28. SPOILER Review: Smile (2022 film)

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Episode 28 - SPOILER review: Smile (2022)

*Please note today’s episode has some graphic horror movie descriptions*

I don’t know when was the last time that I had a horror movie stay with me like this one. “Smile” was released in September of 2022. What a clever take on a horror story. In this movie we have our main character, Rose (played fantastically by Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick’s daughter, Sosie Bacon) who after witnessing something terrible starts to believe that something is after her. It might seem like your typical horror movie (at times it might seem like oh yeah I have seen this before in other horror movies) but overall it is the execution of this movie and the utilization of trauma which makes it truly something unique. This is Director Parker Finn’s (Chapman University Class of 2011 Screenwriting MFA WOOHOO!) feature film debut. What a hell of a debut! $200+ million worldwide box office on a ~$17 million budget - the movie earns every penny of it. Awesome job, Parker! Also you need to check out the brilliant (and absolutely creepy) guerrilla marketing that was deployed for this movie during the 2022 World Series (just do a youtube search for “Smile Movie (Guerrilla Marketing) TikTok Ad” - haha so freaky and yet genius to help this movie). This movie is truly a one of a kind horror story experience that you have to check out.

“Smile” is available to stream in the States on Prime Video and Paramount Plus.

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