Naomi Scott takes over from the fantastic Sosie Bacon at the helm of the horror franchise that shook the box office two years ago.
Jasmine from Guy Ritchie’s “Aladdin” at Disney, the British actress plays a singing star struck by a dark curse in “Smile 2”, in theaters this Wednesday, October 16.
“I had to find a quick way to reach a certain level of intensity to stay there permanently,” she tells us about this “grueling” shoot.
She played Jasmine opposite Will Smith in Aladdin wore the Power Rangers costume and was one of the Funny ladies of the reboot with Kristen Stewart. But she had never tried her hand at the horror genre. Naomi Scott takes up the torch lit two years ago with a film that brought smiles back to the world box office. Highest-grossing horror film of 2022, Smile followed the destructive path of a terrible curse condemning to death all those it struck.
Will his character survive it? After the psychiatrist played by a fabulous Lookalike Bacon, this demonic force attacks Skye Riley. Pop star on the comeback after a violent trauma, she will face strange events which will make her lose her bearings. “With Naomi, we worked a lot together during the preparations for the shoot”explains screenwriter and director Parker Finn who praises the British actress’ ability to “explore such a range of emotions”. Of all accounts, the 31-year-old also sings and dances – a nod to her musical film debut Lemonade Mouth on Disney Channel.
Honestly, I didn’t grow up watching horror movies
Naomi Scott
“She definitely has that extra something that mega popstars have but she can also be bold and broken as much as possible on screen.”assures the filmmaker. Meet Naomi Scott, as cheerful and sympathetic in life as her heroine is tortured.
Smile brought back to theaters spectators who were not particularly fans of horror films. What is your relationship with horror cinema?
Honestly, I didn’t grow up watching horror movies. I recently discovered this genre and I enjoy it a lot. Doing it as an adult allows me to approach it from a different angle, I really appreciate the know-how that comes with it. I love old horror movies. Of course you have the pinnacle of the genre with Shining et Psycho. I also love the Sighs original. I like it when there’s a limit and it becomes the reason you remember the movie. It gives it an identity, just like the scenography and artistic direction of some of these feature films that obsess me. There is Rosemary’s Baby also, of course! And then these films where there are so many emotions like Morse, Saint Maud et Don’t turn around. I cried so much after seeing that one. I found this to be honestly one of the most powerful ending sequences I have ever seen. I could go on, there are so many I haven’t discovered yet. I’m by no means an expert but I really fell in love with the genre.
But you saw the first Smile before being cast for its sequel?
Yes, sorry! Actually yes, I even saw it in the cinema when it came out. But I had seen the short film Laura Hasn’t Slept in 2020, which was the first version of this concept developed by Parker Finn. I found the idea brilliant. Two years later, I was blown away by the feature film, its direction and its performances which keep you in suspense throughout. Two years later, we meet again. I didn’t know anything about this second movie, not even that Skye Riley was a popstar. We immediately exchanged ideas, it was like we were already creative partners. I hadn’t even read the script at that point. I just thought this character looked really awesome. The film centers on her, I wanted to play her.
The hardest part was finding a quick way to reach a certain level of intensity and stay there permanently.
Naomi Scott
You talk about the performances in the previous film. Sosie Bacon explained to us (new window) what “Anxiety and fear are among the most difficult things for an actor to play.” Do you have the same opinion?
(She takes the time to respond). Yes, I think so. Maybe Sosie had the same experience but for me the hardest part was finding a quick way to reach a certain level of intensity and staying there permanently. Because the movie is only about Skye, it’s just me. We shoot an intense scene, I change and we move on to another intense scene. There aren’t many normal conversations in this movie (laughs). It’s very trying and very exhausting. Parker’s direction also relies heavily on technical shots which require shooting the same sequence several times. I was very excited to take on this challenge, it allows you to learn and grow. Lookalike was so amazing, Kyle Gallner too. He is just as spectacular in our film, so much so that my husband said to me: “Oh no, you have to go after him. I was worried about you because he’s so good!” (laughs)
The actors were asked to Scream to teach us to scream (new window). Could you teach us to smile like in Smile ?
I have three tips for you: smile as wide as possible, tilt your head slightly downward and widen your eyes. That’s the Parker Finn smile I saw on set. This is the advice he gave to actors. Maybe practice in front of a mirror. See if it scares people around you, if you live with someone, your friends or your family. Make sure it works. See if they piss themselves. But maybe don’t try it with a child. I think it’s a bit mean. You don’t want to give them nightmares.
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Read also
“Smile”: this little horror film that has everything to become cult
>> Smile 2 by Parker Finn, with Naomi Scott, Kyle Gallner and the participation of Drew Barrymore – at the cinema this Wednesday, October 16
