Smile
Plot
In the psychological horror film "Smile", Dr. Rose Cotter, a cheerful and empathetic orthodontist, is haunted by a series of unsettling events following a disturbing incident involving one of her patients, Lisa. The encounter leaves Rose with an inexplicable sense of unease, which gradually escalates into a full-blown terror as she becomes convinced that the patient's traumatic experiences are now being mirrored in her own life. As Rose struggles to reconcile the unexplained horrors plaguing her, she begins to experience vivid and disturbing visions, which seem to be connected to the patients she has treated. Her grip on reality falters, and she is forced to confront the dark possibility that the trauma of others may be seeping into her own psyche. As the events escalate, Rose's professional life becomes increasingly complicated by her inability to distinguish between reality and fantasy. She starts to suspect that Lisa's mysterious death was not an isolated incident, but rather a symptom of a larger, sinister force at work in her practice. Desperate for answers, Rose delves deeper into the mysteries surrounding her patients, only to find herself trapped in a web of terror and confusion. With each new revelation, Rose's sense of control and sanity begins to unravel, leaving her to confront the darkest aspects of human nature. As she navigates the blurred lines between reality and madness, Rose must confront the possibility that her own smile may be nothing more than a facade, hiding a deep-seated terror that threatens to consume her.
Reviews
Isaac
Keeps the audience constantly guessing about whether what the protagonist is experiencing is a hallucination or reality. The storytelling elevates beyond just a simple horror film; it feels like it has risen to another dimension. Personally, I feel it's the best horror film of the year.
Maren
Easily the best horror film of the year! It blows films like "Terrifier," with their male gaze and torture porn sensibilities, out of the water. "Smile" doesn't rely on sexualizing violence or gratuitous suffering of female victims. It has a balanced approach with both male and female victims, a perfectly crafted narrative, and an opening one-shot that's just amazing. The film is packed with outstanding visual storytelling through brilliant camera work and sophisticated sound design. The lead actress delivers a phenomenal performance, and the soundtrack is fantastic. The "new brain" concept is incredibly catchy and unsettling.
Maren
Black Swan + It Follows + The Lodge, apart from a slightly dragging mid-section, Smile is pretty much a top-tier modern horror film. M. Night Shyamalan should watch it 10 times over.
Axel
Damn, that woman's life is just relentlessly tragic. Growing up tormented with dancing and singing, spiraling into drug use during her rebellious phase, and then losing her husband in a car crash, leaving her severely injured and dependent on painkillers just to function. And then she encounters that damn "Smile," and boom, her hard-won career and her life go down the drain.
