Taglines: The Water Wants You.
Smiley Face Killers opens with the abduction and murder of two unrelated victims by a hooded killer in a white van. The only clue linking the murders is the presence of smiley face graffiti near the body. The film then shows Jake, a university student who believes that someone is stalking him, as they have left him a map marking the locations of the prior smiley face murders along with creepy text messages and photos.
His girlfriend Keren is concerned that he is off his psychiatric medication, particularly after he grows jealous of her talking to her ex-boyfriend Rob. Jake relates the strange events to his friend Adam, who theorizes that Rob may be doing them out of jealousy. He begins to investigate the map and messages with more earnest, all the time unaware that the stalker, a mysterious hooded figure, has murdered his roommate Devon.
Jake discovers messages from Rob on Keren’s phone and the two argue, causing her to further worry and assume that his concerns are due to non-compliance with his meds. He continues the fight later when he discovers Rob at a party, during which he pushes Keren. Upset, Jake leaves the party and is swiftly abducted by his stalker and two other hooded figures, one of whom begins to drain his blood.
An attempt to free himself is only momentarily successful and results in the death of a gas station clerk and a group of teenagers who happened to drive up. Jake is then killed by the figures, who dump his body and graffiti a smiley face. Devon’s death is eventually discovered and it’s generally believed that Jake murdered him. The film ends with the hooded figures stalking their next victim.
Smiley Face Killers is a 2020 American slasher film directed by Tim Hunter and written by Bret Easton Ellis, loosely based on the Smiley face murder theory. The film stars Ronen Rubinstein, Mia Serafino, and Crispin Glover.
Smiley Face Killers (2020)
Directed by: Tim Hunter
Starring: Ronen Rubinstein, Mia Serafino, Crispin Glover, Amadeus Serafini, Ashley Rickards, Garrett Coffey, Cody Simpson, Daniel Covin, Gianna DiDonato, Rachel Crowl, Daniel Dannas
Screenplay by: Bret Easton Ellis
Production Design by: Noel Calizo
Cinematography by: Michael Marius Pessah, Jan Wielski
Film Editing by: Kristi Shimek
Costume Design by: Lisa Madonna
Set Decoration by: Heidi Moore
Music by: Kristin Kontrol
MPAA Rating: R for strong bloody horror violence and gore, sexuality, nudity, language throughout and some drug references.
Distributed by: Lionsgate Home Films
Release Date: December 8, 2020
Visits: 18
