Smile: A Trauma That Never Lets Go

The first time we see Laura Weaver smile at Rose Cotter through the smudged glass of a psychiatric ward door, the camera lingers just long enough to make your stomach drop. That smile—wide, unnatural, and utterly devoid of warmth—is the birth of Smile‘s (2022) horror, a moment that Parker Finn’s feature directorial debut refuses to let you forget. It’s a simple image, but it’s also the film’s entire thesis: trauma isn’t just something you experience once and move on from. It lingers. It mutates. And sometimes, it smiles back at you.

Smile follows Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon), a therapist who witnesses the bizarre suicide of her patient Laura Weaver. After the incident, Rose begins experiencing increasingly disturbing visions—smiles in the dark, figures in the periphery—that she can’t explain. What unfolds is a relentless descent into psychological horror, as Rose grapples with whether these events are supernatural or the manifestation of her own inherited trauma.

Finn, who previously directed the short film Laura Hasn’t Slept (2020), brings a keen eye for atmosphere to his debut feature. The film’s New Jersey setting is grimy and oppressive, a perfect backdrop for its themes of mental health and inherited pain. Finn’s direction is precise, using tight close-ups and lingering shots to create an insidious sense of dread that seeps into every frame. The film’s soundtrack, composed by Cristobal Tapia de Veer, amplifies this tension with eerie, dissonant notes that heighten the unease.

At the heart of Smile is Sosie Bacon’s powerhouse performance as Rose Cotter. Bacon, daughter of Kevin Bacon and actress Kyra Sedgwick, brings a raw vulnerability to the role that makes Rose’s unraveling all the more devastating. Her portrayal of trauma is anchored in subtle physicality—trembling hands, wide eyes, the way her breath hitches when she sees something no one else can. Bacon’s performance is a standout, but the supporting cast also delivers strong work. Jessie T. Usher and Kyle Gallner, as Rose’s fiancé Trevor and ex-boyfriend Joel respectively, provide emotional grounding amid the chaos. Robin Weigert, as Dr. Madeline Northcott, offers a compelling exploration of inherited trauma and mental health.

The film’s exploration of these themes is one of its greatest strengths. Smile doesn’t shy away from the complexities of trauma, depicting it not just as an event but as a living, breathing entity that shapes Rose’s reality. The film’s supernatural elements are grounded in this theme, with the “curse” serving as a metaphor for the way trauma can feel inescapable. Finn’s script is smart enough to acknowledge the blurred line between mental illness and the supernatural, leaving room for interpretation without undermining the horror.

However, Smile isn’t without its missteps. The film’s pacing can feel uneven at times, with some scenes dragging while others rush by. This is particularly evident in the film’s third act, which takes a turn into more conventional horror territory. While the jump scares and gore are effective, they occasionally feel like a crutch rather than a deliberate choice. Additionally, some of the supporting characters—particularly Kal Penn as Dr. Morgan Desai and Rob Morgan as Robert Talley—feel underdeveloped, their arcs cut short in favor of Rose’s story.

That said, Smile is a genuinely strong debut from Parker Finn. It’s a film that understands the power of suggestion and the horror of the unseen. The deep creepiness of its visuals and Bacon’s standout performance elevate its unsettling exploration of trauma, adding up to a rare feature that satisfyingly delivers on its premise. While it may not reinvent the wheel, Smile is a compelling addition to the psychological horror genre, one that lingers long after the credits roll.

If you’re a fan of elevated horror—films like Hereditary or The Babadook—Smile will likely resonate with you. It’s a film for those who appreciate horror as a vehicle for exploring complex themes, and for those who aren’t afraid to confront the darker aspects of the human psyche. However, if you’re looking for a straightforward scarefest, Smile might not be your cup of tea.

In the end, Smile is a film that sticks with you, its images and themes burrowing under your skin like the curse it depicts.