Sinister Smiles in Cinema

VENOM: THE LAST DANCE opens October 25

With VENOM: THE LAST DANCE on the horizon, AMC Theatres invites you to join the symbiotic fugitive and his host on the run as they are forced into a devastating decision that will bring the curtains down on 10/25. Though it’s the final film in the trilogy, Venom will be long remembered for his hilarious personality and sinister appearance. The character leaves a mean first impression, from his jet-black tentacles to his long slimy tongue. His real signature feature, however, is his smile.

In honor of Halloween and the new Venom film, let’s take a look back at some of the spookiest smiles to ever grace the big screen.

The Shining (1980)

There are so many unsettling moments featuring Jack Torrance baring his teeth that it’s hard to choose which leaves the most impactful impression. Is it in the empty ballroom as he’s merrily chatting with the previous caretaker of the Overlook Hotel? Maybe it’s when he’s approaching Wendy with an axe, promising he doesn’t want to hurt her. It could be argued that the smile really shines brightest as Jack yells “Here’s Johnny!” through a hole in the door. Here’s the real debate: can the final shot in the snow be counted as a smile?

It (2017, 2019)

A huge part of what made Bill Skarsgård so perfect for the role of Pennywise the Clown in IT is his uncanny ability to transform his face into something so simple, yet so terrifying. He’s been asked countless times on late night shows and press runs to recreate the iconic face, and it’s only slightly less off-putting when the makeup is absent. The secret lies in the cheeks, apparently, and you’ll see it on display throughout PART ONE and PART TWO. Truly, it’s difficult to miss.

Us (2019)

A short, but quite impressive moment of teeth-baring terror takes place in Jordan Peele’s US in a flashback as a young Adelaide stumbles upon her double in the dark depths of the Vision Quest’s hall of mirrors. When she turns to meet eyes with her Tethered doppelganger, it grins unnaturally at her. Later, we see this unsettling smile again in yet another flashback that shows us how the Tethered live underground.

Talk To Me (2022)

Blink and you might miss it, but there’s one particular moment in A24’s TALK TO ME where a grim grin makes a lasting impression. While Mia grips the embalmed hand for the first time and enters a trance with the dead, it takes over her body and turns her eyes black. Somehow, you can still tell that they flicker over to one person in the room as she begins to growl, “Run! Run! Run! Run!”. Too scary to watch in full? Don’t worry, this part of the scene is featured in the trailer.

The Joker (2019, 2024)

Joaquin Phoenix puts a unique spin on his Joker, one that depicts a previously lighthearted, yet melancholy man trapped in his own delusions as opposed to an over-characterized cackling maniac. You seldom see character himself smile, and when he does, it’s often with the help of his fingertips. Pushing up on either cheek, he achieves his desired effect while shedding a few tears in a dressing room. After that, you’ll see it again as he stands atop a car roof, his face coated in blood. The first is most memorable due to being featured in the trailer (and a really interesting story about how it was shot as Joqauin heard the soundtrack for the first time), the second is memorable for its sheer scare-factor. With FOLIE À DEUX still showing in theatres, we’ll refrain from going further into the lore of the sequel… for now.

Smile (2022, 2024)

What would a list of terrifying and traumatizing grins be without the movie that’s centered around that entire premise? The first film centered around a psychologist who after watching a patient die, is followed by an evil entity that presents itself as regular people with impossibly large smiles. It’s as if the monster is delighted to finally have you in its clutches. The sequel follows the same premise, but centers on a new cast of characters under vastly different circumstances. This one will stay with us for a while.

VENOM: THE LAST DANCE opens October 25