Smiley Face Killers (film)

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Smiley Face Killers is a 2020 American slasher film directed by Tim Hunter, with a screenplay by Bret Easton Ellis, who also produced the movie. It stars Ronen Rubinstein, Mia Serafino, and Crispin Glover and is loosely based on the Smiley Face murder theory.

Plot in brief:
Two people are murdered by a hooded killer in a white van, with smiley-face graffiti found near the bodies. Jake, a university student, starts receiving a map showing locations of past murders along with creepy texts and photos. His girlfriend Keren worries he’s off his meds, especially as he clashes with her ex, Rob. Jake, with his friend Adam, investigates while the stalker kills Jake’s roommate Devon. Clues point to Rob, but after a party altercation Jake is abducted by the hooded figures; one of them drains his blood. The chaos surrounding Jake’s death leads many to believe he killed Devon. The film ends with the hooded killers targeting another victim.

Production and release:
The project was announced in October 2017, with Rubinstein in the lead and Glover in a supporting role. Tim Hunter directed from a script by Bret Easton Ellis. It was released on December 8, 2020, via video on demand, DVD and Blu-ray. The runtime is 96 minutes.

Reception:
Rotten Tomatoes lists a 44% rating based on nine reviews.

Marketing notes:
Lionsgate released the poster and trailer on October 8, 2020. Actor Ronen Rubinstein later spoke about frustration with the studio’s marketing, and after a brief dispute, marketing assets were returned to Trenton Ryder.