I was watching the movie “Smile”, an American psychological supernatural film written and directed by Parker Finn a couple of days ago and it was a hell of a watch.

The careful use of lighting and shadows in “Smile” establishes the mood right away. The movie largely focuses on subdued lighting, with gloomy settings that dramatically heighten suspense. The audience is kept on edge throughout the drama by the deft use of shadows, which lends a sense of unpredictability. The cinematography’s use of realistic lighting is one of its most notable features. There is a tangible feeling of dread created by flashlights, candles, and darkened spaces. These light sources both disclose and disguise the frightening features, leaving much to the viewer’s imagination.

A variety of framing and compositional strategies are used in “Smile” to skew reality and arouse dread. Unusual framing and off-kilter camera angles are regularly used in the movie to create an unsettling and disorienting atmosphere. Characters frequently look as though they are confined within the frame, emphasizing both their fragility and the growing evil around them. The use of close-ups on the horrified expressions of the characters makes for one particularly unforgettable scene. This method not only amplifies the emotional effect of the protagonists’ terror but also compels spectators to confront their own anxiety. The capacity of these close-ups to arouse both empathy and anxiety at once is what gives them their potency.