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All About Smile Full Movie (2022) Review: Plot, Ending Explained, Cast, and Ratings
If you’re searching for a horror movie that goes beyond the usual jump scares and digs deep into psychological terror, Smile (2022) is a must-watch. This film taps into themes of trauma, fear, and an unseen curse that spreads from victim to victim like a virus. It’s no wonder horror fans and casual moviegoers alike have made it one of the most talked-about films of the year.
Let’s break down everything you need to know about Smile — from its chilling plot and powerful cast to critical reviews, box office success, and that disturbing ending.
What Is Smile About?
Plot Summary
Dr. Rose Cotter is a clinical therapist working in a psychiatric emergency unit. After witnessing a horrific suicide of a patient who claimed to be haunted by a smiling entity, Rose begins to experience the same hallucinations. These aren’t just your average nightmares. People around her start appearing with grotesque, unnatural smiles — signaling something much darker lurking beneath the surface.
As Rose’s mental state begins to unravel, she discovers a disturbing pattern: every person who’s seen the smiling entity ends their life within days. Unless she can break the curse, she’s next.
Genre, Tone & Themes
- Genre: Supernatural Psychological Horror
- Mood: Paranoia, dread, trauma, and creeping terror
- Themes: Mental illness, inherited trauma, survivor’s guilt, fear of death
The movie doesn’t just rely on jump scares (although it has a few great ones). It digs into psychological horror — the type that stays with you long after the credits roll.
Official Movie Details
- Director and Writer: Parker Finn
- Release Date: September 30, 2022
- Runtime: 115 minutes
- Language: English
- Country: United States
- Rating: R (for violent content, disturbing imagery, language, and suicide themes)
- Budget: $17 million
- Box Office Collection: $217.4 million worldwide
Smile Movie Cast and Performances
Sosie Bacon as Dr. Rose Cotter
Sosie Bacon delivers a powerhouse performance. As Rose spirals deeper into terror, Bacon portrays the fear and desperation with raw emotion. She carries the film on her shoulders and does it brilliantly.
Kyle Gallner as Joel
Kyle Gallner plays Joel, Rose’s ex-fiancé and a police officer who slowly begins to believe her story. He brings a grounded presence to the movie and plays a crucial role in the film’s emotional payoff.
Caitlin Stasey as Laura Weaver
Caitlin Stasey opens the film with a disturbing scene that sets the tone. Her brief but terrifying appearance is unforgettable and connects directly to the film’s origin — the short film Laura Hasn’t Slept, also directed by Parker Finn.
Supporting Cast Includes:
- Jessie T. Usher as Trevor
- Kal Penn as Dr. Morgan Desai
- Rob Morgan as a curse survivor
- Gillian Zinser as Holly Cotter (Rose’s sister)
Each cast member contributes effectively to the sense of realism and tension throughout the film.
Smile Ending Explained (Spoiler Alert!)
The movie builds toward a harrowing climax. Rose tracks down the origins of the curse and confronts the entity inside her childhood home — the place where her mother died from an overdose, a trauma Rose has never fully processed.
Just when you think she might escape the curse, the film reveals that everything she thought was real… wasn’t. She never escaped. She never defeated the entity. The final scene shows Rose committing suicide while Joel watches helplessly — thus, the curse moves on to its next host.
The Message Behind the Ending
The ending isn’t just a horror twist — it’s a metaphor. The curse thrives on trauma, grief, and unresolved emotional pain. Rose, burdened with childhood guilt, couldn’t escape because she never truly healed. The entity isn’t just a demon; it’s trauma itself.
Smile Movie Ratings
Let’s take a quick look at how the movie fared across platforms and audiences:
- IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes (Critics): 79%
- Rotten Tomatoes (Audience): 80%
- Google Users: Over 90% liked this film
These numbers prove that Smile didn’t just succeed with critics — it hit home with the audience too.
Why Smile Works So Well
Creepy Visuals
The smile itself becomes a horrifying symbol. It’s not friendly or warm — it’s unnaturally wide, frozen, and unsettling. It taps into something primal in our brains that screams, “Something is very wrong.”
Sound Design and Score
The background score creates tension from the first scene. Every creak, whisper, and sudden silence adds to the terror.
Psychological Depth
This film is not just about a monster — it’s about how we carry our pain. The real horror lies in trauma that no one sees, the silence after suffering, and how grief isolates people.
Smile vs Other Horror Movies
If you’re wondering how Smile compares to other modern horror films:
- Like The Ring and It Follows, it features a curse passed from victim to victim.
- Unlike traditional slashers, the fear here is slow, creeping, and psychological.
- It also takes a cue from Hereditary in its exploration of emotional trauma.
Yet Smile manages to carve out its own space in horror by mixing jump scares with deep psychological storytelling.
Box Office Success Story
With a budget of just $17 million and a global box office of over $217 million, Smile is one of the biggest horror success stories of the decade. That’s more than 12 times its original cost — a massive win for Paramount and horror fans alike.
Smile 2: Sequel Confirmed
Yes, it’s official — Smile 2 is happening! Scheduled for release in 2024, the sequel brings back Kyle Gallner and introduces a new character played by Naomi Scott. The plot is under wraps, but expect more eerie smiles, chilling curses, and twisted trauma.
Final Verdict
Smile isn’t just another scary movie — it’s a smart, layered, and truly unsettling film. It blends supernatural horror with psychological realism in a way that feels fresh and deeply impactful. Whether you’re a horror veteran or someone who enjoys films with meaning, Smile will stick with you.
Should You Watch It?
Absolutely — but maybe not alone, and definitely not at night.
FAQs
1. Is Smile based on a true story?
No, the film is fictional but inspired by director Parker Finn’s short film Laura Hasn’t Slept.
2. Is Smile too scary for kids?
Yes. It contains disturbing imagery, suicide, and adult themes. It’s rated R for a reason.
3. What is the smiling entity?
The film never names it. It’s a supernatural force that feeds on trauma and grief.
4. Why do victims see smiles before dying?
The unnatural smile is a sign that the entity has taken control. It’s the last thing victims see — and it spreads the curse.
5. What does the ending mean?
The ending symbolizes that trauma, if left unhealed, continues to affect others — especially those we love.
