Review of Smiley (2012) by Michael M — 10 Feb 2013

The killer, Smiley, is profoundly creepy, but the film does little to capitalize on the awesome, eponymous slasher. No doubt derived in part from Internet "urban legends" like Slender Man, Smiley is no where near original as it draws upon not only the Slender Man legends but also Internet horror films like the classic Pulse (not the crappy American remake!).

Smiley unfolds like any other B-level slasher film with its intelligent but disturbed female protagonist, its University professor that relates philosophical viewpoints that relate to the happenings, etc.

Ultimately, Smiley is mildly disturbing in its revelations, but overall it could have featured way more murder and death and less attempts at being the intellectual film that is so clearly isn't.