving viewers questioning the lines between reality and horror. Its box office performance and critical acclaim speak to the strength of the themes and the engaging story that makes “Smile” a real showstopper in horror cinema. Whether you’re a horror aficionado or a casual filmgoer, “Smile” offers a chilling experience long after its credits roll.
