Emeka does not watch scary movies. His friends know. Anytime they want to watch horror, Emeka will say he has headache.
But last Saturday, NEPA took light, fuel finished for gen. Everybody was in parlour with torch. His cousin said let's watch film on laptop, battery was 50%. Emeka said okay.
Cousin brought one movie. Old film. No popular actors. Title was just "Smile". Emeka thought it's love film.
First scene was a girl in an office. She was smiling too much. Like forced smile. Camera was just facing her. She was smiling and tears were coming down her eyes. No sound. Just smile.
Cousin laughed. Emeka did not laugh.
Next scene, another man was in his car. Same smile. Wide, unnatural. Eyes open. Inside the car, at night. Someone was knocking on his window but he was still smiling.
That was when Emeka felt cold.
The film had no jumpscare. No ghost. Just people smiling when they should be crying, when they should be running. And each person that smiled, after some minutes, something bad happened to them but camera would not show it. You will just hear.
The laptop battery showed 10%. The parlor became very dark except the laptop light. All their faces looked somehow.
Emeka stood up. He said he wants to go and drink water. But he went to his room and locked door. He could still hear the film playing in parlor. That strange silent smile music.
Emeka did not sleep that night. Every time he closed eyes, he was seeing that first girl, still smiling.
Some scary movies don't need ghost. Just a smile in wrong place is enough.
image source AI