Halloween may be over, but Paramount Pictures has a special treat for fans of horror movies. To promote their latest hit, Smile 2, the studio has launched a website where you can watch a portion of the film for free – but there’s a catch. You have to smile into your computer’s camera in order to unlock the content.
If you manage to maintain a big smile for the entire duration, you’ll be able to watch seven uninterrupted minutes of the movie. However, if your smile doesn’t meet the website’s standards, the scene will cut off and you’ll be prompted to “Keep Smiling.” It’s not as easy as it sounds – you’ll need to stretch your lips to the extreme to keep the video playing.
The scene you’ll be rewarded with features a masked police officer named Joel, who is cursed by the Smile Entity. He goes on a violent rampage, gutting criminals with a knife and engaging in a deadly shootout. If watching blood and gore with a smile on your face isn’t your cup of tea, there’s a workaround. Simply take a selfie with your phone and hold it up to your webcam – the site will recognize it as a legitimate smile and allow you to watch the scene without the physical strain.
Paramount Pictures’ unique marketing strategy has been a hit, with the Smile promo going viral online. The film, directed by Parker Finn, has already raked in over $100 million globally since its release on October 18th. With the success of the franchise, it looks like fans can expect more creepy content in the future.
So, if you’re a fan of horror movies and don’t mind putting on a creepy smile, head over to the website and watch Smile 2 for free – just remember to keep smiling!
