Even though we’re hardly halfway through the year, 2024 is already proving to be another fantastic year for horror. When it hits cinemas this Halloween, Smile 2 will be one of the most horrifying movies that fans anticipate for the year’s second half. Although we have yet to see the Smile 2 official trailer, the promotion for the sequel has begun with an anonymous pop star’s new social media account.
The singer Skye Riley has had an Instagram account created for her. In the horror subculture, suspicions have been aroused because this so-called megastar was unknown before last weekend. The account has been dropping hints about Skye Riley’s new “era of Skye Riley”—and her forthcoming track “Blood on White Satin”—all week long with various photos and videos.
This is the claimed new album that will be released on June 18th. There is a startling likeness to Naomi Scott, the lead actress of the sequel; however, the photos all feature very close-ups or subtly concealed silhouettes. Additionally, the first photograph that was shared had a crescent moon that seemed to be smiling. Is it only coincidental? Imagine for a second if this nebulous Instagram username had anything to do with the Smile series.
This is particularly true when the source material is unrelated to the music business. Well, Scott’s casting as a prominent pop sensation resembling real-life performers like Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, or Olivia Rodrigo was verified by a video displayed at CinemaCon in April.
A variety of unsettling characters with the series’ characteristic grin, Scott’s character engaging with a fan, and Lukas Gage (you) were all shown in the brief glimpse. A little girl with pigtails walks up to Scott’s character in the creepy moment, smiling as she approaches the singer, who then asks if she wants an autograph.
We may not know what happens next, but it’s clear that this evil exchange will have no positive outcome. Films such as Disney’s Lemonade Mouth and the live-action adaptation of Aladdin have featured Scott’s vocal abilities throughout her career.
“Smile (2018), based on the eerie short film ‘Laura Hasn’t Slept’ by filmmaker Parker Finn, failed to revolutionize the genre upon its debut. Nonetheless, it delivered an evocative horror movie that made excellent use of its actors, including Sosie Bacon and Kyle Gallner, solidifying its place as one of the best horror movies of its time.”
Even while the disturbing visuals were enough to sell tickets, Paramount nevertheless managed to pull together an impressive advertising campaign. Among other novel aspects, this resulted in “possessed” smiling individuals dominating American athletic events.
On a shoestring budget, Smile was able to earn nearly $217 million because of this. It will be intriguing to see Finn’s plans for this terrifying sequel, which has a fresh cast of people and a different setting for this cheerful monster to rule over.
The 18th of October, 2024, will see the release of the upcoming horror movie Smile 2. Until the release of the pop star’s new “single” on June 18, we won’t know whether this mysterious Skye Riley account has anything to do with the horror sequel. In the meantime, you can watch Smile on Paramount+.
