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Backabeyond77 t1_j6c79m6 wrote

Jump scares are meant to be used sporadically. Overloading a movie with them is lazy and thoughtless. And you’re right, the story isn’t really original. But using a smile to mask pain is far from a unique or new concept. It’s been used in entertainment since before anyone can remember. You’ve heard of the “Sad Clown” I assume”. That’s been used in some of the oldest movies produced, and on stage before that. If you want a modern day “sad clown”, check out Puddles Pity Party. His live shows are fantastic and fun if you ever get a chance.

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thestrangerrd OP t1_j6cnmz9 wrote

I liked the premise of them weaponizing that smile though. It's not just her smiling to mask her pain, it's formed into a "physical" being that warps her perceptions and affects her entire life, as well as the people around her. Her smile only brings forth her buried guilt/trauma and it affects her mental health, which in turn affects her relationships.

I think buried deep down it has a solid premise (albeit not fully unique), but it gets way overshadowed by the amount of jump scares. There's the people who are too scared to finish, the ones who brace for scares more than paying attention to the story, or those who are unaffected and think the scares make the movie more cheap. Without so many, I think they could've made a solid psychological horror.

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Wishart2016 t1_j6gmkb3 wrote

My favourite jump scares are the closet scene in The Ring, and the fake Batman in the Dark Knight.

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