There are a million ways that writer/director Michael Sarrow's Smile as You Kill could have gone wrong. It's a film that demands just the right tone to really work and, somehow, Sarrow largely nails that tone in this psychological crime thriller with wicked dark humor and compelling characters brought vividly to life. The film starts with a scene we've all seen before - a person talking to a camera with an empathy attracting testimony and a desperation to raise enough cash to fund a needed life-saving treatment.
Fortunately, Sarrow doesn't keep things predictable.
Rico Allende (Rey Goyos) is a Latino man burdened by the news he has only a few months to live. There's a treatment available, but Rico doesn't have that kind of cash. Determined to somehow raise it, Rico breaks into the condo of Terry Tanner (Michael Teh), a hotshot advertising director, and at gunpoint commands him to create an online campaign to raise the cash.
Or Terry is going to share his fate.
See what I mean? Smile as You Kill has all kinds of potential and a million ways to go wrong - not too unlike this desperate scenario that unfolds. Dark and funny, quite often simultaneously, Smile as You Kill taps into ethical dilemmas galore and more than a few moral quandaries. Sarrow tells a story that's meaningful and amplifies all the possible conclusions along the way. You think you know what's going to happen, but then you don't quite know. Then you do. Then you don't. Sarrow keeps us guessing and he definitely keeps us watching.
It helps to have two terrific actors in Rey Goyos and Michael Teh, both bringing vibrancy and emotional resonance to Sarrow's sharp and intelligent dialogue. This film absolutely demands a real chemistry between these two and both Goyos and Teh deliver. Smile as You Kill picked up several awards along its indie fest journey before being picked up for distribution by indie distributor X4 Pictures. It's a film available via most streaming platforms and it's definitely worth checking out.
Lensing by Jonathan B. Na is a perfect complement to Sarrow's storytelling with Na's lens nicely weaving together a visual tapestry of thrills and chills, humor and whipsmart dialogue. And yes, lensing is essential to capturing really great dialogue and Na does that quite nicely.
The original score by Gigi Grigorian is also a strong companion for the film and carries with it a focused narrative rhythm that never dominates the film.
Jennifer Prediger offers up a nice turn as Christine, a nosy neighbor who adds a layer of uncertainty to the story and adds to the seemingly endless list of possibilities here.
There's no doubt an emotional foundation to Smile as You Kill. As a film journalist who's survived a couple different types of cancer over the past two years, I could identify with Sarrow's convincing commentary and yet realistic, humane humor even when it gets pitch black.
Oh, and yeah, it gets pitch black at times.
There's a lot to love with Smile as You Kill, a low-budget indie that draws you in and doesn't let you go throughout its 87-minute running time. Behind Sarrow's marvelous storytelling, a talented ensemble cast, and a production crew that truly impresses, Smile as You Kill is an indie film worth tracking down and giving your time.
Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic
