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.
