Smile is held back a little bit by it's reliance on rsther pointless jump scares. Like how am I supposed to be scared of something that I know for a fact is an artifact of the horror artifice? Oh no, a scary jump! Meanwhile, the scary faces are much more effective.

So much of modern horror refuses languor. If we let the camera be patient and just sit in a moment and let it percolate, it could push the scene from creepy to unsettling to downright visceral.

idk man that movie still scared the shit out of me, and what an opening scene! have only watched twice but it got me good. seem to be one of the few very excited for the sequel