Parker Finn didn't just make a sequel. He basically reinvented the stakes. If the first movie was a clinical, cold look at inherited trauma through a therapist's eyes, the sequel takes that trauma and puts it under a literal spotlight. At the center of this neon-soaked nightmare is the Smile 2 main character, Skye Riley, played by Naomi Scott. It’s a performance that doesn’t just carry the movie—it anchors it in a way that feels uncomfortably real, despite the supernatural entities and the grinning faces.
Skye isn't your typical "final girl." She’s a global pop sensation. Think Dua Lipa or Olivia Rodrigo, but carrying a massive amount of baggage from a past addiction and a horrific car accident that killed her boyfriend. When we first meet her, she’s trying to stage a massive comeback tour. The pressure is suffocating. Then, she witnesses a gruesome suicide, and the curse takes hold.
The Skye Riley Effect: More Than a Scream Queen
Most horror protagonists are relatable because they are "ordinary" people in extraordinary situations. The Smile 2 main character flips this. Skye Riley is extraordinary. She is wealthy, famous, and surrounded by people whose livelihoods depend on her being "okay." This creates a specific kind of isolation. When the entity starts showing her things—horrible, smiling things—she can't just go to a doctor or call the police without it becoming a TMZ headline.
Honestly, the movie thrives on this public-versus-private tension. We see Skye in rehearsal, struggling with choreography, her body physically failing her while her mother/manager, Elizabeth (played by Rosemarie DeWitt), pushes for "one more take." The entity doesn't just scare her; it exploits the already existing fractures in her career.
Naomi Scott’s portrayal is visceral. She isn't just screaming; she’s vibrating with anxiety. There’s a scene involving a "Smile" entity disguised as a group of backup dancers in her apartment that is choreographed like a fever dream. It’s claustrophobic. It makes you realize that for a pop star, the "crowd" is both the source of power and the ultimate threat.
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Why the Shift in Protagonist Matters
In the original Smile, Rose Cotter was a witness to trauma in a professional setting. She was an observer until she wasn't. But Skye Riley, our Smile 2 main character, is a performer. Her entire life is built on being observed. The curse thrives on the "spectacle."
There’s a nuance here that some viewers might miss. The entity isn't just jumpscares anymore. It’s gaslighting. Because Skye has a history of substance abuse, the people around her—specifically her mother and her assistant—don't believe her when she says something is wrong. They assume she’s relapsed. This adds a layer of "social horror" that feels much heavier than the first film. You’re watching a woman lose her mind, and the people who love her are inadvertently helping the monster by trying to "manage" her image.
Exploring the Backstory: The Accident and Paul Hudson
You can’t talk about the Smile 2 main character without mentioning the incident that broke her. One year prior to the film's events, Skye was involved in a drug-fueled car crash. Her boyfriend, Paul Hudson (played in flashbacks by Ray Nicholson), died in that wreck.
This is the "wound" the entity feeds on.
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Ray Nicholson’s casting is a stroke of genius, by the way. He has that "Jack Nicholson" grin—literally, he’s Jack’s son—and it’s used to terrifying effect. He represents Skye’s guilt. Every time she sees a smiling face, it’s a reminder that she survived and he didn't. The entity isn't just a parasite; it’s a mirror. It shows Skye the version of herself she hates the most.
The Supporting Cast vs. Skye’s Sanity
- Elizabeth Riley (The Mother): She loves Skye, but she loves the "Brand" more. Her character highlights how the Smile 2 main character is essentially a product.
- Gemma (The Estranged Friend): Skye reaches out to Gemma (Dylan Gelula) because she needs someone who knew her before the fame. The twist involving Gemma is perhaps the most devastating part of Skye’s journey because it proves that the entity has total control over Skye's perception of reality.
- Morris (The Nurse): He’s the only one who offers a "logical" way out—a medical solution to stop her heart and "reset" her. It’s a desperate plan, and Skye’s willingness to go through with it shows how far gone she is.
The Physicality of the Role
Naomi Scott reportedly did most of her own singing and dancing for the role. This matters. When you see Skye Riley exhausted on stage, that’s real sweat. The Smile 2 main character isn't a passive victim. She is a woman trying to fight a supernatural force while simultaneously battling her own physical limits.
The costume design also plays a huge part. Skye is often dressed in bright, shimmering outfits that contrast sharply with the blood and grime of the horror elements. It’s a visual representation of her trying to maintain a "perfect" exterior while her interior world is rotting.
What Most People Get Wrong About Skye Riley
There's a common criticism that Skye is "unlikable" because she’s snappy or difficult. That’s missing the point entirely.
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She’s a trauma survivor in the middle of a nervous breakdown. She’s supposed to be difficult. The film asks: "Does a person have to be perfect to deserve sympathy?" The Smile 2 main character is messy. She snaps at her fans. She yells at her mom. She makes bad choices. But that makes her more human than 90% of horror protagonists who just run and hide.
Parker Finn isn't interested in making Skye a saint. He wants her to be a sacrifice. The ending of the movie—without spoiling the exact mechanics—is one of the most cynical and effective "downer" endings in recent horror history. It turns the audience into the final "witness" to the curse.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans of the Franchise
If you're looking to really understand the depth of the Smile 2 main character, keep these points in mind for your next rewatch:
- Watch the "rehearsal" scenes closely. Notice how the entity mimics the choreography of her life. It’s not just appearing in corners; it’s integrating into her routine.
- Pay attention to the color palette. Skye is often bathed in purple and pink lights, which traditionally signify "fame" and "luxury," but here they feel sickly and artificial.
- Analyze the sound design. The sounds of fans screaming for Skye often morph into the screams of the entity's victims. It blurs the line between her success and her demise.
- Consider the theme of "The Show Must Go On." This is the ultimate weapon used against Skye. She cannot stop because the machinery of her career is too big to fail.
The legacy of the Smile 2 main character isn't just that she survived or didn't. It’s that she provided a blueprint for how to make a high-concept horror sequel that actually has something to say about modern celebrity culture. Skye Riley is a tragic figure, but she’s also a powerful one, proving that sometimes the brightest stars cast the darkest shadows when the lights go out.
To truly grasp the impact of Skye's journey, look into the specific musical influences Parker Finn used to build the "Skye Riley" persona. You'll find that the lyrics to the original songs in the movie actually foreshadow the plot points and Skye's mental state long before the entity even makes its first appearance.