Podcast Summary: Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present

Episode: Deep Cuts Horror Hit List #8 – “Smile”
Date: October 24, 2025
Hosts: Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts

Overview

In this special Halloween countdown series, Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes spotlight entry number eight on their horror movie hit list: Smile (2022). The duo dives deep into what makes this psychological horror film so uniquely unsettling, discussing its standout performances, box office success, critical reception, and whether it’s really about trauma—or just pure supernatural creepiness. They also debate audience interpretations, the film's infamous imagery, and, as always, offer their signature food and drink pairings for the perfect scary movie night.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introducing "Smile" – A New Classic

• Smile is the most recent film on this year’s list, released in 2022.

• Notably stars Sosie Bacon (daughter of Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick), who delivers a chilling performance.

• Already spawned a sequel, which both hosts recommend for fans of the original

  “I think after you watch this, you're going to want to race out and see Smile 2 because it picks up right where this one leaves off.” – Amy (06:34)

• Synopsis:
  After witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient, psychiatrist Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon) begins experiencing inexplicable, terrifying events and must confront her past in order to survive (05:20).

Box Office & Industry Reception

• Smile performed exceptionally well—$106M domestic, $111M international, for a total of $217M.

• Rotten Tomatoes scores: Critics – 80%, Audience – 77% (08:04).

• Hosts note that, for a nearly two-hour horror film, the pacing keeps viewers engaged throughout:

  “It's an hour and 56 minutes. But I have to tell you, it is so, so entertaining. It flies by.” – Amy (04:14)
  “This is a two hour horror movie and those are few and far between.” – TJ (04:45)

The 'Smile' Itself & Its Unsettling Power

• The movie’s core unnerving premise—the sinister smile—gets less attention in official summaries, but it’s what stuck with both hosts:

  “It's so interesting that they don't talk about the smile… about the sinister nature of someone smiling at you, but with mal intent.” – Amy (05:43)
  “We knew we were going to see this because it's the young lady on all the movie art who has a very sinister smile on her face.” – TJ (06:00)

• The “smile” imagery is cited as the main factor that sets the movie apart and creates lasting discomfort:

  “When I closed my eyes at night, I could see it and it would scare me. Like, it’s hard to get an image like that out of your head.” – Amy (14:58)

Cast & Crew Highlights

• Sosie Bacon stands out for her performance.
• Supporting cast: Jesse T. Usher, Kyle Gallner (“You know his face… he is a hell of an actor.” – TJ, 07:19), Kal Penn (“Another small but very significant role.” – TJ, 15:52)
• Director: Parker Finn; Smile was expanded from his short film (08:04).

Themes, Interpretations & Criticism

• The film has been interpreted as an exploration of trauma and survivor’s guilt, but Amy disagrees:

  “I didn’t really feel like the film was dealing with survivor's guilt.” – Amy (10:28)
  “No, I never ever considered anything other than something supernatural and scary.” – Amy (12:41)

• Both hosts are amused and slightly perplexed by critics wanting “serious” trauma exploration from a supernatural horror film:

  “They seem to be looking for something serious, but then they don’t also realize it’s a horror movie, so we have to do a twist on it.” – TJ (11:00)

Critical & Audience Reception

• The duo shares and debates critics’ and audience reviews—both positive and negative:

  • Some negative feedback on clichés and the use of jump scares
  • Some praise for its unique concept and psychological horror
  • Audience experiences range from “the first horror film to truly, genuinely scare me” (14:19) to “stressful and boring” (12:48).
  • Notable reviews:

    “Not enough smiling, way too long between people smiling. Creepy smiles.” (12:18)

• TJ and Amy emphasize the movie's effectiveness despite mixed reviews:

  “The performances in this are off the charts.” – TJ (15:30)
  “It scared me in a way I have not been scared in a while with that creepy scare. … When I closed my eyes at night, I could see it and it would scare me.” – Amy (14:58)

Who Is "Smile" For?

Recommend to:

• Fans of supernatural, psychological horror that lingers
• Viewers who enjoyed It Follows or films like Fallen (with Denzel Washington) (24:00)
• Anyone seeking a group watch experience (“I would not watch this alone…I do think this could be a fun group setting” – Amy, 25:17)

Not for:

• Anyone seeking comic relief—there are no light moments, not even from comic actors like Kal Penn (25:07)
• Viewers easily disturbed by haunting, possession, or disturbing imagery
• Those unwilling to be unsettled or "squint or cover your face" (23:21)

Food & Drink Pairings (For Your ‘Smile’ Watch Party)

Amy’s inspired suggestions:

• No red wine (“You don’t want anything staining your teeth or in your teeth. So no red wine. Completely out.” – Amy, 25:51)
• Stick with white wine, champagne, or beer
• Crudités platter (“Celery, carrots…keep your teeth white and clean”) (25:51)
• Cheese plate, grapes—avoid berries to prevent teeth stains
• Recall to “Moose Crunch popcorn” as a classic horror snack (26:38)

Notable Quotes

• “It is up there because it scared me in a way that I have not been scared in a while with that creepy scare.” – Amy (14:58)
• “The only way you can break this curse is if you gotta kill somebody or you have to die. Just that idea…what do you do?” – TJ (15:30)
• “This is a horror drama thriller. It’s not…there’s no comedy in it. That’s a really good point.” – Amy (25:07)
• “Smile is an incredibly creepy and overall unsettling horror film…with deeper meaning to the story of what happens when someone witnesses a truly horrifying trauma.” – Audience Review, read by TJ (12:22)
• “Smile is the first horror film to truly, genuinely scare me.” – Audience Review (14:19)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Movie Introduction & Background – 04:14–06:59
• Cast & Crew, Box Office – 06:59–08:18
• Critical Reception & Critics Consensus – 08:18–09:14
• Debating Trauma vs. Supernatural Themes – 10:13–12:41
• Audience Reviews: Praise & Critique – 12:41–14:19
• Why It's On Their List (Personal Impact) – 14:58–15:52
• Comparison to Other Films, Group Watch Recommendations – 23:34–24:42
• Food & Drink Pairings – 25:51–26:38
• Teasing the Next Entry in the Hit List – 27:07–27:23

Conclusion

Amy and TJ crown Smile as a modern horror essential—unique, unsettling, and visually memorable, earning its place at number eight on their list. They highly recommend it for any Halloween watch party but warn: this isn’t for the faint of heart or those who need comedic breaks in their scares.
Smile leaves a lasting impression—just make sure to keep your teeth white!