When “Smile” was released in 2022, it became the little horror film that could – with writer/director Parker Finn taking a simple premise with a nice creative hook that captured the attention of audiences to the tune of $100 million at the box office.

Now comes “Smile 2” looking to establish that premise into a viable franchise. The result proves to be solid – with Finn returning to expand the lore with a film anchored by an impressive performance from lead Naomi Scott.

It may lack a little of the suspense that made the original work so well, but it makes up for it with Scott delivering a fleshed-out character with plenty of intriguing emotional baggage.

Scott plays Skye Riley, a pop sensation on the comeback tour after everything came crashing down (literally) during a night of drug abuse that tragically ended in a car wreck that left Riley wounded and her boyfriend dead.

Riley is still dealing with pain – both emotionally and physically – of that night. In desperate need of painkillers, Riley visits her drug dealer (Lukas Gage), who is acting weird before eventually killing himself in front of her.

It turns out the drug dealer was the latest host for the entity that was introduced in the first film. The entity is now coming for Riley with her slow mental decline seen by those nearest her – including her mother (Rosemarie DeWitt) – as perhaps another relapse.

Like the original, “Smile 2” deals with trauma in ways that are uncomfortable to watch at times, but are quite effective. Finn doesn’t give Riley’s full backstory all at once, delivering that fateful night in drips that only enhance the tension.

Scott’s strong performance brings a human element to all the supernatural horror that really allows “Smile 2” to separate from a typical horror film. This is a woman teetering on the edge, unable to put the past behind her – something that the entity is able to take full advantage of.

Finn’s direction is sharp again, the highlight a sequence involving a smiling group of backup dancers that is close to a horror musical number you will ever see.

If there is one drawback to “Smile 2,” it is the tension from the original – when the audience unsure exactly of what was going on. In this film, the tension is down a notch or two because the ground rules have already been established. Fortunately, Finn provides enough wrinkles to keep it fresh with Scott doing enough heavy lifting to make “Smile 2” a worthy predecessor to the very creative original.

If You Go
“Smile 2”
Starring: Naomi Scott, Rosemarie DeWitt
Directed by: Parker Finn
Rating: R for strong bloody violent content, grisly images, language throughout and drug use.
Playing at: Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10, Highland Cinemas (Glasgow)
Grade: B-