Smile 2 & M. Night Shyamalan’s Trap Share 1 Weird Thing In Common

Warning: SPOILERS for Smile 2 and Trap

Smile 2 and Trap have a weird thing in common. M. Night Shyamalan directed Trap, his latest psychological thriller starring Josh Hartnett, which was theatrically released on August 2, 2024. Trap‘s $82-million box office tally is comparable to Smile 2′s, which was directed by Parker Finn and released on October 18, 2024. A hit 2024 horror flick still raking it in at the box office, Smile 2 is a breakout role for Naomi Scott as a pop star haunted by the Smile entity.

Both Smile 2 and Trap center on pop stars performing a fateful concert. In Smile 2, Naomi Scott’s Skye Riley is recovering from a car accident that killed her boyfriend, and her attempt at a comeback is literally cursed by the Smile entity, leading to her psychological breakdown. Trap co-stars M. Night Shyamalan’s daughter, Saleka Night Shyamalan, who plays Lady Raven, a pop star throwing a concert specifically to trap a serial killer known as the Butcher, the secret identity of firefighter Cooper Abbott (Josh Hartnett).

Smile 2 & Trap Have Pop Stars That Are Weirdly Often Left Alone

Where Are Skye Riley And Lady Raven’s Entourages?

The curious phenomenon Smile 2 shares with Trap is that both film’s pop stars spend a curious amount of time alone, which allows their respective stories’ plot twists to happen. In Smile 2,world-famous singer Skye Riley lives alone in a Manhattan high-rise, and she is regularly left isolated backstage. Even though Skye has a domineering mother/manager named Elizabeth (Rosemarie DeWitt), and Skye is a recovering drug addict with an infamous self-destructive streak, the young pop star finds herself regularly isolated instead of having an entourage around specifically to keep an eye on her. This makes Skye easy prey for the Smile entity.

Smile 2 Cast & Character Guide

Smile 2 is bringing a new cast to continue the curse of the Smile Entity, but it also counts on the presence of an actor from the first movie.

Trap‘s Lady Raven is also weirdly abandoned by her entourage in the second half of the film. During Lady Raven’s concert, she is appropriately surrounded by handlers, managers, and security. Yet Cooper can isolate Raven in a dressing room to reveal he is the Butcher, and Lady Raven’s people allow her to leave alone with Cooper and his daughter, Riley (Ariel Donoghue). Later, Lady Raven’s limo driver not only lets her enter the Coopers’ home unaccompanied, but he even lets Cooper take the wheel of the limo to kidnap her. It’s bizarre that Lady Raven’s team wouldn’t keep tabs on their employer at all times.

Smile 2 & Trap’s Pop Stars Have Very Different Endings

M. Night Shyamalan’s Trap ends very differently for Lady Raven than Smile 2 does for Skye Riley. Although Skye tries to fight the Smile entity’ and rid herself of its curse, she is ultimately consumed by its control over her. When Skye finally performs her concert, she is victimized by the Smile entity for the last time, and the demon forces Skye to commit suicide in front of thousands of fan s. According to Smile‘s rules, the Smile entity can infect anyone who witnesses a Smile death. Thus, the Smile entity instantly curses an arena full of Skye Riley’s devotees.

Naomi Scott’s character name Skye Riley and Cooper Abbott’s daughter being named Riley is another coincidence shared by
Trap
and
Smile 2
.

Skye Riley fails to be the hero of her own story in Smile 2, but Lady Raven emerges as a hero in Trap. Lady Raven successfully outwits Cooper Abbott and uses her social media following to find and rescue Cooper’s victim, Spencer (Mark Bacolcol). Lady Raven also manages to free herself from Cooper and escape him, ensuring she doesn’t become his latest victim. Thanks to Lady Raven, the FBI ultimately apprehends Cooper. Smile 2 and Trap may be about pop stars often left alone, but Lady Raven succeeds while Skye Riley is tragically doomed.

Director

Parker Finn

Release Date

October 18, 2024

Distributor(s)

Paramount Pictures
Release Date

August 2, 2024

Distributor(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures , New Line Cinema

Cast

Josh Hartnett , Hayley Mills , Marnie McPhail , Vanessa Smythe , Saleka Shyamalan , Malik Jubal , Jonathan Langdon , Peter D’Souza , Ty Pravong , Kaitlyn Dallan