On Amazon, Apple and Netflix there are several vain self -discovery documentation in which Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift or Springsteen ponder their “bumpy path to fame” and ask themselves how they can be a better model and remain “authentic”. The best contribution about the in reality often toxic relationship between superstars to their fans, albeit no documentation, Parker Finn’s continuation of his sensational jumpscare-plus-flatzfratzen-shocker, quite clear and vain “smile 2” (luckily not “in Germany” Twole called ”).
Pop singer Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) survived a car accident and tries the stage comeback after her rehab. Backstage and at fan meetings, however, she sees fewer and fewer and less normal people and all the more designing that they grin manically and later start attacking them. Since nobody else notices the creatures, everything appears like self -harm. The “smile” demon has Skye under control-and only through the suicide of the increasingly insane woman would he look for a new host. She can no longer distinguish friend and enemy, is only surrounded by smiling figures, suffers public nervous fractures. Television and social networks are eager to keep up in real time, want to see Skye going down.
In over a hundred years of cinema history, it is becoming increasingly difficult to develop creatively acting and horrific monsters. Director Finn has come up with a terrific version from Marilyn Manson, Slenderman and Japanese Momo girls. Since the demon can only be seen for a single person, Finn’s film asks whether the horror only takes place in the head of the affected.
As is well known, it is not far to paranoia with pop stars who use drugs like Skye. At the latest, the final game arouses doubts as to whether fans should always arise from their idol. (DVD, Blu-ray, 4K/ Universal)