Smile (movie)

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***Smile*** is a 2022 American psychological horror film written and directed by Parker Finn in his feature directorial debut. It is based on his 2020 short film *Laura Hasn't Slept*. It stars Sosie Bacon,Jessie T. Usher, Kyle Gallner, Caitlin Stasey, Kal Penn, and Rob Morgan. It originally was set for a streaming release through Paramount+, but the studio eventually opted to release the film theatrically after strong positive test screenings. *Smile* had its world premiere at Fantastic Fest on September 22, 2022, and was released in the United States on September 30, 2022 by Paramount Pictures. It was eventually released to stream on Paramount+ on November 15, 2022 following its 45-day exclusive window.

A sequel was announced on March 15, 2023, with a release date of October 18, 2024.

## Synopsis

*After witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient, Dr. Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon) starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can't explain. As an overwhelming terror begins taking over her life, Rose must confront her troubling past in order to survive and escape her horrifying new reality.*

## Plot

At a psychiatric ward, stressed and overworked psychiatrist Rose Cotter meets with Laura Weaver, who had several days earlier witnessed her art history professor commit suicide. Laura claims that an entity taking the form of smiling people is stalking and telling her she is going to die. Soon after Laura begins screaming hysterically and has a seizure. After Rose calls for help, she sees Laura standing up and grinning. With a shard of a broken plant pot, Laura cuts open her neck, and thus killing herself.

Later, Rose sees her manic patient Carl grinning and shouting that she is going to die. Rose calls for nurses to restrain him, only to see he was asleep the whole time. Concerned for Rose's mental well-being, her supervisor Dr. Morgan Desai gives her a week off.

Unfortunately, the hallucinations continue, making Rose seem unhinged and dangerous to people around her, including her fiancé Trevor and sister Holly. At her nephew's birthday party, Rose's gift has somehow been replaced by her dead cat, horrifying the children. She then sees a party attendant grinning at her and curses, then falls onto a glass table, thus ending the party in chaos. She visits her former therapist, Dr. Madeline Northcott, who suggests that perhaps her problems stem from her abusive and mentally ill mother, whose death from an overdose she witnessed as a child.

Upon learning that Laura's professor was grinning at her before his death, Rose visits his widow Victoria Muñoz and learns he was affected after witnessing a woman die by suicide. This eventually leads Rose to ask her ex-boyfriend Joel, who is a police detective, to go through police records for her. He is initially apprehensive, but eventually relents, and the former couple find several cases where someone witnessed a suicide, then a few days later went onto commit suicide in front of someone else, who continued the pattern.

Later, Rose visits Holly, attempting to patch things up, but only makes it worse. She hallucinates the entity taking the form of Holly. Joel eventually calls her, to inform her that he discovered all the witnesses committed suicide within a week. The exception was Robert Talley, who instead murdered someone, and the key witness to the murder continued the suicide chain. Rose and Joel visit Talley in jail, where he claims the only way to escape the curse is to kill someone in front of a witness, and do it in a brutal fashion to cause major psychological trauma, which the entity 'feeds' off of.

Rose angrily rejects the option and leaves. She is confronted at home by the entity in the Madeline's form telling her it is "almost time". Rose impulsively drives to her hospital with a knife and hallucinates murdering Carl in front of Desai to pass on the curse. Desai approaches Rose and, spotting the knife, alerts the police.

Rose drives to her abandoned family home. Attempting to deprive the entity of witnesses, where she confronts it in the form of her dead mother. As it turns out, Rose had actually found her mother shortly after overdosing. A much younger Rose thus witnessed her mother regretting her decision to kill herself, and asking for help. But Rose did not intervene. Eventually, Rose sets the entity on fire and leaves as the house as it burns down. Rose then drives to Joel's apartment and he comforts her. Suddenly, she realizes everything that happened from the moment she entered the old house was a hallucination. This overwhelms Rose already fractured sanity, and the aforementioned entity confronts the now despairing Rose, overwhelms and forces itself inside her body.

Later, Joel, having found Rose at last by tracking her phone, enters the decrepit house. He subsequently enters the house, and sees Rose just standing there with her back to him. She eventually turns around, and the now smiling Rose sets herself on fire, which in turn passes the curse to Joel.

## Cast and Characters

* Sosie Bacon as Dr. Rose Cotter
	+ Meghan Brown Pratt as 10-year-old Rose
* Kyle Gallner as Joel
* Caitlin Stasey as Laura Weaver
* Jessie T. Usher as Trevor
* Rob Morgan as Robert Talley
* Kal Penn as Dr. Morgan Desai
* Robin Weigert as Dr. Madeline Northcott
* Judy Reyes as Victoria Muñoz
* Gillian Zinser as Holly
* Dora Kiss as Mom
* Nick Arapoglou as Greg
* Sara Kapner as Stephanie
* Jack Sochet as Carl Renken
* Matthew Lamb as Jackson
* Kevin Keppy as Nightmare Mom
* Marti Matulis as The Smile Monstrosity

## Production

In June 2020, Parker Finn was tapped by Paramount Pictures to write and direct a feature adaptation of his own short film *Laura Hasn't Slept*, which saw a young woman seeking the help of her therapist desperate to rid herself of a recurring nightmare.

