Alex Magana's "Smiling Woman" films have been getting more elaborate as time has gone on. The series began with two actresses at simple locations (a train station passenger platform at night, a closed public parking garage). With "Smiling Woman 4" and "Smiling Woman 5", the series featured more characters and several different sets, as the Smiling Woman grins her way through a hospital.
Smiling Woman 4 (2021) Starring: Anna Dahl, Felissa Rose, and Michelle Twarowska Director: Alex Magana Rating: Eight of Ten Stars
A mysterious phantom--the Smiling Woman in Yellow--spreads death and terror in a hospital.
"Smiling Woman 4" (which is actually the fifth entry in the series, since the actual #4 was released out of order, something we've fixed with our presentation of the series here at Terror Titans) is step up for Alex Magana. First, the film features an honest-to-God horror movie semi-icon, Felissa Rose and several different sets/locations within a hospital. For the first, time, the Smiling Woman also goes through several victims in one film.
The film follows the same basic pattern as those that have gone before. In some ways, it feels like a small step backwards, because the Smiling Woman in Part Six (the actual Part Four) seemed more interactive than she had been up to this point. On the other hand, it captures the eeriness of what its like being in an building that is bustling with people and activity during the day, but which is empty at night.
Check out one of the most elaborate entry in the "Smiling Woman" series so far, by clicking below. It's another fine effort!
One thing that struck me for the first time while watching "Smiling Woman 4" is that the yellow dress changes with each "incarnation". Why is that? (And if you haven't noticed that the dress changes from victim to victim, just look at the stills used to illustrate the reviews in this post. Anna Dahl and Felissa Rose are wearing different dresses in their respective incarnations as the Smiling Woman.)
I know I shouldn't use the phrase "that makes no sense" about a series of short films where the unifying factor is a spirit that leaps from body to body, but why does the dress change? My first thought was that the dress was what was possessing the victims--in the second film of the series, it's shown that the victim leaves behind whatever clothes she was wearing when she becomes the next Smiling Woman,
so the dress must either morph into a different piece of clothing with each victim... or maybe the previous vessel of the Smiling Woman dissolves into a new yellow dress for the next victim to wear? (This seems to be the most sensible theory, since the detectives and crime scene technicians in "Smiling Woman 6" didn't make any reference to there being two dead bodies at the laundromat, and as you saw in "Smiling Woman 4", there was only one body delivered to the morgue.)
Smiling Woman 5 (2021) Starring: Katy Ford, Felissa Rose, and Jessi Sampogna Director: Alex Magana Rating: Eight of Ten Stars
The entity known as the Smiling Woman continues to claim victims within a hospital.
"Smiling Woman 5" is another excellent, supremely spooky entry in the series. Felissa Rose (as the most recent Smiling Woman) and Katy Ford (as the recuperating patient and next possible victim) both give fine performances--the first being creepy and crazed, and the other confused and frightened. This matches "Smiling Woman 4" in being one of the most horrifying entries in the series, because, like that one, the target of the Smiling Woman ends up in a completely hopeless situation as the end draws near.
This episode also brought another question to my mind: How is it that these films always begin at 1:01am? Up until this point, I thought maybe the Smiling Woman spent the day wandering the city and then settled on her next victim through some unknown (and perhaps even unknowable) means. But as of this entry that theory doesn't seem to work anymore.
Take a look and feel free to share any theories YOU may have about the Smiling Woman in the comments below!
Beginning on October 1--some two short weeks from now--Terror Titans will once again observe the 31 Nights of Halloween. There will be at least one post daily for the entire month of October, most of them featuring a short film along with writen commentary. Will the Smiling Woman make an appearance and claim more victims? As of this writing, that is one of the many unanswered questions that surround this terrifying creature!
Born in 1992, Katy Ford is an up-and-coming actress and model who's this year's 31 Nights of Halloween leading lady, appearing in five different films. You'll see her again in future films, right here at Terror Titans, but in the meantime, Ms. Ford is our only Scream Queen of 2021.
Writer/director Alex Magana has several series of short films going (like the one involving a mysterious, murderous clown that we brought you here and here, earlier during this year's Halloween lead-up.
One of those series involve a "wandering curse" that transfers itself from victim to victim and kills them as they sleep. As of this dark and stormy night, with Halloween right around the corner, two installments have been released. Like Magana's "Clown" series, it leaves me wanting to know more about what's going on and what has brought on where the curse/haunting.
Below are "Don't Fall Asleep" #1 and #2 for you to watch and enjoy. Maybe you, too, will stay awake after watching them. Like most of Magana's other shorts, they are well-paced and technically well-executed in almost every way. (I am starting to wish the soundtracks were a little less overblown, but that could be brought on by having watched a whole bunch of his films in short order. I also have a couple nitpicky problems with the first of tonight's film, but if you don't notice them while watching, then they were indeed not even worth mentioning. Also, any minor failings are in the first film are more than made up with the nice cinematography in the second.)
Don't Fall Asleep (2021)
Starring; Katy Ford, Justin Gubersky, and Olivia Rand
Director: Alex Magana
Rating: Seven of Ten Stars
Don't Fall Asleep 2
Starring: Justin Gubersky, Linda Paice, Katy Ford, and Olivia Rand
A mysterious clown (Ford) pays a late-night visit to a traveler (Torres).
"The Clown 2" is not so much a short film as a vignette; we have a beginning, but we don't get much of a middle and there's certainly no end to speak of here. However, like the majority of the mini-chillers that writer/director Alex Magana has created it's got a perfectly paced, dream-like atmosphere, features excellent sound design, and is beautifully shot and lit, but in this case, I wanted more.
Perhaps it's because it's a sequel, but I found myself wanting to know more about Katy Ford's clown. The first installment in this series had the clown in a "monster under the bed" sort of function, but that's not the case here. Maybe it's just the writer and game designer in me, but I really want more insight into the "why" of the victims that the ghostly personage preys upon. I have appreciated the "just because" dream-logic in many of Magana's films, but what we have here is so interesting that we need more of an explanation.
A very cool feature is also the fact that the clown is female. I don't think we see very many of those in these sorts of short horror films.
Check out "The Clown 2" by clicking below. I think you'll like it. (And keep an eye out for more from Alex Magana and the lovely Katy Ford as we count down the 31 Nights of Halloween.)
(You can see the first "The Clown" installment here.)
Everyone loves a clown. Except when it's the Monster Under the Bed playing dress-up for the 31 Nights of Halloween.
"The Clown" is the first of several chillers from writer/director Alex Magana we'll be featuring during this year's fright festival. Here's hoping they'll get you in the Halloween spirit!
The Clown (2021) Starring: Tatiana Juarez, Alejandro Oviedo, and Katy Ford
Director: Alex Magana
Rating: Eight of Ten Stars
Nice cinematography, good sound design, and perfect pacing add up to make this great viewing!
Beginning tomorrow, and running through the end of October, we're going to feature short films, artwork, and music videos that will get you in the proper spirit for the big night on the 31st! This will be the seventh year in a row we've done this... and we hope you'll join us each and every night!
As a warm-up, we're presenting a cautionary tale from writer/director Alex Magana whose work is an anchor-point of this year's celebration; there'll be at least one film by him each week for the month. Similarly, tonight's star Katy Ford will also make several appearances.
Enjoy! And please take consider tonight's story a warning to not be stupid. We want all visitors to Terror Titans to remain safe during the 31 Nights of Halloween!
