SMILE (2022) Movie Reaction! | First Time Watch! | Sosie Bacon | Kyle Gallner
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖The 'Smile' entity spreads through witnessing a traumatic suicide, requiring a witness for the curse to pass.
- ❖The protagonist, a psychiatrist, ironically becomes a victim of a psychological horror that her profession struggles to address, highlighting societal disbelief in unseen threats.
- ❖The hosts found the fiancé's calm demeanor and lack of emotional support for the protagonist to be a significant flaw in the film's character portrayal.
- ❖Cinematic techniques like Dutch angles, sound design, and makeup were highly effective in creating an unsettling and terrifying atmosphere.
Insights
1The 'Smile' Entity's Traumatic Transmission Mechanism
The hosts identify that the entity spreads through a chain of trauma, specifically by witnessing a traumatic suicide. The victim then experiences escalating hallucinations and paranoia before committing suicide themselves, passing the curse to a new witness.
The entity needs trauma to spread, and it passes from person to person after a witnessed suicide.
2Ironic Professionalism and Societal Disbelief
Dr. Rose Cotter, a dedicated psychiatrist, becomes a victim of a psychological horror that her profession is ill-equipped to handle. This highlights the film's commentary on mental health, showing how even a professional struggles with a condition that appears as psychosis and is met with disbelief by loved ones and colleagues.
Rose, who helps mentally ill patients, finds herself in a situation where her own sanity is questioned, mirroring her patients' experiences.
3Audience Frustration with Character Logic and Missed Opportunities
The hosts repeatedly express frustration over characters, especially Rose, making seemingly illogical decisions such as turning their back on a potentially dangerous patient, not staying isolated to break the curse, or failing to explore religious intervention like an exorcism, despite clear supernatural indications.
Hosts question why Rose didn't seek an exorcist or isolate herself to prevent the curse from spreading.
4Effective Cinematic Techniques for Psychological Horror
The film successfully uses various cinematic techniques, including unsettling sound design, Dutch angles, and grotesque makeup, to create a pervasive sense of unease and psychological distress, contributing significantly to its horror impact.
The hosts praise the camera work and sound design for making them feel uncomfortable and enhancing the jump scares.
Lessons
- If facing a seemingly supernatural threat, consider all options, including unconventional ones like religious intervention (e.g., an exorcist), rather than solely relying on conventional medical or psychological approaches.
- In high-stress or potentially dangerous situations, maintain constant vigilance and avoid turning your back on individuals exhibiting erratic behavior.
- Cultivate supportive relationships where your experiences are believed and validated, especially when dealing with trauma, as dismissal can exacerbate feelings of isolation and vulnerability.
Notable Moments
Kristen's initial 'scream queen' reputation and Brandon's playful teasing about her reactions to horror films.
This sets the tone for the episode, establishing Kristen's role as the primary reactor to the film's scares and humorously foreshadowing her intense reactions.
The hosts' visceral reactions to the 'cat in the box' jump scare, highlighting its effectiveness.
This scene is singled out as one of the most impactful jump scares, demonstrating the film's ability to shock and disturb its audience effectively.
Discussion about the fiancé Trevor's consistently calm and unemotional demeanor, even when faced with Rose's distress.
This character portrayal is highlighted as a significant detractor from the film's realism and audience immersion, sparking debate on whether it was poor acting or a deliberate creative choice.
Quotes
"I love seeing her freak out. That's the best part."
Q&A
Recent Questions
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