In September 2021, the film was announced under the title *Something's Wrong with Rose* with Sosie Bacon cast as the titular character. Paramount Players and Temple Hill Entertainment had boarded the film to co-produce.

The following month, Jessie T. Usher, Kyle Gallner, Rob Morgan, Kal Penn, Judy Reyes, Gillian Zinser and Caitlin Stasey joined the cast.

Principal photography began on October 11, 2021, in New Jersey, including in the city of Hoboken, and finished on November 24, 2021.

Editing and post-production started on December 3, 2021, and lasted through the end of May 2022, with visual effects was done by the-Artery and was supervised by Yuval Levy and Vico Sharabani , when the film was simply retitled *Smile*.

The film's score was composed by Cristobal Tapia de Veer. For practical effects, Finn recruited Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff Jr. of Amalgamated Dynamics, who he described as a major influence in wanting to be a horror filmmaker for their work in films such as *Aliens*.

## Trivia

* Finn previously made a short film set in the same world titled: *Laura Hasn’t Slept*, which was meant to debut at SXSW in 2020. The festival that year was one of the first events to be shut down due to the spread of COVID-19, but Finn was still able to make a deal with Paramount to make Smile based on the strength of that short.
* Unlike some short films that evolve into features, *Laura Hasn’t Slept* doesn’t tell the same story as *Smile*; instead Finn thinks of them as spiritual siblings with “Pieces of DNA from the short film are threaded through the feature, and little Easter eggs here and there. And then Caitlin Stasey, who plays Laura Weaver in *Smile*, is the titular Laura in *Laura Hasn’t Slept as well*.
* Finn also stated that his intention with the nested series of fake-out endings was to get ahead of an audience that might have been trying to get ahead of the movie.
* On November 6, 2022,*Smile* was announced to have gone way past the $200M mark worldwide at the box office. After six weeks in release, and with strong holds; the split through Sunday is $99.1M domestic and $103.8M from the international box office for a global total of $202.9M.
* On November 17, 2022, Gallner went onto say that even though nobody has talked to him yet, given how well the film has done, he wouldn't be surprised if a sequel was announced sooner rather than later.
	+ On November 19, 2022 it was mentioned that with generally positive reviews and a box office gross of $210M against a $17M budget, there is no doubt that Smile will get a sequel. The plot ended on a bleak yet unresolved note, leaving an opening for a second installment. With Joel as the new possessor of the curse, the story would need a continuation. it was mentioned that the cast is aboard for a sequel and director Finn is already pitching ideas for it. But nothing has been made official.
* On November 23, 2022, it was further confirmed that *Smile* was a hit with audiences and critics alike. In particular, people seemed to respond to the film's fast pacing and grounded characters, although some did find the ending a little disappointing.
* On November 25, 2022, it was revealed that *Smile* is coming to DVD and Blu-ray in December 2022. Some of the bonus features include: Commentary by Parker Finn, the director of the movie. Deleted scenes will also be included along with commentary as to why they were ultimately cut. Moreover, Finn will also introduce the short film *Laura Hasn’t Slept* . This is the original short film that was used as the inspiration for the movie. In addition, it will also include, *Something’s Wrong with Rose: Making SMILE*. Lastly there will be close look inside the musical score with *Flies on the Wall: Inside the Score*.
* On December 2, 2022 Finn said that there are things he left out of his horror hit that could be explored in a follow-up.
* On December 7,2022 it was announced that the top Redbox On Demand title was Paramount’s *Smile*, which was newly released on VOD.
* On December 8,2022 it was mentioned that in the U.K., the movie’s UK home entertainment plans were released, and *Smile* is also getting a physical media release too, and will be on DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray from December 26th, 2022 onward.
* On December 9, 2022 Finn announced that he is interested in a sequel for the film, if the idea is right stating that: "I would never want to just repeat myself or retread the same ground."
* On December 13, 2022, it was revealed that the movie’s home video release included an audio commentary by Finn (complete with commentary subtitles), among other extras. The first-time filmmaker discusses his intentions behind several creative choices, from storytelling to camera movement.
	+ The title drop had to be altered to avoid causing seizures after discovering that the original version failed the Harding test, meaning that it could trigger photosensitive people.
	+ All the creepy smiles throughout the film are entirely performance-based without any digital augmentation, as Finn smartly believed that keeping them natural would make them scarier.
	+ Finn and production designer Lester Cohen took joy in planting smiles throughout the film. The camera lingers on some – like the sign at the model train shop and the pain chart at the hospital – while others are more subtle. For example, Rose’s husband’s contact photo that shows up when they first text has a natural, closed-mouth smile then changes to a toothy grin when seen later in the film.
	+ After discovering that she could save herself from the curse by killing someone else, Rose returns to her apartment. The camera angle reveals a piece of mail that says “Last Chance” beside the doorway. This was an intentional bit of production design to correspond with Rose’s ultimatum.
	+ The entity that takes people over, hauntingly revealed in the film’s final moments, was lovingly referred to as Lollipop by the cast and crew. This ties into The Chordettes’s “Lollipop” playing over the end credits, creating a tonal whiplash from the downer ending.
* On December 14, 2022, Kyle Gallner, who starred as Dr. Rose’s former partner Joel, revealed that he would definitely be up for another stint in a potential sequel.

