Grin for a look at 'Smile 2'

Paramount unveils fun game to unlock free viewing minutes

Good horror films are often not for the faint of heart, but if you haven't watched Smile 2 yet and are hesitant to make the purchase, Paramount has news for you. Now you can stream the first seven minutes for free, only if you choose to smile through them, reported Variety.

You read that right. If you want to get a taste of the film and determine whether or not it's something you would enjoy a full watch of, all you need to do is commit to the fictional world of the horror mystery. Paramount intends to offer both an immersive experience and, perhaps, a chance to ease the tensions of curious viewers.

The instructions are simple. All you need to do is turn on your webcam and flash a grin as you watch through the free minutes of the film. If you stop at any point, the film will pause. The limited experience was launched on the day of Halloween and can be accessed through a website that requires an age submission.

The online viewers will be under the surveillance of responsive technology that is designed to detect whether or not the participants are obeying the instructions. Your simple objective is to keep your lips stretched if you want to make the most of your short allowance.

Smile 2 saw a theatrical release on October 18. The film stars Naomi Scott as Skye Riley, a famous pop musician who is all set to begin touring until some grim developments begin to haunt her. The spell-binding trailer leads the viewer through glimpses of the horrific journey with several jump scares along the way.

The horror film serves as the sequel to 2022 film Smile, which became an unanticipated hit with $105 million domestically and $217 million globally, as per Variety. Owing to the precedent set by its predecessor, Smile 2 surpassed the $110 million count on the box office, inching close to being one of the top 25 highest-grossing movies of the year at the domestic box office, reported Collider.

This project also marks the first time Scott has taken on the role of a horror film protagonist. Audiences may know Scott as Princess Jasmine from the live-action rendition of Aladdin. She further portrayed Elena Houghlin in Elizabeth Banks' 2019 film Charlie's Angels.

Speaking to Jimmy Kimmel about Smile 2, the actor shared how delighted she was to be working on a project that involved her presence from start to finish, but also how much the shooting process drained her physically. She also revealed that as per character requirements, she had to "continuously down bottles of water".

Scott also shared that despite his fear of horror films, her father attended the London premiere with her as a gesture of support. "There was a moment (in the film) that was particularly bloody, so I kind of just leaned over to him and said, 'It tastes like strawberry syrup,'" she said, later adding hilariously that the reassurance did not help her father.

She even taught the hosts how to sport the iconic yet scary smile from the franchise. For those who wish to follow, Naomi instructed that you must flash "a massive smile", then tilt your head down, and to add that final flair, open your eyes wide. This might help fans looking forward to viewing the first seven minutes with wholehearted enthusiasm.