Smile Review: 7 Ups & 3 Downs

1. The AWESOME Sound Design

Killer sound design can truly elevate a horror film to the next level, and it's another aspect of Smile's aesthetic conception that's basically a home run.

Award-winning composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer's ominous score is so brilliantly integrated with the wider soundscape, in turn massively heightening the thick air of dread.

Rose's ever-present anxiety is palpably felt through clever manipulation of environmental sounds: clicks reverberate slyly in the background of even the quietest and most inactive scenes, and in one inspired moment, a loud cheer at a birthday party segues seamlessly into a haunting refrain.

While many prefer to watch horror movies at home, it's clear that considerable care has been put into delivering an adventurous sound mix here well worth checking out on a huge screen with a high quality sound system.