To the joy of horror fans, Smile 2 is finally here.
In what is quickly becoming an all-timer year for horror films, 2024 has added yet another banger with Smile 2 receiving near across the board praise from critics and fans alike.
There are many ways to judge a film’s success, but a movie breaking even in its first weekend is a often a fairly good sign that it’s been well-received.
This is more or less what Smile 2 has done, earning a worldwide box office of almost $50 million in its first weekend against a reported production budget of $28 million.
Add to this a Rotten Tomatoes score of 85 percent and an average IMDb of 7.2, many viewers are clearly walking away from the film happy.
One particular takeaway for many has been the horror’s ‘harrowing’ opening scene, which was seemingly filmed in one shot.
One comment on an r/horror subreddit on focused on the film said: “Was the opening scene all a single shot? Thinking back on it I feel like it was, but can’t quite remember now!”
Another replied: “Yep. I was looking for digital joins/wipes but it looked pretty legit. If they combined multiple takes it was done very very well.”
Lukas Gage is the focus of the film’s first scene (Paramount Pictures)
Films will often shoot what appears to be one shot by having small cuts that you don’t even notice.
Without spoiling Smile 2 by revealing what went on, one comment even replied saying: “Oh wow it totally was!
“Also, damn what a bloodbath to cut to the opening titles!!”
When discussing the opening scene, director Parker Finn told GamesRadar: “Where the first film ended, I knew I wanted to have some connective tissue, a sort of through line between them, and so it felt like a natural place to start.
“But I also knew that the opening scene was not going to feel like anything we had done in the first film, it was going to be totally something that felt really surprising in a Smile film.
Gage’s performance in Smile 2 has received praise (Paramount Pictures)
“In the script itself, I had written that it’s going to be a single unbroken shot because I knew that was really going to create this incredibly tense, suffocating feeling as as you’re thrown into the opening.
“It was a major challenge to prep and shoot, but I’m really pleased with how it came out.”
In its 4.5 star review of the film, DiscussingFilm said: “Smile 2 is a triumph. Not just a good horror sequel, but a superior one.
“Smile 2 is a dual showcase for Parker Finn’s writer-directorial talents and Naomi Scott’s acting abilities that tops the original, keeps the commentary strong, and burns with an intensity that won’t subside until it’s torched everything in sight.
“All you can do is smile out of fear.”
Smile 2 is in cinemas now.
