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You could say this is being an horror flick for the internet generation. Finally an horror movie that uses the internet phenomenon effective and creatively, or well, for its first half at least.

You tell this a movie made by people who at least know something about its subject. It was not just some 60+ year old Hollywood executives saying; hey, the interwebs is popular now days, lets base an horror movie around it! And then create a movie that already was 5 years behind with its subject and was mostly relying on big clichés and stereotypes. The way they used the internet and webcam sessions in particular made it apparent that the film-makers were still in touch with the 'internet-geration' and knew all about viral videos and the way internet hoaxes are born. This is the foremost thing this movie has going for it but it most definitely is not a movie that is without its flaws.

The way the movie starts of makes it seem like this is going to be a typical modern horror flick, in which a killer, supernatural or human, you don't really know for sure yet, is on a killing spree. however the moment that the movie starts to become something different and you realize there is more to the story, it just becomes a less interesting and effective genre movie, also because it starts to become pretty early on already where the movie is heading at with its story and what the big twist at the end is going to be. Or well, at least for me it started to become apparent quite early on already, probably because I have seen plenty of horror movies already, doing the same sort of things, in one way or the other.

It's a bit of a shame all, since this movie definitely showed some real potential and also seemed to have plenty of good ideas in it, that just weren't always handled that well. It had a good killer and a good concept behind it, that could had caused an internet hype but I don't think this movie shall leaves it mark all across the internet. It's not quite daring or effective enough for that.

It's definitely a problem that the movie tries to be clever and tries to make you doubt about what's real and what's not and what's truly going on in its story. It's a problem because it isn't really done in a very subtle way, which also definitely makes it just far too apparent where the movie is heading at. It also seemed that the movie was trying to get a bit more deep and serious with things but it's never really handled in a provoking and interesting enough way.

So it's really being a movie that does plenty of things right but also still does plenty of things wrong. I'm still giving it the benefit of the doubt, since it most definitely is a good looking movie, with also some effective genre moments and touches to it. It's definitely more watchable than just the average modern genre attempt, though the weaker, less interesting and less effective second half of the movie still takes away a lot from it.

7/10

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About Frank Veenstra

Watches movies...writes about them...and that's it for now.
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15 reacties:

  1. Yup. Smiley is a let down and we've been let down hard folks. After an exciting build up via numerous internet trailers the reality is...that's the best part of the film.
    Initially this looked like a spunky little freakazoid slasher flick coming to us when we need it the most. A new "face" of horror! And that face looked crazy creepy, oh yes.
    And then I saw it and man...I felt foolish. I think all of us who did feel a little silly over getting worked up over yet another substandard horror flick. Sadly substandard is the new standard and that standard is embarrassing. Add another embarrassment.
    Smiley's biggest problem folks?
    It's boring. The pacing is riddled with bad acting and transparent misdirection. Is she crazy? Is she not? I don't know about ya'll but I never felt she was crazy. Maybe because I'm also bi-polar and bi-polar's don't have epic breaks in reality and see Smiley face killers.
    Problem number 2. There's a shortage of good even decent acting. The girl who plays "Proxy" mumbles through her lines as she tries to be the cutest thing to hit the screen since Juno. The lead actress is okay. I felt she had moments of commitment to her character and I never felt she was day dreaming of her teen choice award.
    Problem number 3 is the mask. It looks sleezy good in the trailer....in the movie it looks absurd. It looks like a helium balloon, I kid you not. An emo Charlie Brown helium balloon head. Could be creepy...it's not.
    Problem number 3, as the reviewer stated is there's this...aura of "my look how clever we are" in the script.
    Sure..clever enough to rip off not one but two different Wes Craven properties and not be sued.
    Folks....that's pretty clever.
    yaktheripper
    find me at imdb.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. This movie is so bad, the whole movie is like an 80 year old man googled "suicide internet" then just made a movie about a selected set of incidences. The whole script is bad, this shit-turd deserves no attention whatsoever.

    1# Bad acting
    2# Horrible Script
    3# The gore moments were just stupid
    4# No intense moments, just louder music and forced tension
    5# The twists are obvious and stupid.

    I'm saving you 90 minutes of your time, do not watch this shit-turd.

    ReplyDelete
  3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCAQb296hAI

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  4. Wasted an hour of my life for this shit, couldnt watch it longer.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Smileys not out yet?

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  6. it's funny how all of you are talking shit about it yet is hasn't even come out yet. you're all just angry nerds that are upset because it talked about your underground "4chan".

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  7. lol..?! not out yet..? dude, i think you're the one who's underground.. literally 'under ground'

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  8. seriously
    the ACTORS are seeing the premier TODAY
    It isn't even out yet so get a life and troll your own unpopular blog

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  9. Movie is garbage like everyone predicted from the get-go. This review is almost as bad. Learn how to spell, author.

    ReplyDelete
  10. To the people saying "It isnt out yet, you cannot possibly in any way have seen it yet."
    It was leaked.
    It is shit.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wtf did i just read?

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  12. Worse than a Uwe Boll film. 0/10. Would not take to dinner. Would not date. Would not even rape. Movie is pure crapicide. Do no enter. You have been warned. It was leaked on youtube. It got what it deserved.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I WASTED MONEY ON THIS, DON'T WATCH IT, IT'S SHIT.

    ReplyDelete


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