As its sequel continues to score big with critics and at the box office, Smile is garnering a glowing review from VFX artists for its fiery finale. The 2022 horror movie revolved around Sosie Bacon's Rose, a therapist plagued by disturbing visions after the suicide of a patient leads to a curse passed on to her. Having determined the entity feeds on trauma, the Smile ending saw Rose return to her childhood home in order to die alone and not pass the curse on, during which she has a physical confrontation with The Smiler.
During the latest episode of Corridor Crew's VFX Artists React series, the group took a look back at Smile's ending fight between Rose and The Smiler. The group noted, in particular, that the background fire was filmed practically, which elevated the CG work. The scene left the artists particularly impressed with how seamless the digital and real flames were blended. Check out the group's full reaction in the quotes and video below:
I actually thought [they] filmed like a real person on fire and comped in like a CG character, but no, it's 100% CG character, 100% CG fire. The background is real and that’s probably why it looks so good, because the compositing artists and the effects people get to look at real fire in the exact same shot. They see how fast it moves, they see the scale of the curls and the licks of the flames.
That’s some of the best CG fire I’ve ever seen because they’re actually blowing it out properly.
Having that real fire to match the motion, and the scale, and the exposure, and color go so far to making this look good. [Applause]
What The VFX Breakdown Means For Smile
Thoughtful Compositing Can Further Elevate the Horror Genre
The glowing review from Corridor Crew underlines just how effective visual effects can enhance horror storytelling when done thoughtfully. Smile’s blend of real and digital fire is a prime example of how the VFX teams of today can create moments that feel grounded despite their supernatural premise. The precision with which the artists matched the movement and color of the digital flames to the real fire in one of the film's final scenes illustrates the importance of thoughtful compositing.
Smile is the latest entry in the horror season, giving audiences a terrifying monster from which there are very few ways for a victim to escape.
For horror fans, effective VFX amplifies tension by immersing viewers deeper into the terror, and for Smile specifically, the polished effects enhance the surreal, nightmarish feel of the film’s climax. As a franchise, Finn's new movie series is setting a high bar for horror movies with seamless practical and digital integrations that deepens the film's fear factor. This is made all the more evident by the fact that Smile 2's reviews are outdoing those of the already-well-received predecessor, while also on track to match the original's box office run.
Our Take On The Visual Effects In Smile
The Horror Genre Is Being Treated Well
Rather than relying on over-the-top visuals, the CG elements in the intense showdown between Rose and The Smiler in Smile's ending complement the scene's practical components, maintaining a sense of realism that heightens the stakes. This attention to detail ensured that the CG fire felt organic rather than artificial, allowing viewers to stay immersed in Rose’s struggle without distraction. Corridor Crew's praise isn't just a win for the film's VFX team, but also a testament to how the genre can benefit from thoughtful work that prioritizes audience immersion.
A psychological horror film written and directed by newcomer Parker Finn, Smile is the story of a woman who, after witnessing a traumatic incident involving a patient, terrifying incidents keep occurring in her life. Sosie Bacon stars as Dr. Rose Cotter, the woman afflicted by these new realistic nightmares. The horrifying occurrences happen so frequently that Rose realizes she'll have to confront past trauma to escape this new reality and survive the supernatural forces trying to kill her.
Director Parker Finn
Release Date September 30, 2022
Writers Parker Finn
Studio(s) Paramount Pictures
Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures
Cast Sosie Bacon , Jessie T. Usher , Kyle Gallner , Robin Weigert , Caitlin Stasey , Kal Penn , Rob Morgan
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