Smile

AroView: A sharp and effective horror film about trauma that manifests as a viral entity that wears a sinister smile.

What it might lack in story originality it makes up for in its hilariously creepy use of an ironic motif, some jump-scares that you do (but don’t) see coming, and some unshakable, first-rate acting from lead Sosie Bacon (daughter of Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick). It’s too early to tell, but it feels like one for the horror canon.

“This isn’t just a great horror story; it’s genuinely scary. You may be able to recognize familiar elements in its DNA, but it’s mutated into something distinct and unsettling. What a showcase of shocks. What a devilish debut.” ~William Bibbiani, TheWrap

“No matter how excessively the legitimate scares pile up, they’re startling and convincing.” ~Tasha Robinson, Polygon