It’s hard to believe that the original Ready or Not debuted in pre-pandemic 2019. With its mix of over-the-top violence and dark humor, it took a familiar theme of a protagonist being hunted and flipped it on its head. To keep the original spoiler free, for those who haven’t seen it, it was a fast and funny romp through a mansion filled with elites, a satanic cult, and a spirit that won’t give up. A film that seemingly was a one and done that never asked itself if there should be a sequel.
Ready or Not 2 : Here I Come Directed again by the Radio Silence team (Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett), begins where the previous film ends. Grace (Samara Weaving), in her blood-soaked wedding dress after surviving, a night filled with terror and dread has finally emerged victorious. Her elation of surviving quickly turns sour when she is arrested for murder and arson.
While chained to her hospital bed her estranged sister Faith (Kathryn Newton) arrives as her only emergency contact. Faith, still feeling betrayed by the abandonment of her sister years early, begrudgingly confronts her about the events that had happened only hours earlier. Their brief reunion is interrupted when both are kidnapped and whisked away to partake in another high-stakes game of survival against the High Council families to determine who will control the world.
Four rival elite families join in on the hunt, to determine who will claim the High Seat of power. The only way to claim the elusive prize is to dispatch Grace (and by extension her sister Faith). Will their sisterly bond be enough to come out victorious again?
Samara Weaving is phenomenal, reprising her role as Grace. Balancing fierce survival instincts with sardonic, weary wit, there are surprisingly more laugh out loud moments than even in the previous film. Kathryn Newton does an outstanding job providing an almost ying and yang balance which keeps the narrative moving even as the chaos escalates.
They are joined by a fantastic cast of new characters including Sarah Michelle Gellar and Shawn Hatosy as the ruthless Danforth siblings, and Elijah Wood in a comically deadpan role as “The Lawyer”.
While it follows a similar “hide and seek” formula to its predecessor, it compensates with bigger set pieces and a faster, more action-oriented pace that makes it a perfect “popcorn flick” for horror-comedy fans.
For fans of the original Ready or Not film, this is another fun and funny jaunt. While seeing the original isn’t a must, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is a direct continuation of the first. I wish I had rewatched the original prior to seeing this film as I think the continuity would have been a benefit here. For those who have seen the original I would recommend watching it again prior to seeing the sequel, particularly for those who are looking for Easter eggs or nods to the first film. Ready or Not 2: Here I come is perfect for those who are looking for a film to escape the real world for a mere hour and 48 minutes.
3.5 out of 5 stars
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