Ring
1998Japan★ 7.16 pt match
What ties these together is paranoia, feeling powerless, and grief. Both circle the same ground: family wounds passed down. The feel is the same: haunting, bleak, slow burn, and escalating.
Smile
2022USALanguage: EnglishDirected by Parker Finn★ 6.7
After witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient, Dr. Rose Cotter starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can't explain.
Themes and style
Tone
bleakhauntingtensecold and detached
Pacing
slow burnescalating
Story
survivalinvestigationunraveling
Emotion
griefparanoiafeeling powerlessfiguring out who you areguiltloss of innocence
Themes
corrupt institutionsfamily wounds passed down
Feel
exhaustingquietly hauntingdiscussion startergut punch
Violence
graphicWhere to watch
Hulu(subscription)Paramount Plus Premium(subscription)Paramount Plus Essential(subscription)Paramount+ Amazon Channel(subscription)Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel(subscription)Amazon Video(rent)Apple TV Store(rent)Google Play Movies(rent)YouTube(rent)Fandango At Home(rent)JustWatch TV(rent)Plex(rent)
Foreign films like Smile
These foreign films share the same emotional core, themes, and structural feel as Smile. Every one of them has confirmed English subtitles or dubbing.
The Wailing
2016South Korea★ 7.44 pt match
Both films sit with paranoia, feeling powerless, and grief. Both circle the same ground: family wounds passed down and corrupt institutions. Same energy: bleak, haunting, slow burn, and escalating.
Ghost Mansion
2021South Korea★ 7.24 pt match
Like Smile, this one is rooted in paranoia, loss of innocence, and figuring out who you are. The world both films live in revolves around family wounds passed down. Both move the same way too, haunting and slow burn.
Evil Eye
2022Mexico★ 6.74 pt match
Both films sit with loss of innocence, grief, and paranoia. They share the same lens on family wounds passed down. Same energy: haunting, tense, slow burn, and escalating.
Ju-on: The Grudge
2002Japan★ 6.83.5 pt match
Both films sit with paranoia, feeling powerless, and grief. They share the same lens on family wounds passed down. Same energy: haunting, bleak, slow burn, and escalating.
Huesera: The Bone Woman
2023Mexico★ 5.93.5 pt match
Both films sit with figuring out who you are, grief, and feeling powerless. They share the same lens on family wounds passed down. Same energy: bleak, haunting, slow burn, and escalating.
The Babadook
2014Australia★ 6.53 pt match
Both films sit with grief, paranoia, and feeling powerless. The world both films live in revolves around family wounds passed down. Same energy: bleak, haunting, slow burn, and escalating.
Down a Dark Hall
2018Spain★ 5.53 pt match
Both films sit with figuring out who you are, paranoia, and loss of innocence. They share the same lens on corrupt institutions and family wounds passed down. Same energy: haunting, tense, slow burn, and escalating.