You can watch the first seven minutes of one of the most talked-about horror movies of the year, but there's a catch.
Everyone likes getting something for free, but in the world of horror movies, it tends to be something of a Monkey's Paw situation. Do you have to make a deal with the Devil, do you have to open some sort of horrifying puzzle box, or will all your friends die in suspicious ways? Now, you can watch the first seven minutes of one of 2024's best horror movies for free...with an obvious catch.
Anyone who fancies themselves as a bit of a horror hound will surely have heard of Parker Finn's Smile - released in 2022 as a follow-up to his short film, Laura Hasn't Slept.
Smile was everywhere thanks to its creepy marketing campaign that had paid actors infiltrate a Major League Baseball game and creepily smile into the camera.
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With the original grossing $217.4 million on a budget of just $17 million, a sequel was quickly put into production. Smile 2 release in 2024, and yet again, Finn had a hit on his hands.
Paramount has continued Smile 2's viral marketing by releasing the first seven minutes online. For those who've watched Smile 2, you'll know it's quite the opening. For those who haven't, you'll want to check it out.
The catch is that to watch the first seven minutes of Smile 2, you have to 'smile' into your webcam the entire time.
Head to the official site and enter your date of birth to the age-restricted section, then activate your webcam on your computer or phone. There's a picture-in-picture window that plays the Smile 2 opening, but if you stop smiling, playback pauses and you'll be greeted by a message that says: "Keep Smiling."
For those worried you'll have to put hooks in your mouth to stretch out a smile for seven minutes, don't worry. Although the facial recognition tech is pretty good, a small smirk should allow you to watch the full clip.
All of this is part of Smile 2's continuing viral marketing, and whatever Paramount is doing, it's working.
While Smile 2 cost a lot more than the original and has so far taken about half of the first movie's box office, it's a viral horror that continues to climb. With it coming to VOD on November 19, expect interest to spike again.
Boasting an 86% approval rating from the critics and 81% from audiences, Smile 2 is also a certified hit that fans can't get enough off. There's been particular praise for Naomi Scott's portrayal of Skye Riley, giving us some serious 'Miley Cyrus in Black Mirror vibes.'
Finn has already been discussing plans for a potential Smile 3, but in the meantime, check out Smile 2 and its own creepy legacy.