Horror fans lured into watching Smile 2 after ‘genius’ casting of Hollywood star’s son

Horror movie fans have been lured into watching a new movie due to the “clever” casting of an actor whose father is a well-known Oscar winner.

The film in question is Smile 2 , which is a follow-up to the sleeper hit released in 2022 .

Written and directed by Parker Finn, the first film starred Sosie Bacon as a therapist who believes she is experiencing supernatural forces after witnessing the suicide of her patient who ominously smiled before their death.

Smile 2 will star an entirely new cast – save for Kyle Gallner – with Naomi Scott playing a pop singer who goes through the same experience as Bacon’s character in the first film.

Just like Smile , which starred the daughter of movie star Kevin Bacon, its sequel will also feature the offspring of somebody rather recognisable – whose face has been plastered on an eerie new poster for the film, in a move branded “genius” by fans.

On the poster, the actor can be seen smiling in an ominous manner – and it’s making people look twice.

This is due to the fact that it bears a striking resemblance to the smile featured on the promotional materials for Stanely Kubrick’s 1980 film The Shining .

The actor in question is Ray Nicholson, the son of The Shining star Jack Nicholson .

The decision to put Ray on the poster has been branded a “genius” move by fans, with one person writing: “That’s actually great casting.”

Another person added: “I’m not gonna lie. I saw that and immediately thought, ‘That guy kind of looks like Jack Nicholson.’ Now I know why and mind blown,” with another chiming in on X/Twitter: “Oh he definitely looks like his dad did on The Shining . Amazing.”

Others suggested that they were now excited to see the film despite not being a fan of the original.

@_JonathanNotJon posted: “Clever marketing by the people making Smile 2 . Using Jack Nicholson’s son on the movie poster making a face eerily similar to his father’s trademark sinister smirk? That’s given me enough intrigue to watch it now even though I hated the first movie.”

“Whoever came up with this brilliant casting stunt deserves a raise,” another person wrote.

Ray, 32, is the son of Jack and former actor and model Rebecca Broussard. His other credits include Promising Young Woman , Out of the Blue and TV series Panic . Three-time Oscar winner Jack, 87, has six children with five women.

Smile 2 will be released in cinemas on 18 October.