Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Smile and Smile 2
While the supernatural horror ofSmile 2might be a little far-fetched, the sequel’s main character, Skye Riley, draws inspiration from numerous recognizable real-life singers.The horror sequelSmile 2picks up where director Parker Finn’s 2022 sleeper hit left off, but that doesn’t mean that the follow-up fails to expand the world of the franchise. On the contrary, afterSmile’s twist endingpassed the curse onto the movie’s supporting deuteragonist, Kyle Gallner’s Joel,Smile 2expands its storyline to include a diverse range of new characters. Chief among them is Naomi Scott’s Skye Riley, a troubled musician.
8 Clues To Smile 2’s Twist
Smile 2 follows pop star Skye Riley as she takes on the Entity, the story coming with a wild twist ending that is hinted at throughout the movie.
Although her career is incredibly successful, Skye is hounded by guilt over the death of her boyfriend Paul Hudson in a car crash that she helped cause. Skye suffers from serious back pain due to injuries sustained in the crash but can’t access strong pain medication due to her history of drug misuse, resulting in her relying on a high school classmate for Vicodin. When this classmate, a recent victim of the curse, takes his own life in her presence, Skye becomestheSmiledemon’s latest victim. The curse takes hold of her life, and she attempts to free herself.
Smile 2’s Skye Riley Sounds Like Ava Max and Tate McRae
The Fictional Singer’s Music Resembles The American Pop Star’s Output
Although her tragic backstory is unique to the fictional heroine,Smile 2’s Skye Riley’s appearance and music are based on numerous real-life singers. Visually, her look resembles that ofC, XOXOsinger Camila Cabello, but her sound is much closer to EDM-adjacent stars like Ava Max, Bebe Rexha, or Tate McRae (who co-wrote one of the movie’s original songs, “Grieved You”). Interestingly, star Naomi Scott herself also co-wrote one of the tracks according to an interview withBloodyDisgusting. Rexha’s 2018 hit “I’m A Mess” is socially and lyrically similar to Skye’s in-universe song “New Brain.”
Meanwhile, Skye’s “Death of Me” owes some inspiration to Lorde’sMelodramaera, particularly tracks like “Homemade Dynamite” and “Liability.” Fortunately for all the stars listed above, the gruesome fate that befalls Skye Riley inSmile 2’s brutal twist endingisn’t inspired by any real-life pop divas. That said,Smile 2does use the movie’s depiction of its fictional pop star to comment on the very real phenomenon of toxic “Stan” culture, industry burnout, and the unreasonable expectations placed on public figures in the era of social media. In this regard, numerous stars were major influences.
Smile 2’s Skye Riley Is Based On A Range Of Pop Stars
The Horror Sequel Delves Into Toxic Fandom And The Pressures Of Fame
According toBloodyDisgusting,Finn looked to the careers and public lives of FKA Twigs, Sia, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Olivia Rodrigo, and numerous other singersfor inspiration. This makes sense, since some of these musicians have been vocal about the impact that fame has had on their mental health and the hidden costs of the entertainment industry’s relentless pace.Smiles 2’s songsare catchy, but they are more than merely set dressing to establish the movie’s mood and set up its heroine. Many of the tracks comment directly on Skye’s inner turmoil.
AsSmile 2’s curse gets hold of Skye and starts to take over her life, she desperately wishes she had a new brain and even attempts to turn off her heart.
“Death of Me” establishes the romanticized toxic relationship that she shared with Paul Hudson before her life-altering accident, while “New Brain” is an ironic nod to her future struggles. AsSmile 2’s curse gets hold of Skye and starts to take over her life, she desperately wishes she had a new brain and even attempts to turn off her heart so she can sidestep the curse’s consequences. Unfortunately, it is too late for her, andSmile 2repeatsSmile’s Stephen King-inspired twistwhen Skye’s attempts to defeat the demon are revealed to be an elaborate fantasy.
Who Wrote Skye Riley’s Songs In Smile 2
Smile 2’s Songs Mostly Come From Producer Duo Take a Daytrip
Smile 2’s songs were produced by the duo Take a Daytrip, a fact that might surprise hip-hop heads. Although the duo has produced for pop stars like Duo Lipa and Miley Cyrus, they are mostly known for their work with rappers and hip-hop artists. Since rising to prominence in 2017, Take a Daytrip has produced songs for industry heavy hitters like Kid Audi, Travis Scott, the late Juice Wrld, Big Sean, Denzel Curry, and Rico Nasty.
Smile 2is currently playing in theaters.
However, arguably their most recognizable work comes from the back catalog of “Old Town Road” hitmaker Lil Nas X. Take a Daytrip produced Lil Nas X’s songs “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)” and “Industry Baby,” which makes their involvement withSmile 2less surprising. Like Lil Nas X’s satirical lyrics,Smile 2takes a dim view of the contemporary music industry and its treatment of artists. As such, it makes sense thatSmile 2’s songwriters collaborated on the horror sequel.
