Smile (2022) Ending Explained
tl;dr
The ending of Smile (2022) reveals that the supernatural curse Dr. Rose Cotter has been battling is inescapable. After witnessing a chain of traumatic deaths linked to a sinister, smiling entity, Rose realizes the curse spreads by forcing its victims to die in front of another person, who then becomes the next target. In a desperate attempt to break the cycle, Rose isolates herself and burns down her childhood home-only for the entity to mimic her deceased mother, tricking her into letting her guard down. The film concludes with Rose dying by suicide, her horrifying smile confirming the curse's victory, while a new witness (her therapist, Dr. Madeline North) becomes the next victim. The cycle continues, leaving the audience with a sense of hopelessness and dread.
Detailed Explanation of the Ending
The climax of Smile is a harrowing culmination of Rose's psychological unraveling. Throughout the film, she investigates the curse after her patient, Laura Weaver, dies by suicide while smiling eerily. Rose learns that the entity feeds on trauma, manifesting as people with grotesque, unnatural smiles who taunt her. Despite her efforts to resist-seeking help from her ex-boyfriend Joel, her sister, and even psychiatric colleagues - Rose is unable to escape the curse's grip. The entity's ability to shapeshift and exploit her deepest fears (particularly her guilt over her mother's suicide) makes her attempts at self-preservation futile.
In the final act, Rose deduces that the curse transfers when a victim dies in front of another person. Hoping to break the chain, she drives to her abandoned family home, douses it in gasoline, and sets it ablaze, planning to die alone. However, the entity preys on her vulnerability by impersonating her mother, calling her name from inside the house. Overcome by grief and longing, Rose hesitates, allowing the entity to re-emerge as a monstrous, stretched-smile version of herself. This moment seals her fate: the curse exploits her unresolved trauma, proving that isolation isn't enough to stop it.
Rose's death is the film's most chilling sequence. As she stabs herself in the neck with a broken picture frame, her face twists into the same rictus grin as previous victims. The scene cuts to her therapist, Dr. North, who arrives too late and witnesses Rose's body-becoming the curse's next host. This twist underscores the film's central theme: trauma is cyclical and inescapable. No matter how rational or prepared the characters are, the entity's manipulation of grief and guilt ensures its survival. The ending leaves no room for hope, emphasizing that the curse is an eternal, self-sustaining force.
Unresolved Questions & Possible Answers
- What is the origin of the entity?
- The film hints it's an ancient, demonic force tied to trauma, possibly existing for centuries.
- Alternatively, it could be a metaphorical manifestation of untreated mental illness.
- Can the curse ever be broken?
- The movie suggests no-each attempt to resist (isolation, violence, logic) fails.
- A sequel might explore a loophole, like refusing to pass it on by avoiding witnesses.
- Why does the entity mimic loved ones?
- To exploit emotional weaknesses; trauma makes victims susceptible to manipulation.
- It may derive pleasure from psychological torture before claiming its prey.
Personal Opinion
Smile's ending is brutally effective, leaning into nihilism rather than offering catharsis. While some may find it frustrating that Rose fails despite her efforts, the inevitability of the curse reinforces the film's commentary on trauma's lingering scars. The entity's design-uncanny, ever-smiling-is unforgettable, and Sosie Bacon's performance sells Rose's descent into madness. That said, the lack of lore about the entity's origins feels like a missed opportunity. A deeper mythology could've added layers to the horror, but the film's choice to focus on cyclical suffering makes its themes resonate. It's a bleak but memorable conclusion that lingers like a grimace long after the credits roll.
Final Thoughts
Smile joins the ranks of horror films where the monster wins, leaving audiences unsettled. Its ending is a masterclass in sustained dread, proving that sometimes the scariest stories are those without escape. The curse's inevitability mirrors real-life struggles with trauma, making the horror feel uncomfortably relatable. While not perfect, the film's commitment to its grim vision ensures it stands out in the crowded psychological-horror genre. Whether you love or hate the ending, it's undeniably impactful-a twisted grin etched into your memory.