8 Crazy Horror Movie Truths We’ve Just Learned
3. Ray Nicholson Was Cast In Smile 2 As An Homage To An Iconic Movie
One of those rare horror sequels that manages to improve on the compelling story that came before it, Smile 2 is one of the year's most haunting and terrifying delights.
There's just something about watching a person stare deep into your soul with an ear-to-ear grin that never fails to send chills up your spine, and Paul Hudson, played by Ray Nicholson, arguably boasted the most horrifying smile of the lot.
If that spooky grin felt weirdly familiar, though, that's likely because Ray is the son of the iconic Jack Nicholson, with the latter's menacing smile being one of the most unforgettable parts of The Shining.
And director Parker Finn recently revealed to EW that Ray was actually "totally" cast as a reference to that Stanely Kubrick classic. Along with producing a strong audition, the actor's smile felt "like looking at a young Jack," according to Finn.
He definitely didn't write Paul with Nicholson in mind, but when the actor walked into the room and crushed it, his link to the legendary film was a "wonderful kismet" and provided his movie with a cool reference to his all-time favourite.
That's not the only interesting reference to Finn's favourite movie in Smile 2 either. The colours seen during the gala scene involving Ray were a nod to the bar scene in The Shining, too.