Which jump scare are you referring to?

I don't think ALL the jump scares needed to be cut out, but far far less than every 2 minutes. I suppose cutting out most of the jump scares would basically make it a different movie anyway.

The thing is: I don't think Hereditary necessarily has that strong of a premise comparatively, nor does Midsommar, but both are heavily praised for the fear it induces without relying on jump scares. They're not really that praised for the story, moreso the atmosphere. Both could have been LITTERED with scares, but they choose not to and it sticks with the viewer much more (usually).

I think Smile's premise did have potential like those two. Midsommar didn't have much to its plot either, but it was more effective as a slow burn showing her descent into madness and eventually joining the cult. It could have been similar with Smile as well...without the cult.

This post wasn't really criticism of Smile or anything, simply a wish of "what could've been." A hallucinatory trauma demon altering your perception and driving you to insanity is a terrifying concept and without the over-reliance on scares, I think it could've been a good, if not a decent psychological horror. But maybe I'm biased since I prefer horror with deep internal fear than physical scares.

That was my thought too. I wish it had a more seeping dreadful helpless fear than just scream here, loud noise here, pop up here. It had a good enemy concept, poor poor execution.

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.

It was a solid idea with a trauma demon messing with your senses and making you hallucinate until you're driven to madness. I enjoyed the premise. It's okay if you didn't though.

No I expected Smile to be FILLED with jump scares and it was. I just wish it didn't have them or at least as many as it did.

We can still talk about it even if you didn't like it. Conversely, if you see it then you don't have to click on it either

A few...?

I mean, you just like overstimulation. That's okay. We like different things is all.

I was scared of the movie as well, but I felt like it was moreso because of the exhaustion from the physical reaction, rather than being scared. But then again, I'm also the type who enjoys a slower, deeper internal fear and growing paranoia than in-your-face screams.

Hmm not sure I agree that it becomes more sophisticated, but I do see and respect your opinion. This sounds more like a difference in preferences as I generally prefer more atmospheric and internal fear and you prefer more external physical frights. I'm usually a big chicken when it comes to jump scares, but I usually prefer less mainly because they make the story feel like it's on the back burner (and I'm a big horror story fan).

I thought that the Smile jump scares were kind of predictable though, no? >!I can only remember the unpredictable ones being the demon at the bday party or the patient through the car window. Although they all still got me lol even though I saw them coming.!<

Agreed, watching the Irishman just made it clear how much closer they are as well. It truly felt like a goodbye from them as well.