Parker Finn’s 2022 horror hit Smile found plenty chills in the lingering legacy of trauma. Its central monster was not a cannibalistic psychiatrist or a killer in a hockey mask, but rather a parasite that no mere antibiotic can cure. An unseen creature, at least to the uninfected, that fed on the mind-altering impact of witnessing a horrific tragedy firsthand.

Smile 2 takes this premise to entertaining new heights while simultaneously surpassing the original in every conceivable way.

Showing considerable growth as both a director and storyteller, Finn’s film feels fully realized this time around. Setting its horror within the manufactured world of celebrity, where prying eyes of fans and media expectations are its own form of terror, Smile 2 constructs a haunting and claustrophobic atmosphere.

The restrictive nature of fame is especially suffocating for popstar Skye Riley (Naomi Scott), who is attempting to mount a comeback tour after being involved in an accident, which killed her actor boyfriend, a year earlier. Marked by the physical scars from that fateful night, prominently on her abdomen, it is the emotional scars that hurt the most.

Unfortunately, the singer’s grueling schedule of rehearsals, talk show appearances, and fan meet and greets, leave little time for her to properly process all that is still haunting her. It does not help that her mother (Rosemarie DeWitt), who is also her manager, seems more interested in the financial obligations of the upcoming tour than Skye’s emotional well-being. Her personal demons only get worse when her attempts to score some drugs from her dealer pal Lewis (Lukas Gage), to help with a lingering back pain from the accident, inadvertently exposes her to a parasite that threatens to consume her within seven days.

As Skye begins spiraling down the rabbit hole into a realm where the lines between reality and manipulation are blurred, and smiling faces are anything but friendly, Finn’s film turns the beaming spotlight of fame into the bars of his protagonist’s inner prison. Whether forced to present at a fundraiser for disadvantage youth, or being confronted by grinning fans who move like they just got out a creepy Bob Fosse audition, fame is its own menacing monster for the singer. By taking the time to immerse the audience into the cold world of stardom, the film would make for a fascinating double bill with Brady Corbet’s Vox Lux, Smile 2 captures the various layers of trauma Skye must sift through.

Finn’s film may feature plenty of wide-angle shots of the New York skyline, frequently shown upside down to match the protagonist’s deteriorating mental state, but he makes it clear Skye’s world is increasingly small and isolating. Living in the bubble of public opinion, where even a meeting with a mysterious man, Morris (Peter Jacobson), who might be able to kill the parasite, is risky due to the cellphone camera ready patrons, Skye’s various torments feel especially daunting compared to what Rose (Sosie Bacon) endured in the first film.

Part of what makes Skye’s living nightmare so engaging to observe is the sensational performance by Naomi Scott. Commanding the audience’s attention in every scene, she is a dynamic force regardless of whether embodying a popstar swagger or conveying sheer terror through wide-eyed stares, the actress is a revelation. Bringing an emotional depth that never quiet resonated fully in the original, outside of that great Rob Marshall scene, Scott is able to effectively sell both the moments of horror and dark humour.

Using Scott’s expressive face to indicate the potential terrors lurking at every corner, Finn constructs a work that is more ambitious and thrilling than its predecessor. A true show case of the director’s distinct voice and talent, everything from the colourful sets to the camera movements feel more purposeful here. Something as simple as an argument in a car is turned into a frenzied ride of dread by simply swinging the camera back and forth.

The frantic nature of moments like that feel right at home with the unhinged paranoia and fear consuming Skye’s mind. Effectively using the isolating nature of fame to convey its themes of trauma, grief, and loss, Finn keeps audiences on the edge of their seat throughout. An immensely entertaining film that surpass the original in every way, Smile 2 is a thrilling knockout that leaves a devilish grin on one’s face.