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Horror film fans have been lured into checking out a new film by the “clever” casting of an actor whose father is a well-known Oscar winner.

The film in question is Smile 2which is a successor to the sleeper hit released in 2022.

Written and directed by Parker Finn, the first film starred Sosie Bacon as a therapist who believes she is experiencing supernatural powers after witnessing the suicide of her patient, who smiled menacingly before her death.

Smile 2 With the exception of Kyle Gallner, an entirely new cast stars Naomi Scott, with Naomi Scott playing a pop singer who goes through the same experience as Bacon's character in the first film.

Just like SmileIn the film, which starred the daughter of film star Kevin Bacon, the sequel will also star the descendant of a fairly recognizable individual, whose face has been plastered on an eerie new poster for the film, described by fans as ” “genius”.

In the poster, the actor is seen with a menacing smile – and that makes people look twice.

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This is due to the fact that it bears a striking resemblance to the smile depicted in the promotional materials for Stanely Kubrick's 1980 film The shining one.

The actor in question is Ray Nicholson, the son of The shining one Lead actor Jack Nicholson.

The decision to put Ray on the poster was called a “genius” move by fans, with one person writing: “This really is a great casting.”

Another person added: “I'm not going to lie. I saw this and immediately thought, “That guy kinda looks like Jack Nicholson.” Now I know why and I'm blown away,” and another chimed in on X/Twitter: “Oh he definitely looks like his dad The shining one. Great.”

Others said that even though they weren't a fan of the original, they were now excited to see the film.

@_JonathanNotJon posted: “Smart marketing by the people doing it Smile 2. Using Jack Nicholson's son on the movie poster and making a face that eerily resembles his father's trademark scowl? “I was so fascinated by it that I’m watching it now, even though I hated the first film.”

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“Whoever came up with this brilliant casting stunt deserves a raise,” another person wrote.

Ray, 32, is the son of Jack and former actress and model Rebecca Broussard. His other credits include: Promising young woman, Out of the blue and TV series panic. Three-time Oscar winner Jack, 87, has six children with five wives.

In conversation with deadline At the premiere, Ray said of his father: “We are very different people. I was born in 1992, he was born in 1937. The things that affect me don't necessarily affect him. Obviously I love him. He is my inspiration. I had dinner with him every night. I studied it, that's how I learned to be human. So of course we’re going to be somewhat similar.”

He continued, “As far as the conversation goes, if he ever told me something, I probably wouldn't investigate it myself because I'd be like, 'You're the best, of course, that's true' and it might not work for me.” I love him. He is also my hero. I’m the happiest kid in the world.”

Smile 2 hits theaters on October 18th.