Paramount Pictures’ new horror film, Smile, is a well done psychological thriller that may not be revolutionary, but does provide an enjoyable viewing experience for the audience.

The movie follows Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon), a psychiatrist who falls victim to a curse that threatens her and takes over her life. Bacon proves to be a standout actress, as she gives a phenomenal and convincing performance throughout the film.  

During the film, the audience can see that Rose is being terrorized by the curse, but its effects are not evident to the other characters, which leads to Rose being seen as insane by the people around her. 

The film does include jump scares and the end of the movie does rely more heavily on traditional horror elements. However, a majority of Smile is unique in that the scariest part is the tension created by the curse on the protagonist.

The audience gets to understand what is going on in Rose’s head. At times, it is unclear whether the events occurring on screen are actually happening, occurring in Rose’s head, or are a facade caused by the curse. This idea creates a mysterious atmosphere that is consistent throughout the movie. 

Unfortunately, Smile suffers slightly from the fact that its concept is not entirely original. The movie has drawn comparisons to the 2018 film Truth or Dare. Despite the similarities between the two horror films, Smile is still well written and creative enough to avoid being written off as a “knockoff.” 

Smile may not be a one of a kind horror film, but it does succeed in creating a unique experience for audiences with feelings of confusion, fear, and intrigue.