Smile As You Kill, the sophomore feature from writer-director Micahel Sarrow, has a lot on its mind. The thriller deals with mortality, the state of insurance and medical care in the United States, what makes for a good heart-tugging story, and the desperation a medical crisis pushes people into. Is this overly ambitious for an indie second film, or can the filmmaker make his points in an exhilarating, engaging fashion?
Rico (Rey Goyos) has a very rare disease that causes his lungs to “bubble up.” His insurance won’t cover the costly operation necessary to save his life. Desperate and not being the most tech-savvy, Rico breaks into the swanky apartment of a hotshot marketing executive. Said man is Terry (Michael Teh), and Rico forces him at gunpoint to create the best fundraising page ever so he can get the needed $235,000 for the surgery to save his life. But Rico only has a few days left, meaning the funds need to pour in as soon as possible. Should the money not materialize, what will Rico do to Terry?
“…Rico forces him at gunpoint to create the best fundraising page ever so he can get the needed $235,000 for the surgery…”
Smile As You Kill has a very simple story, at least on the surface. Somebody breaks into a person’s home and forces him to do X in a specified time period. In a broad sense, this has been seen before. But it is the specifics that make this film stand out. What Sarrow says about how insurance views people and the insane prices of medical treatments is relevant and will seemingly be for a good while yet. Without spoiling things, the reason Rico chose Terry as his target makes perfect sense. Terry’s rebuttal to Rico’s points also has truth behind it.
While there are a few other characters who pop in and out, this is a two-hander between Rico and Terry. This means it is imperative that Goyos and Teh share strong chemistry and sell their respective plights and points of view as quickly as possible. To that end, Goyos is remarkable. He makes Rico relatable even when he’s doing things others would never dare. Teh keeps a level head and plays off his co-star very well. Together, these two generate tension, drama, and intrigue as things spiral out of everyone’s control.
Smile As You Kill is a well-produced, well-acted thriller. Its timely themes ensure that it will speak to a wide audience while the twists and turns keep things intriguing. Teh and Goyos are exemplary and are paired perfectly together. Sorrow has something to say and says it very well here.
For more information, visit the official Smile As You Kill site.
"…a well-produced, well-acted thriller."
