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When looking for movies likeSmile, Parker Finn’s clever 2022 debut, horror fans might recallTruth or Dare, which was released in 2018. Many of Blumhouse’s films offer fun, fresh takes on classic horror elements like ghosts, haunted houses, and masked killers. However, there is alackluster movie in each Blumhouse franchise, and some originals are disappointing as well.Truth or Dareis a fairly silly story about college student Olivia Barron (Lucy Hale) and her friends who are forced into playing a deadly version of the well-known game.Smilefocuses on Dr. Rose Cotter’s (Sosie Bacon) past trauma as she begins seeing terrifying grins everywhere.
Still, when looking for movies likeSmile, Blumhouse’sTruth or Daredoes have some elements in common with Finn’s first feature-length horror film.
Smile Is Weirdly Similar To Blumhouse’s Truth Or Dare
Both Feature A Creepy Smiling Demon
SmileandTruth or Darehave one main plot point in common: they both have an eerie demon who grins at people in a way that will make anyone’s skin crawl. While there are manyscary smiles in horror movies, anytime Rose sees someone grinning at her inSmile, it’s truly unnerving.
As Rose’s patient Laura Weaver (Caitlin Stasey) tells her at the beginning of the movie:
“It’s smiling at me. But not a friendly smile. It’s the worst smile I’ve ever seen in my life. And whenever I see it, I just get this god-awful feeling like something really terrible is going to happen. I’ve never felt scared like I do when I see it.”
AlthoughTruth or Darecan be considered one ofthe worst 2010s horror movies, the moments when Olivia Barron (Lucy Hale) breaks out into a huge, terrifying smile are unsettling.Truth or Dareisn’t scary likeSmileis, though, although the characters are in a bleak world that they can’t leave once the game begins. As Carter (Landon Liboiron) tells Olivia:
“The game is real! Wherever you go, whatever you do it will find you.”
The Smile demon’s true formshould show other horror filmmakers what is possible because it is a genuinely haunting villain. Although the demon inTruth or Daremight not be as well-crafted, it’s still fairly effective. The main characters are in different situations, as Rose deals with trauma and Olivia is facing less serious friendship and dating problems. Still,Truth or Dareis an entertaining watch when horror fans want movies likeSmile.
Both Feature A Curse That Follows People Everywhere
When looking for movies likeSmile,Truth or Darestands out because both movies have curses that follow the main characters wherever they go. Bythe eerie end ofSmile, Rose can’t escape the darkness that has surrounded her. The demon’s true form goes into Rose’s body, she is lit on fire, and she gives the curse to Joel (Kyle Gallner). InTruth or Dare, Olivia and her friend group learn that they have to follow the game’s dark instructions or they will die.
Parker Finn
Cast Members
Sosie Bacon, Kyle Gallner, Jessie T. Usher, Rob Morgan, Kai Penn
September 30th, 2022 (United States)
115 minutes
79%
77%
Where To Watch
Amazon Prime Video
There is one key difference between these two curses, though. While Rose is terrified throughoutSmilebecause she doesn’t know what is happening to her, Olivia and her friends inTruth or Darefigure out what’s going on much sooner.
The Curse In Both Movies Needs To Be Passed Onto Others
Truth or Darecan be added to the list of movies likeSmilebecause both horror movies have bleak curses that seem like they will never end. Sosie Bacon gave one of thestrongest 2022 horror performancesas she ensured that Rose’s story was an emotional, complex, and layered one about not being able to break the cycle of trauma. InTruth or Dare, the famous party game continues because players need to find other people to take on the burden.
Truth Or Dare Director
Jeff Wadlow
Writers
screenplay by Michael Reisz, Jillian Jacobs, Chris Roach, Jeff Wadlow story by Michael Reisz
April 13th, 2018 (United States
100 minutes
15%
23%
Fubo
What Are Other Movies Like Smile?
While fans wonder if aSmilesequel could top the first one’s success, there’s plenty of time to watch other movies likeSmilewhile waiting for a second film. There are several horror movies that fans should check out, including:
Some of these horror movies have characters with eerie grins. For instance, Pennywise from the 2017 adaptation of Stephen King’s novelITsmiles at the children in Derry, Maine before manipulating them to come down into the sewer. While someStephen King movies made big changes, thankfully Pennywise is just as scary in both versions.
When looking for horror movies likeSmile, fans will want to find films about curses, which is whereThe Ring,The Grudge, andIt Followsfit in.SinisterandInsidiousare also greathaunted house horror moviesthat feature main characters whose lives are turned upside down by the dangerous presence in what is supposed to be a safe, happy place.
