According to Merriam-Webster, smile is defined as a facial expression in which the eyes brighten and the corners of the mouth curve slightly upward and which expresses especially amusement, pleasure, approval, or sometimes scorn. Maybe that’s why this particular expression can be seen as heartwarming or even unsettling, at times, since it’s true nature is sometimes “to be determined”. Due to its ambiguity in nature, it’s the perfect tool for artists to utilize in order to create whatever desired tone or inference needed…unless you’re Leonardo da Vinci, and in that case, smiling is not on the menu. You hear that, Mona Lisa?! Don’t you dare!
Paramount Pictures is releasing their latest horror feature in theaters this Friday, just ahead of the Halloween season. Smile stars Sosie Bacon as a doctor who witnesses a traumatic event while on the job that will change her life. And you guessed it, there will be several corners of mouths curving slightly upward in an unsettling way. This brings me the list below. Here are some of the more unsettling smiles seen on the big screen over the years.
Arthur Fleck
Joker (2019)
No disrespect to the many talented actors that have worn the upside down frown, but Joaquin Phoenix might be seen as the most unsettling version of this character only because you learn so much of the man behind the smile before being labeled as a criminal mastermind. There’s just something about this character that brings out the best in those chosen for the iconic role.
Jack Torrance
The Shining (1980)
As far as iconic images go, after the wheels fall off the wagon and Jack goes completely utterly insane, he hacks through a door taking total joy in the process and says, “Here’s Johnny!”. That scene still gives me shivers and is probably the reason that Jack Nicholson isn’t listed in the previous selection. His madness is raw and 100% believable in this role.
Darth Sidious
The Star Wars Saga
With George Lucas screwing with a linear storytelling timeline so badly, boxing in Senator Palpatine aka Darth Sidious aka the Emperor, is hard to do as far putting a timestamp on his appearances throughout these many films. One thing is certain, his cackles are that of a mad man and so is his smile.
The Wicked Witch
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Let’s go waaaaayyy back for this one. The Wicked Witch of the West is the original queen of taking enjoyment in the sorrows of others. How could I possibly leave her evil smile off of this list?
The Grabber
The Black Phone (2021)
From the oldest to the newest title in this feature. Kevin Bacon doesn’t even have to flex his facial muscles in this one. His mask does all of the visual work, but don’t doubt it for a second, he was probably grinning from ear to ear knowing that he’d be making millions of viewers very uncomfortable.
Chucky
Child’s Play Franchise
It’s all fun and games, so why not smile, right? When you’re playing with toys, this SHOULD be a time to let your guard down. Nope. The demonic laughter coming from this doll is hair-raising and the smile that accompanies it, is just another sign that you can’t even let your guard down while enjoying the things that made your childhood fun.
Pennywise
It Franchise (2017-2019)
Clowns and smiles are usually synonymous with one another. In the horror genre, this is often a killer combination. Bill Skarsgård sent shivers down everyone’s spines, from his costars to the millions of people that have seen these movies. His disarming smile is all he needs to pull his prey in close enough for the kill.
Freddy Krueger
A Nightmare on Elm Street Franchise (1984-1991)
Don’t sleep on this original slayer. Robert Englund brought this predator to the pinnacle of what kept so many up at night. He was quite literally what nightmares were made of. And the most terrifying part was that he enjoyed terrorizing people so much that he smiled while doing it.
Ash Williams
Evil Dead 2 (1987)
Good ole Ash is a different selection here, as he is not in any way the villain of the story. The second entry which, in my opinion, is the best movie of the franchise because it totally highlights Bruce Campbell’s acting prowess and gave him something very marketable to build his career upon. And when his character begins to go mad in this film, he was all smiles from that point forward.
Oliva
Truth or Dare (2018)
Lastly, I have included this pick, which is likely the least seen of the ones on this list. That being said, to sum things up in a nutshell, while only four years removed, these smiles on multiple characters throughout both movies, being this one and our feature film, Smile, are strikingly similar to one another. If this new movie can equal the same return on its investment, I think those involved will come away with a little smile on their faces.
