Smile (2022)

When Smile was first released in 2022, I was skeptical. It had a fantastic marketing campaign — one of the best in recent memory — but the trailers made it seem like just another modern horror movie full of jump scares and little else. I should’ve known better, because trailers can be misleading, and in this case, they definitely were.

The film follows Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon), a psychiatrist who witnesses a patient’s shocking suicide right in front of her. Before dying, the patient claims she’s being haunted by people — some alive, some long dead — who all appear with a disturbing, unshakable smile and tell her she’s going to die. Soon after, Rose begins experiencing the same hallucinations, or at least she thinks they’re hallucinations, and her grip on reality starts to unravel. The line between mental illness and supernatural horror blurs fast, taking a serious toll on her personal and professional life.

What really surprised me is how Smile balances its scares with strong character work. It’s creepy, but it’s also deeply focused on Rose as a character. We learn enough about her background and trauma to genuinely care about her. When she’s terrified, it’s not just surface-level fear; it’s something that hits on an emotional level too. The pacing is solid — brisk enough to keep things engaging, but not so fast that it feels rushed. And while there are definitely a few jump scares sprinkled throughout, they’re earned rather than cheap.

Sosie Bacon absolutely carries the film. Yes, she’s Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick’s daughter, but her performance here stands entirely on its own. She’s incredible, selling every moment of Rose’s breakdown with realism and depth. You might have seen her in Mare of Easttown, and if you haven’t, I highly recommend checking that out too.

Kyle Gallner (from Strange Darling) shows up as Rose’s ex-boyfriend, Joel, and while he’s not as memorable here as in that film, he does good work. Jesse T. Usher plays her fiancé, Trevor — you’ll recognize him as A-Train from The Boys — and though his role is limited, he fits what the story needs him to be. Rounding out the cast are Kal Penn as Rose’s boss and Robin Weigert as her therapist, both solid supporting turns.

If, like me, you wrote off Smile because you thought it was just another cheap scare fest — you might want to revisit that decision. It’s not reinventing the genre, but it’s effective, well-acted, atmospheric, and smartly made. The score is strong, the tension works, and the story sticks with you. It’s a surprisingly emotional and scary ride, and I’m actually looking forward to checking out the sequel, which I’ve heard is even better.