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Summary
TheSmilefranchise is the next big thing in horror, and the third installment’s announcement cements this idea. Most sequels in the genre struggle to maintain momentum after hugely successful initial outings. But it’s the opposite withSmile 3, asSmile 2opened up a whole world of potential for the next film.
The Paramount franchise, which first started with Parker Finn’s short filmLaura Hasn’t Slept, has made a name for itself through both critical acclaim and box office success for its two feature films. As a result,Smile 3is now one of the most anticipated horror movies, largely thanks to the open ending of the 2024 sequel. So,what direction should Parker Finn takein the upcoming installment?
Smile 3Could Take The Pandemic Route
Open Ending OfSmile 2Sets Up Sequel
The ending ofSmile 2truly left audiences in shock, both within the film and among those watching it. Pop star Skye Riley, the Smile Entity’s latest host, takes the stage before a big crowd during her comeback tour performance. However, she suffers a public breakdown after confronting the entity and ends up stabbing herself with a microphone. This is spiritually identical to theending of the originalSmilefilm, where Rose Cotter sets herself on fire after being possessed by the Smile Entity.
Just as Rose passed the curse to her ex-boyfriend and police officer Joel, Skye does the same — but on a much larger scale. This time, thousands of horrified spectators at her concert becomevictims of the Smile Entity. This opens up the possibility of the smile curse evolving into a pandemic, capable of claiming hundreds of thousands of victims at once. IfSmile 3takes the pandemic route, the film could explore some terrifying concepts.
The Smile Entity Could Attack Thousands
Carnage Horror InSmile 3
This includes ideas like mass violent psychosis, which would unleash an unprecedented carnage experience for viewers. Moreover, the pandemic storyline would essentially divide the global population into two groups: those affected by the curse, and those teaming up to uncover the truth behind it. It would be reminiscent of a zombie-apocalypse horror film, and pushtheSmilehorror franchiseto new heights. Strong references for this approach could include films likeThe SadnessorThe Purge.
A movie about the Smile pandemic could also serve as a political commentary on how the world dealt with COVID-19. Imagine a president or politician forced to confront the Entity after one of their loved ones attendsSkye’s final concert inSmile 2and becomes infected.Smile 3could benefit from the idea of a chaotic global outbreak, with the Smile Entity leaving countless victims dead within days. This threat would demand a cure or a method to defeat the entity, which would mean its origin would need to be explained.
CouldSmile 3Explore The Entity’s Origin?
Unanswered Questions FromSmileandSmile 2
Even after two films, we still don’t have any context for the entity — whether it is a demonic force from hell or a cosmic being feeding on trauma. So,Smile 3could work as an origin story without having to be a prequel. In the first film, there was a mention of 19 unexplained deaths that came before Rose. There is also the possibility of many other cases before them, some even undocumented.
Did someone conjure up this being, or has it existed since the beginning of time? Could it involve witchcraft or rituals?Smile 3could hold the answers to all these questions and trace its way back to the beginning of time, or the first-ever victim of thehyper-violent Smile Entity. But the entity’s purpose should not be straightforward or easy to understand, as that would take away from the feeling of terror.
SmileWorks As Lovecraftian Horror
So far, the entity seems to be feeding on people’s trauma. A large-scale takeover would mean that psychological torture would spread globally. The Smile Entity’s grotesque physical manifestation would be another key factor here, and the makers could take an all-out Lovecraftian horror route. The entity could be represented as a metaphysical being that needs a host to keep spreading, just like Morris mentioned inSmile 2. Therefore, an ancient or abstract origin is most likely the direction the film will take.
But given the events ofSmile 2, there is a theory that Morris never existed and was just another hallucination in Skye’s mind. If he is real, he could return inSmile 3, even as an unlikely protagonist. Just like Pennywise fromItfeeds on people’s fear, the Smile Entity could be dependent on factors like trauma, guilt, or other psychological issues. So, someone could actually be able to resist its influence, which would make it powerless without a host.
However, it’s unlikely to get all this closure inSmile 3.Director Parker Finn has hinted that there is more room to grow for the franchise inan interview withGamesRadar:
[…] we’ve maybe only scooped a single glass of water out of the ocean. […] I think it’s really fun to imagine a lineage of Smile movies where each one becomes more off the rails than the previous one.
