10 Horror Movies That Never Left You
9. Smile
In Smile, a psychiatrist, Rosie Cotter (Sosie Bacon), finds she's being hunted by a nebulous shapeshifter. Although this creature takes many forms, each of its identities share one trait - they smile.
But it's not just any smile. This malevolent being leers at Rosie with a sickly grin that would unsettle anyone. Within a matter of days, Rosie's life has turned upside down by the Smile Entity, compelling her to do all she can to destroy it before she loses her mind.
Although being smiled at doesn't sound too bad, viewers believe this form of torment would drive a person insane, thanks to Sosie Bacon's career-defining performance and Parker Finn's top-notch script and direction.
But what makes Smile so much more than a generic monster movie is how realistically it explores mental health. The way Rosie is shunned and stigmatised for a problem no one can see hits deep for anyone who's struggled with depression. Watching Rosie breathe a sigh of relief when she believes she's faced her demons, only for them to come back stronger is a pain many people know all too well.
Even though Smile has the traditional jump-scares and wince-inducing gore, it's the disturbingly accurate and relatable themes that hit hardest.