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Smile 2 Ending Explained: Twist, Meaning, and Future of the Franchise

Smile 2's Shocking Ending: What the Director Revealed About the Sequel's Twist and the Future of the Franchise!

Smile 2's Finale: A Meta Moment of Horror and a Commentary on Celebrity

Whoa, Smile 2 had a seriously wild ending, folks! Writer/director Parker Finn spoke with Entertainment Weekly about that insane twist and how it sets things up for more movies. In the film, Naomi Scott (as pop star Skye Riley) goes through intense supernatural torment thanks to that creepy Smile Entity, and in the end, that thing wins in the most shocking and intense way possible. Unlike the original film, where the main character only passes the curse on to another person; in the climax, Skye, infected and totally overcome; ends things in spectacular, awful fashion; on stage in front of tons of people at Madison Square Garden, effectively spreading the curse widely. That kind of thing might get on the news— instantly exposing potentially millions through smartphones; instantly creating tons of new victims from this event. Now that’s scary!

Finn stated that the ending is exactly how it should’ve been, “the most horrifying thing,” he notes; “having her on stage, finally taken over by the Smile.” He sees the final moment as a clever statement around “celebrity platforms” and influence over “the public”, adding another crucial perspective around the main character Skye; the popstar; who can’t conquer the evils she now faces. The ending, he adds is also this meta moment; leaving that question lingering with viewers: "Did we do this to Skye?" The implication here involves the fact that  the creation of Smile 2 could itself contribute towards something disastrous, something never really considered before: the creative act itself is the cause.

Also Read: Smile 2 Rotten Tomatoes Score: Is the Horror Sequel a Box Office Hit?

What Does It All Mean for Future Smile Movies?

Naomi Scott as Skye Riley in Smile 2 with credits behind her Image

Finn promises that he hopes for "intimate, human melodramas" in future Smile movies.   This emphasizes the key difference which sets it apart from other horror stories: it's deeply concerned with individual experience and less about “jump scares”; emphasizing the importance of human emotion to those events involved. They're not just repeating that initial storyline. It really doesn't look repetitive at all. If a sequel does come, there will likely be entirely new story beats: these details wouldn’t continue what’s found within that first film! The previous two entries already established this formula.

Smile 2's focus is on the unique torment;  exploring the terrifying realities that result in Skye's specific experiences. This is particularly emphasized and made far more explicit throughout that finale encounter when PaulSkye’s boyfriend who died earlier (in the car crash), continually reappears and creates multiple opportunities and occasions for adding those horrific realities; effectively amplifying that horror through memories!

Also Read: Smile 2: Smiler's Mystery & Future Sequels - Director Parker Finn Interview

How The Entity Uses Trauma: Exploiting the Main Character

Paul smiling creepily in Smile 2 Image

This horror film cleverly shifts perspectives;  and these shifts give unique insights: Skye's journey shows a clever contrast; the Entity manipulates her from inside; guiding Skye's perceptions into this awful climax. The director’s statements however highlight this entire concept in a different manner; The key difference; The method: the film brilliantly explains how trauma is actually exploited and those methods used become explicitly clear to everyone, emphasizing how deeply terrifying the antagonist truly is, using trauma effectively as another form of weapon!

And those methods show just how terrifying that creature really is: Paul repeatedly appears (with an evil smile, obviously).    Even Skye’s appearance becomes warped as another horrifying transformation in one pivotal scene!

Also Read: Smile 2: First Reactions, Box Office Potential & Comparison to the Original

Conclusion: Smile 2: An Intriguing Ending With Major Implications For The Future

Smile 2 Official poster Image

Smile 2 has an exceptionally strong ending which creates several opportunities for an intense future. The finale provides a powerful narrative arc, the conclusion is unforgettable and memorable for reasons entirely related to the main themes emphasized. Its open-ended nature leaves fans wondering what other intensely personal and human horror narratives Finn might decide to unleash next; and his intent for that future trilogy suggests much more creative and clever approaches than simply replicating the same events and storyline in prior installments, showcasing a surprising maturity for such a young film director. That’s extremely significant! The terrifying use of trauma really stands out, while emphasizing the unexpected impact of “meta” elements added toward the very conclusion. There's a strong potential for that cinematic trilogy!

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