[1] The film stars Caitlin Gerard, Melanie Papalia, Shane Dawson, Andrew James Allen, Liza Weil, Roger Bart, and Keith David.

However, Ashley begins experiencing guilt, and believes Smiley is stalking her and intends to kill her, which her friends and a psychiatrist write off as anxious hallucinations and nightmares.

Ashley picks up the gun and orders Proxy to type "I did it for the lulz" three times, hoping to summon and kill Smiley.

It is then revealed that Ashley's classmates, including Proxy, Binder, and the babysitter murdered in the opening, are all part of a fringe group of Anonymous.

[8][9][10] The film played in select AMC theaters throughout the United States, with fans able to request to host screenings of Smiley in their cities via Tugg.

[11] Prior to the film's official theatrical release, Gallagher and his family began receiving threats from people alleging to be from 4chan and Anonymous.

"[12] The validity of these claims were questioned by Cole Strycker, author of Epic Win for Anonymous, who expressed suspicion that Gallagher was trying to use the death threats as a publicity stunt to promote the film.

[18] Bloody Disgusting panned the film, stating that the writers "took a strong, modern idea, over-thought it and turned it into a generic '90s movie that'll have you throwing popcorn at the screen".

[20] Mark Olsen of the Los Angeles Times gave a more positive review, calling the film a "more or less satisfying low-key creeper".