The Audio and Musical Techniques in Smile 2 (2024)

I'll admit I did not enjoy the first Smile (2022). I felt the beginning of the movie started off strong, but the plot got convoluted, and the entire thing fizzled out for me. The jump scares were plenty, but some felt a little over the top and lacked authenticity. Thus, when my partner suggested we see the movie, I was apprehensive, but since I would literally see anything if it involved a movie date night, I agreed.

To my surprise, the film was good. Really good. I can honestly say Smile 2 (2024), directed by Parker Finn, is one of the best sequels I have seen, let alone a horror movie sequel. The film focuses on Skye Riley (played by Naomi Scott), a pop star who is trying to make a triumphant return after a car accident instigated by a drug addiction leaves her struggling to reclaim her career. While Scott is phenomenal in her role, the sound and music in the film do additional heavy lifting and work wonders in elevating the film's themes of the dark side of fame and the psychological unraveling of anyone inflicted with the demonic parasite.

Smile 2 produces eerie and captivating audio by fusing a distinctive fusion of pop culture elements and classic horror soundscapes, which makes it an immersive, enjoyable experience that practically demands a deep dive.

The Use of Music in Horror

Music has always played a critical role in shaping how a horror film connects with the audience through pacing, mood, and suspense. As an audience member, the film's score can create an atmosphere of dread or lure you into a false sense of security. Consider a movie like Psycho (1960), which uses its iconic score to underline the otherness of Bates, which escalates during the shower scene. Jaws (1975) is another film easily recognizable through its music. After all, even by mentioning the name, you have likely inwardly have the repetitive duh-dun duh-dun duh-dun stuck in your head.

Beyond the traditional scoring in the film, horror can also take more creative approaches to music. In fact, there is even a horror musical subgenre. One of my favorite films, which I recommend seeing with any shadow cast, is The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). Almost 50 years later, fans are still doing the Time Warp again. A personal holiday favorite of mine is Ana and the Apocalypse (2017). While these films may not be scary, they are fun and have the same horror themes and elements as "regular" horror.

Smile 2, on the other hand, takes both elements – the use of music to create dread and tension and marries it with the pop nature of music and the musical. The pop music tracks are not only good, but they become essential to the terror itself.

Smile 2 Takes Inspiration from Stars Like Bob Fosse and Olivia Rodrigo

One thing becomes abundantly clear when watching the film: everyone who worked on Smile 2 did their homework. I am a fan of both musicals and pop culture (I will verbally fight anyone who says a horror fan can't also like these things). I was immediately mesmerized by the performance of Naomi Scott, and it is no surprise that she played Jasmine in the live-action Aladdin (2019). It was equally not surprising to learn, as noted by Bloody Disgusting that Scott co-wrote some of the songs sung by her character, and director Parker Finn studied pop artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Sia, and FKA Twigs.

For dance, the director studied none other than Bob Fosse, whose famous moves are still prevalent in musicals today. Fosse's influence can be seen in the rhythm and precision of the extremely entertaining dance sequences when Riley rehearses or performs, but also in the unsettling sequences where the dance crew becomes a reflection of the demonic entity forcing Riley into madness. Studying these pop iconic greats was a smart choice because the film fully captured the glitzy and flashy surface of pop stardom and underpinned the sinister forces, real and imagined, in superstardom.

The Skye Riley Soundtrack

I had no idea there was an accompanying soundtrack until my partner started playing it on the way to the movie theater. If I didn't know Skye Riley was a character, then I would be a fan (perhaps even a stan)! I'm glad I listened to it on the way over because it felt like listening to my favorite Taylor Swift songs before watching The Eras Tour – familiarity elevates the experience.

In the case of Smile 2, it also helps draw the audience deeper into the horror.

The 7 tracks in the Skye Riley EP include:

• New Brain

• Blood on White Satin

• Death of Me

• Grieved You

• Just My Name

• Just My Name (Piano Version)

My favorite, and I'm sure anyone who saw the film will agree, is New Brain. However, the entire album was wonderfully done, and although some songs were just okay, collectively, these upbeat pop songs created a stark juxtaposition between the excitement and energy of the pop music and the increasingly dark and sometimes extremely disturbing events of the film.

The Ambient Sound Design in Smile 2

I could go on and on about the musical performance in Smile 2, but while the pop music is a clear standout, the use of ambient sounds to build tension also adds to the film's success. The film frequently uses indistinct whispering, off-screen sounds, and general white noise to add to the sense of paranoia and psychological horror. The whispers and many of these sounds are barely audible, making me feel like I was hearing things out of reach.

Not only did these subliminal noises add to the atmosphere, but they also mirrored the mental strain of Skye's experiences; her descent into madness matched the intensity of the sounds, and in many cases, they helped to increase the jump scares, making them all the more effective. Since the film relies largely on an unreliable narrator, the sound design helps to further blur the line between reality and hallucination that the audience feels through Skye Riley's lens.

The Use of Sound To Descend into Madness

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Smile 2, and the sound design and music helped create a disorienting experience that made the sequel far more effective than the first. I know some horror fans are vehemently against pop music and/or musicals, which is totally fine, but I think if you are willing to give it a try, you might be surprised at how well the film works within the scope of the genre.

If nothing else, it is easy to appreciate the innovation that went into making a film that causes the audience to spiral into madness alongside the film's protagonist.

Now I'm off to crack open a bottle of Voss water and listen to the soundtrack again.

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