## Gallery

### Videos

Smile - Official Trailer (2022 Movie)SMILE - Do You See It Right Now? (2022 Movie)SMILE - Extended Preview - Paramount MoviesSMILE - Final Trailer (2022 Movie)SMILE - Parker Finn Featurette (2022 Movie)SMILE - Behind The Scenes Featurette (2022 Movie)Smile - Primeras reacciones en Reino Unido - Estreno - Ya en cines - Paramount Pictures SpainSMILE - "You're Gonna Be Okay" Deleted Scene - Paramount MoviesSmile Interview- Director Parker Finn on Bleak Endings & Sequel PotentialSMILE - Live Yule Log

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 ‘Smile’: How to Watch the Creepy Thriller Online - Variety
2. ↑ Billy Eichner’s Gay Rom-Com ‘Bros’ Takes on Creepy Thriller ‘Smile’ at Box Office - Variety
3. ↑ Smile Theatrical Performance - The Numbers
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Smile 2 in the Works After Director Inks New Deal with Paramount
5. ↑ ‘Smile 2’ Sets Release Date, ‘One Love’ Moves
6. ↑ Synopsis - Smile Movie
7. ↑ Paramount, Temple Hill Set Feature Version Of Horror Short ‘Laura Hasn’t Slept’ - Deadline
8. ↑ ‘Mare of Easttown’ Actor Sosie Bacon to Star in ‘Something’s Wrong With Rose’ for Paramount Players - Variety
9. ↑ Paramount Players Horror Movie ‘Something’s Wrong With Rose’ Will Star Kyle Gallner and Kal Penn - Bloody Disgusting
10. ↑ Parker Finn OCTOBER 11, 2021 IG Post - Instagram
11. ↑ Here’s What We Know About the Movie Filming in Hoboken This Week - Hoboken Girl
12. ↑ Parker Finn NOVEMBER 24, 2021 IG Post - Instagram
13. ↑ Parker Finn DECEMBER 3, 2021 IG Post - Instagram
14. ↑ Parker Finn May 17, 2022 IG Post - Instagram
15. ↑ MOVIESMysterious New ‘Smile’ Theatrical Teaser Brings Unsettling Grin and Release Date - Bloody Disgusting
16. ↑ Cool Stuff: The Smile Soundtrack Is Getting A Vinyl Release From Mondo - Slashfilm
17. ↑ ‘Smile’ Writer/Director Parker Finn on the Film’s Practical Effects and Horror Influences - Bloody Disgusting
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Smile director Parker Finn unpacks the movie’s many endings - Polygon
19. ↑ ‘Smile’ Bright: Paramount Horror Pic Passes $200M At Global Box Office - Deadline
20. ↑ Smile Star Kyle Gallner Knew Exactly What Kind Of Horror Movie He Was In - Slashfilm
21. ↑ “That was always baked into the DNA”: Smile Director Defends Movie’s Horrific Ending as Horror Flick Earns Massive $210M Against Meagre $17M Budget - Fandomwire
22. ↑ 'Smile' & 9 Other Surprise Hit Movies From 2022, According To Box Office Mojo - Collider
23. ↑ Smile DVD and Blu-ray bonus features confirmed - Amazon Adviser
24. ↑ Smile Director: Ending ‘Purposefully’ Leaves Room for Sequel - Den of Geek
25. ↑ ‘Smile’ Tops Redbox On Demand Chart; ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Leads Disc Rentals for Fifth Week - Media Play News
26. ↑ Smile is coming to DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray in the UK this month - Film Stories
27. ↑ How Parker Finn’s ‘Smile’ Went From Streaming to Theatrical in a Single Night - Hollywood Reporter
28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 28.5 ‘Smile’ – Six Things We Learned from the Blu-ray’s Commentary Track - Bloody Disgusting
29. ↑ Smile director Parker Finn talks possible horror sequel and we’re already terrified - Metro