Smile 2 - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook

Celebrities, they’re just like us! Okay, sorry for the attempt at a BoJack Horseman joke. But weirdly enough, I did recall similar observations of fame, performance, and trauma in celebrityhood in Smile 2 when initially viewing the film. Parker Finn’s much-awaited studio horror sequel wasn’t the same box office hit that its predecessor was, but it flying out of public view quicker than its predecessor was kind of befuddling. Was it because the sequel decided to sidestep any meaningful lore-building to return the focus of the story to the destruction, devastation and possible rebirth of its central character? Maybe, maybe not, but watching something so clear-eyed and deliberate remains a pleasure that I cannot award many other modern studio horror films. I believe the show-stopping central performance by Naomi Scott and the rest of the film will stand the test of time. Its scares are innately human, as are the many ways in which it approaches trauma and depression with empathy. 

Smile 2 follows pop superstar Skye Riley (Scott) on the precipice of a major world tour. A tour so important for her career that absolutely nothing can go wrong, lest the media vultures finish picking Skye clean. But when she starts experiencing terrifying visions after witnessing her drug dealer kill himself, Skye realizes that the only way out is to take control of her inner demons. Little does she know, though, the Smile demon she has contracted is going to twist reality in more aggressive ways than her own trauma has. Will Skye be able to beat it all?

Back to the pop-star-as-lead conversation for a second. Smile 2 takes its attempt to drill into fame very seriously. You can feel it in the way Skye’s body moves and reacts to all external stimuli. We get to spend time with her choreographing a dance, signing autographs, forcefully destressing after public-facing events while being hobbled by the emotional and physical pain that she cannot escape from. As she attempts to negotiate with that pain, it fights back tenfold and plays upon her worst fears. It’s only when Skye starts to understand and predict how her demons will manipulate her that she takes back control. But is it too late? Doesn’t matter, you need to fight no matter what. 

Parker Finn’s filmmaking chops have kicked up in this sequel as well. The confidence employed in the careful set-up and execution of many of the film’s scariest moments could not be better. As soon as the movie begins, we’re immediately situated in the action. We must bear witness to characters negotiating with themselves while trying to evade the Smile demon, then we’re locked in and can’t escape from the painful inevitabilities. The camera is a constant onlooker that doesn’t break with our main character because we’re watching in real time as Skye’s reality blurs with horror. Even some of the jump scares felt fresh in the way most horror does when the incidents are intertwined with the narrative very well. 

All in all, you cannot go wrong with the carefully crafted, empathetic, shocking scares of Smile 2. While it’s always a delight to see studio horror breathlessly relate to the troubles of the present, it’s rarely done this well. Sign me up for Smile 3. 

Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-rays
Calling Skye Riley to the stage! Smile 2 comes home in 4K Ultra HD with a limited-edition steelbook release that offers the film and supplements on 4K Blu-ray and standard Blu-ray. The 4K disc is a UHD100 and the standard Blu-ray is a BD50. Both discs boot up to a standard menu screen with options to play the film, set up audio, browse bonus features and select chapters. 

Smile 2 was shot using the Arri Alexa 65 and Arriflex 435 camera rigs with some footage being captured at 6.5K resolution and other footage captured at 4.5K resolution, then the film was finished as a 4K digital intermediate. That’s all to say that the source this new 4K Blu-ray is working with is nothing but stellar in detail and fidelity. Good news is that the 2160p presentation aided by Dolby Vision HDR is an early contender for studio disc release of the year. Black levels astound in the darker scenes, properly showcasing both the mortifying depth of the void that Skye frequently looks into. This isn’t a boldly colorful movie by any means, but that’s because the film often sears its audience with bright lights and colors during key sequences. The HEVC encode handles it all remarkably well and I can say with certainty that I’ll be revisiting this transfer plenty in the future. Stellar work all around from Paramount Home Entertainment.

As for audio, we’re provided with a Dolby Atmos track that absolutely revels in the rich, textural and suffocating soundscape used for the film. There’s not a ton of discrete effects in the height channels, but you can feel them kick in during the musical performances within the film. The track often kicks up suddenly but not to detriment of what’s going on in the film, plus dialogue and music are balanced very well without drowning out each other. This track fires on all cylinders, truly.

In terms of supplements, we’re provided with some EPK-style featurettes that give you a glimpse into the production and its focuses, especially as it pertains to Naomi Scott transforming into a pop star. While the featurettes usually top out at around five minutes each, there are quite a few of them to dig through and enjoy. If you’re a fan of the film, you’ll find much to enjoy here.

• Audio commentary with writer/director Parker Finn
• Ear to Ear (HD 5:17)
• The Rise and Fall of Skye Riley (HD 5:33)
• Behind the Music (HD 4:44)
• A New Smile (HD 5:37)
• A New Monster (HD 5:44)
• Turn That Frown Upside Down (HD 5:25)
• Show Me Your Teeth (HD 5:11)
• Deleted & extended scenes (HD 6:54)
• Grieved You (Extended) 
• Go Again (Extended)
• I Need Some Air (Deleted) 

It’s time for a popstar to face her inner demons in Smile 2, now available in stunning 4K Ultra HD courtesy of Paramount Home Entertainment. This two-disc (4K & Blu-ray) release pulls out all the stops for this horror sequel with a stellar 2160p presentation aided by Dolby Vision HDR, plus a robust Dolby Atmos track to make those scares really hit. Add on the supplements package and you have a Highly Recommended release that belongs on your shelf immediately.

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