'Smile 2' is a superior horror sequel, complete with pop bangers

By Stephen Thompson,

Reanna Cruz, Jordan Crucchiola, Hafsa Fathima, Mike Katzif, Jessica Reedy

Published October 18, 2024 at 8:43 AM EDT

Naomi Scott in Smile 2. — Naomi Scott in *Smile 2*.

The horror movie Smile was a massive hit. Its flashy new sequel Smile 2 finds the franchise's terrifying entity infecting a new host: a pop star (Naomi Scott) who's about to head out on tour after experiencing a trauma. And the movie has a lot to say about the horrors of pop stardom.

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Stephen Thompson

Stephen Thompson is a writer, editor and reviewer for NPR Music, where he speaks into any microphone that will have him and appears as a frequent panelist on All Songs Considered. Since 2010, Thompson has been a fixture on the NPR roundtable podcast Pop Culture Happy Hour, which he created and developed with NPR correspondent Linda Holmes. In 2008, he and Bob Boilen created the NPR Music video series Tiny Desk Concerts, in which musicians perform at Boilen's desk. (To be more specific, Thompson had the idea, which took seconds, while Boilen created the series, which took years. Thompson will insist upon equal billing until the day he dies.)

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Reanna Cruz

Reanna Cruz is a news assistant for NPR Music's Alt.Latino.

Jordan Crucchiola

Hafsa Fathima

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Mike Katzif

Jessica Reedy

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