Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
After witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient, Dr. Rose Cotter starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can't explain.
Smile (2022) is a competent psychological horror with a strong central trauma metaphor — the spreading curse tied to witnessing suicide — but it leans heavily on familiar horror conventions (It Follows, The Ring) without meaningfully advancing the genre. Acting is serviceable with Sosie Bacon carrying the film adequately, though supporting roles are thinly written. Cinematography employs effective wide-angle, off-center framing to build unease, a genuine craft highlight. Novelty suffers as the premise and execution feel derivative of 'passed curse' horror, offering little new beyond a strong visual gimmick. The ending disappoints with a telegraphed, bleakly conventional conclusion that squanders the film's thematic potential.