2AM: The Smiling Man (2013) User Reviews

Creepypastas are awesome

[DogFilmCritic · 7/10 · 9 October 2016]

I've become a fan of creepy pastas as they are the new urban legends or should I say there roots come from urban legends and myths. To me they are interesting and intense storytelling's as you keep digging for more. The Smiling Man being one of the oldest ones as I was surprised it was made into a short film and that's the best way to take creepy pastas into a visual mode being short films.

This is the horror that actually scares me. Not some dumb cheap jump scares, blood or crappy slasher mask-guys, but this - unsettling, bizarre, ambiguous eerie and somehow upsetting vision of something that seems to be harmless, yet turns into horrifying nightmare.

I hope I see more creepy pastas taken into short films or an anthology film featuring various popular stories.

starts off feeling rather silly but soon becomes much more intense and creepy

[framptonhollis · 5/10 · 10 October 2017]

I am aware that this is based on some sort of creepypasta- internet-related type thing, but, when completely separated from all that, this is an extremely effective, if extremely brief horror short. The running time is slim and the creepiness is aplenty; the best way to create horror is to, at first, create some sort of mystery, and allow the mystery to naturally unfold before the real "horror" truly starts kicking, which is what this movie does almost perfectly. It has flaws (the final jumpscare was much less compelling than it wanted to be), but its quality outshines them all and creates a very engaging and quick little horror story that is sure to get even the bravest viewers at least slightly weirded out by its off putting visuals and concept.

Half good, half questionable

[I_Ailurophile · 5/10 · 18 April 2021]

The simple premise is very relatable and enough to cause chills to run down anyone's spine: A man casually walks down an empty street sidewalk, late at night. He sees another person on the sidewalk, dressed a little oddly, and behaving very strangely. It's inherently unnerving, to be alone and faced with a peculiar sight. Exponentially more so if that other person decides to in any way engage with us.

Despite the grabbing uneasiness of the scenario, my suspension of disbelief was immediately tested when I realized that the only thing missing from the short to turn it into an uproarious comedy would have been the overlay of John Philip Sousa's march, "The Liberty Bell." I'm sure the Ministry of Silly Walks would approve of the Smiling Man's whimsical gait.

The fact that '2AM: The smiling man' is one small step away from being the opposite of what is intended doesn't necessarily speak well to its construction. And to that point, I'm torn on whether Matt Hanks' ominous music here lends credibility to the horror short, or is just a hint too overbearing, weakening what it could be without any music at all. I'm also inclined to think the final shot is too much of an "aha!" moment, lessening the impact; the Smiling Man's continous, inexorable approach would have been far more excruciating a conclusion, in my mind.

Still, it's suitably creepy, thanks largely to the off-putting visage that Paul Foltz gives the titular character. The success of this short is in our capability of relating to the "roamer" (Sean Simon), out for a simple stroll when the unexpected sight greets him. Our imaginations run wild, making us secretly dread the next time we have to step outside at night to so much as put out the trash.

I like this well enough. I'm just torn because it also sits on a fine line of nearly falling apart.

Creepy and effective

[Horst_In_Translation · 8/10 · 13 August 2015]

"2AM: The Smiling Man" is a 4-minute horror movie and it does exactly what horror films need to achieve. It will scare you. At least that's what it did for me. We see a young man who is about to return home from a party possibly. Streets are empty as it's 2 am at night. But when he turns around, he sees another man apparently following him. That other guy has like the creepiest smile ever on his face and constantly seems to be looking up to the sky. Paul Foltz did a very nice job there. A bit of a shame to see that he never acted in anything else according to his profile page, but as this film is from only 2 years ago, maybe he will at some point again. Same applies for the writer and director of this film. They did a very fine job here and that last shot with the creepy guy suddenly appearing out of nowhere was expected, yet I hoped it wouldn't happen. Good job from everybody involved. Very atmospheric short film too with the loneliness coming from the empty streets and the music being a perfect choice too. Thumbs up!

a real good horror

[Kirpianuscus · 28 February 2018]

Ambiguity, an urban legend, suggestion and the precise levels of story. and the impact. that is all for a real interesting horror. this film is a brilliant example. because the story is more important than CGI or tones of blood. because the simplicity is the key for explore the fear in precise manner. because all is like a trammel. working in real admirable manner in this case.

Amazing

[bigbam-15394 · 9/10 · 31 August 2019]

Brilliant, simple, and straight to the point. This was great and it left me with fear chills. I actually had a few nightmares for a week after watching this. This was an extraordinary short film, and the actors were great.

Creepy, Simple, Effective

[timothygartin · 8/10 · 29 October 2019]

This is a super simple story. A man encounters a disturbing man while walking at night. The acting is wonderful for both characters. The story is short, but the perfect length.

The best part is the creepy, menacing nature of the smiling man. I highly recommend this one for fans of short horror. A classic.