6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
After witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient, Dr. Rose Cotter starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can't explain. Rose must confront her troubling past in order to survive and escape her horrifying new reality.
Starring: Sosie Bacon, Kyle Gallner, Jessie T. Usher, Robin Weigert, Caitlin StaseyHorror | 100% |
Thriller | 33% |
Supernatural | 28% |
Mystery | 21% |
Psychological thriller | 9% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.00:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.00:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
German: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
French (Canada): Dolby Digital 5.1
Italian: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Japanese: Dolby Digital 5.1
English: Dolby Digital 2.0 (224 kbps)
English, English SDH, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Mandarin (Traditional), Norwegian, Swedish, Turkish
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Though its name may imply otherwise (and if the creepy grin on the poster art isn't any indication), Smile is not a movie designed to make its audience happy. This is a grim picture, based on the 2019 short film Laura Hasn't Slept, about a woman who witnesses a bizarre suicide and finds herself possessed by some terrible entity that is causing her to see, experience, and do things well beyond her comfort and control. Both the original short and this film are written and directed by Parker Finn, so there is some continuity in story dynamics, but at its core is a fairly mundane, paint by number psychological Horror film that strives to comment on mental health but is ultimately just a rote procedural genre picture that is too reliant on jump scares and familiarly designed creepy imagery to really make an impact on the genre landscape.
Smile's 1080p transfer may not leave seasoned Blu-ray viewers grinning from ear to ear, but the image is no joke, either. This is a very good, if not very typical for a new release digitally photographed motion picture, presentation. The image is confidently sharp, featuring accessible and satisfyingly complex clarity on environments, clothes, and skin, the latter of which reveals various pores and moles and hairs with plenty of visible depth and clarity. The image holds sharpness throughout, even in low light and across some varied environments, ranging from relaxing counseling offices to more utilitarian hospital rooms. Color output is likewise solid, offering good foundational depth and accuracy across both well-lit interiors and exteriors, bright daytime shots, and dark nighttime scenery. Colors are not overly vivid, nor are they dull and muted, enjoying a stable, natural middle ground. Black levels are nice and deep without veering into heavy crush. Whites are well balanced and skin tones look fine. There is some prominent noise in low light (look at the 31-minure mark) but the image is not saddled with any other source blemishes or encode maladies. This isn't a Blu-ray that is going to dazzle format veterans, but it's also a very safe and effective image that carries the film well.
The Dolby Atmos soundtrack offers excellent audio immersion. While discrete effects are not commonplace, there is some obvious overhead engagement when the moment calls for such audio help. Clarity and seamlessness are fairly good, too, when the top end offers plain use engagement. The track further enjoys robust engagement through the larger plane around the traditional listening area. Listeners will enjoy quality depth and immersion to a blaring home alarm at the 31-minute mark. A ringing phone a few moments later pushes through the stage with terrifying volume and fill. These more intense cues, paired with various sharp-edged jump scare tactics, help create an edgy listening environment that is further defined by the eerie and effective score which is not meant to sound traditionally clear but rather uneven, unnerving, and edgy. The track makes fine use of every speaker in the configuration for fully seamless sound dispersal. Dialogue is clear and center positioned for the duration. This a is high-quality listen from Paramount and Dolby.
This Blu-ray release of Smile includes a fairly typical variety of supplements, headlined by an audio commentary track. A digital copy code is
included with purchase. This release ships with a non-embossed slipcover.
Smile doesn't rewrite the genre rulebook, but it's a confident, high energy, and watchable entry that should satisfy longtime genre fans looking for something that's familiar and easily digestible, Paramount's Blu-ray delivers satisfying video and excellent audio, both paired with an average allotment of bonus content. Recommended to genre fans.
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