Smile (2022)
Smile
I thought about going to see this in theaters when it came out, but I decided not to. I’m glad I didn’t, because this movie was somewhat of a let-down. It wasn’t necessarily bad, but it wasn’t anything groundbreaking. I guess I would say that it’s “good, not great”. The story was actually really good, and though it felt almost cliche to me, it still had its own unique feel to it. The whole vibe of the movie was really eerie, and it constantly felt like something was about to happen. It was definitely suspenseful, and even in the scenes where not much was happening, it was still spooky. I’ll definitely say that the movie felt WAY too long. There was so much that happened that could have easily been reduced or shortened. I found myself getting bored a few times, but I will say that in the scenes where something actually happens, it really grips you. The last 25 minutes were confusing and felt a bit random, but the last 5 minutes were really good, and the movie leaves off with a great ending. I was definitely left open-mouthed a few times, and there were a couple scenes that definitely caught you off guard. There were a few minor jumpscares that were pretty good, and the suspense helps exemplify them even more. The transitions between scenes were also really good. However, they did get repetitive. The entire cast did a fantastic job, and Sosie Bacon, who played the main protagonist, did an extremely awesome job. She was able to bring out her emotions really well, and there were so many scenes where she seemed genuinely frightened. She also did a fantastic job of showing how one’s mind can slowly deteriorate over time, mostly from trauma. Even if you don’t like horror movies, I would definitely recommend you watch this solely for her performance. I also really loved her backstory, and it helped make the movie even more intense. The music was pretty good as well, and like the story, it did feel a bit like other horror movies. However, it still added a great tone to the movie. There were a few scenes that were almost completely silent, and the lack of music really gave a nervous vibe. Overall, this movie was decently good, and though it could’ve been a little better, it’s still a good one-time watch.