So many times in supernatural horror stories, only one person knows the terrifying truth. The horror of being so alone with this stark, unsettling reality while everyone else thinks you’re lost to lunacy is perhaps the loneliest place in the world. 

Smile is an eloquent narration of a seemingly simple tale. While it maybe is cliché that a main character is tormented by the truth while those around find her unhinged, Smile managed to transcend familiar tropes, making me think about it long after I’d seen it.

Also, there’s a magic that happens when direction, performance, and script work so harmoniously. Smile combined all three elements well, a tribute to the skill and artistry that have gone into its planning and execution.

Despite earning resounding acclaim, the horror film Smile finally found a spot on my watchlist. When I eventually saw it, I was struck with an immediate regret for not having indulged sooner.

Unmasking the shadows

Smile appears to be about the war between sanity and psychosis while creating a unique tale of psychological terror. 

Smile presents us with Rose Cotter, a compassionate psychologist who routinely steps outside the confines of her professional obligations to help her patients, some of whom are truly disturbed. In one early scene, Rose facilitated treatment even though the patient was uninsured, which resulted in a reprimand from her superior. 

But then, a woman named Laura Weaver steps into Rose’s life, altering it completely. Laura is gripped by an unusual terror. Something – although Laura doesn’t know what – is hunting her. She sees a legion of faces, all grinning at her, pushing her to the edge of her sanity. 

When Rose tries to help Laura, it catapults her into a never-ending nightmare she can’t escape as she also starts to see it.

So what is Smile really about? For me, it’s telling that a psychologist is the main character here. It’s ironic then that she, of all people, is losing her mind. Slowly Rose turns from a confident and highly competent therapist into a former shadow of herself, all in less than four days. Instead of a healer, Rose becomes haunted as she too experiences what her patients do, which is to lose her mind over time.

Smile isn’t just about macabre terror, but rather a journey into the terrifying reality of mental decline.

At its core, Smile becomes a metaphor for the heartbreak and confusion accompanying loss of sanity as many older people worldwide find themselves experiencing as they age. Still, others with mental illnesses also experience that their minds slowly lose their moorings. This film offers a disturbing view into how a mind disintegrates over time.

For me, the film could also be interpreted as a statement about how trauma warps the mind, as many people with PTSD continue to suffer after a horrific experience that they can’t leave behind. 

The film also exploits our discomfort with excessive, inexplicable smiling. An unwarranted grin is unnerving, and Smile uses this all too human instinct to the fullest extent. It gives the uncanny valley feel throughout, where you know something is wrong but not exactly what. 

The directorial skill shines through with the inventive use of camera angles. By turning the frame upside down, the film creates the feeling of what it must be like to have your world turn upside down as you’re losing your ability to think clearly.

While I was watching it, I wondered how it would end. So many horror films start out well with a great idea but then cop out at the end as if no one knew how to finish it. But this film planned all the way to the end with a disturbing finale I didn’t see coming.  

Rose is in an impossible situation, and the suspense of her possible escape kept me wondering how she could find her way out.

But Rose also has a secret that the audience isn’t shown until later, which adds to her character’s complexity, further elevating Smile from a fun horror flick to a deeply disturbing psychological exploration about the loss of mental acuity.

Final Thoughts

Smile creates a well-crafted horror narrative, where each element compliments each other, creating a combination of anxiety, intrigue and fear.

With an ending that promises to invade your nightmares, Smile didn’t take the easy way out, but rather took a road that may etch itself into your mind for some time after you’ve watched it.

So, take a plunge into the dark depths of this film, and when you do, let me know what you think, as I always like to share ideas and observations.

Pinpointing why the original Evil Dead (1981) stands as a horror classic always seemed elusive to me. 

Its plot was straightforward enough: Five Michigan State University students – Ash, his girlfriend Linda, and their friends Cheryl, Scott, and Shelly – venture to a secluded cabin in the woods. 

There, they stumble upon the Necronomicon, an ancient book that, once read aloud, awakens a malevolent force known as the evil dead. 

This seemingly simple tale, however, was woven together with the right amount of pacing and presentation that now it’s considered a horror classic.

One of my favorite scenes in The Evil Dead is the opening sequence of menace and foreboding that lingers long after the credits roll. The camera’s journey, flying over a tranquil landscape of towering trees, painted an eerie picture of an unseen force. 

This sweeping shot, similar to a modern-day drone capture, let us all know about the impending horror that would soon enough befall the five college students.

When news broke of Evil Dead Rise, I knew I’d see it. It came out in theaters in April, but it just became available on Max. While it’s a departure from the original in many respects, it still remains true to its horror roots. 

Just as the original film did over four decades ago, Evil Dead Rise offers its own brand of chilling storytelling that horror enthusiasts may want to see.

Embracing the New, Respecting the Classic

As the latest installment in the Evil Dead film series, this 2023 supernatural horror splatterfest follows the story of sisters Beth and Ellie, according to the trailer.

Ellie is a single mom and tattoo artist raising three kids in a soon-to-be-demolished Los Angeles apartment complex, and Beth arrives to visit the family. 

Ellie’s teenage son Danny stumbles upon relics from 1923, and a peculiar book and record that unleashes the Deadites, demonic spirits that take over people’s bodies. Every one of the Deadites seems to be in perpetual bad moods, hellbent on killing everyone they come in contact with for reasons known only to them. 

So from here, let the blood begin. 

Evil Dead Rise is an unrelenting splatter fest, nearly from start to finish. Its scenes, at times, feature characters quite literally soaked in blood from head to toe where only their eyes poke through. 

This relentless thrill ride barely gives you a moment to catch your breath, so don’t expect deep character development. 

But what the film might lack in character depth, it makes up for with surprising plot twists. 

Just when you think there’s no way for the story to advance, it shocks you with a cleverly conceived pivot. 

In particular, I liked the opening scenes, which set a horrifying tone, with a classic cabin in the woods trope and morally ambiguous characters. The gore fest in these scenes set the stage for the rollercoaster of horror that follows.

Now, let’s talk about the Deadites. If you liked the franchise, which spans five films, including Evil Dead Rise, you will be thrilled to know that these demonic entities are back in full force and they are just as pissed off as ever. 

The makeup and special effects teams didn’t disappoint as they created some truly nightmarish visuals that creeped me out.

In this film, blood is a main character. Whether it’s spurting, spraying, or just ominously pooling, the copious amounts of blood featured in this film are a testament to the lengths Evil Dead Rise is willing to go to satiate its fans’ lust for horror.

Despite its breakneck pacing and frenzied horror, Evil Dead Rise weaves in some unexpected moments. 

Just when you think you’ve figured out where it’s going, it veers off in a surprising direction, ensuring that your attention never wavers.

Final Thoughts

What makes the beginning of Evil Dead Rise particularly impactful is its homage to the series’ roots with the opening scenes paying tribute to the iconic ‘cabin in the woods’ setting. 

In essence, Evil Dead Rise is a film designed for the horror aficionado who appreciates a blood-fest galore. 

If you like blood, guts, and gore, this film is for you. 

This latest addition to the Evil Dead series leaves nothing on the table.

So, buckle up, and prepare yourself for a wild ride that will rattle you to the bone.