Meeting your in-laws can be scary— introducing yourself, planning family dinners…or trying to survive a murderous game of hide-and-seek as your new family tries to sacrifice you to the devil.
At its release in 2019, the horror-thriller “Ready or Not” made quite the splash as a respectable addition to the ever-growing “Eat the Rich” film collection. Horror films are known to reflect some cultural discussion, so having a film about the ultrawealthy in the 21st century is not only fitting, but just as scary as the real-world struggles that inspired it.
“Ready or Not” follows newlywed Grace, who must play a game with her new family on the night of her wedding. Only this isn’t a typical family game night, as she soon realizes— her in-laws turn out to be satanists hunting her as a sacrifice to keep their family bloodline alive and wealthy. She has to survive until midnight to win the game, and she does. Only, just as she thinks she’s in the clear, “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come” picks up where we left off, and as it turns out, the game is far from over.
The game must go on…
A unique twist to this bloody sequel is that we pick up mere moments after Grace’s victory in the first film. She sits in her blood-soaked wedding gown on the steps of her ex-family’s estate as it goes up in flames, smoking a cigarette and waiting for the paramedics to arrive. Quickly, she’s whisked away to the hospital to be treated for her (quite severe) injuries and wakes to find herself handcuffed to her hospital bed. Not only has she had to fight for her life, but now she’s being blamed for the deaths of her deceased satanic in-laws. Luckily for us, we aren’t in a court drama. Unluckily for Grace, she finds herself once again taken hostage — along with her estranged sister, Faith — by a group of other rich, satanic families.
The devil, called Mr LeBail, humorously has a lawyer (Elijah Wood) who explains that each family holds a seat in this group of elitist satanists. Since Grace eliminated one, the high seat— the all-powerful leader — is up for grabs. Now the remaining four families are hunting Grace and Faith, and they must figure out a way to survive until midnight yet again.
The movie heavily expands upon the lore mentioned in the first, and does so in a way that’s easily digestible and comical. Without seeing the first, one could watch “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come” and be able to enjoy it on its own, as long as the viewer is okay with a story beginning in medias res.
A standout about the original “Ready or Not” was its well-thought-out plot and character reactions. While in a world of rich satanists, Grace acts as realistically as one would imagine, given the scenario. She feels shock and horror, but her survival instincts quickly kick in, and she makes decisions that feel relatable and real. So many other slashers focus on final girls running and hiding, but Grace relies on her intelligence and determination, making her a great 21st-century final girl. This continues on through “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come”, this time with Faith displaying the same capability that is refreshing to see in female characters. They are not helpless and hesitant, but fight back and make the decisions you hope they will.
What’s a game night without a few laughs?
As one can imagine, a movie about playing a fatal game of hide-and-seek and rich people literally exploding if they fail to appease the devil is meant to be humorous. After all, what family game night doesn’t incite a few laughs?
We get siblings bickering at each other, a jealous ex-fiance making a scene, made-up boyfriends, and, of course, Grace adopting a goat to save it from being sacrificed. It’s filled with bizarre moments and one-liners, notably Grace asking her hunters, “Can I have a cigarette?” as if there aren’t more important things going on.
It also pokes fun at how out of touch the rich can be. One of the first scenes we get with one of these families shows the patriarch of the Danforth’s family making a call and ending a war in two seconds. It’s dramatized to show how easily the rich could make a change if they tried, but ultimately, they prefer to make a profit instead.
A bloody good time
Although a comedy, “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come” certainly doesn’t evade its horror roots. It’s a slasher at its core and makes sure to hold up to the genre’s expectations in every way possible with intense fight scenes, surprising weapons, plot twists, and the bloody demise of evil characters. With four families hunting her down, you never know who’s lurking around the corner, leaving the audience half as certain and twice as on edge.
Unlike popular slashers such as “Scream” and “Halloween”, there’s no hiding behind a mask or having seemingly supernatural abilities. These antagonists are ordinary people, evening the playing field and putting into perspective how inconceivable it is for people to target each other for personal gain. There is no otherworldly explanation for the rich to behave this way, but they do so anyway, out of greed. As a satire, this film is perfectly clear on its stance on wealth and greed, and paints a bigger picture of violence and division that mirrors power structures in our real world.
Standout performances
One element that really makes this movie solid is the cast. Even though it’s quite a big one, each character has their moments that leave an impact on the audience.
Reprising her role as Grace, Samara Weaving has undoubtedly earned her title as a scream queen. She leans into the grit of this character so well, making Grace feel real, strong, and intelligent. Of course, Weaving has mastered her own unique guttural scream, as every scream queen must. It makes its appearance once again in this sequel with just as much rage as the first film.
Kathryn Newton was one of the most exciting additions, being very popular amongst Gen-Z crowds. Starring in films like “Paranormal Activity 4” and “Freaky”, she’s no stranger to horror or comedy, and it paid off in her portrayal as the fiery and loyal younger sister, Faith. Having also starred in shows like “Supernatural” and “The Society”, Newton has solidified her mastery of these genres and is a scream queen in the making. She brought so much humor to the role of Faith and had undeniable sister energy with Weaving, making her the perfect choice to co-lead this sequel.
Other notable cast members include Elijah Wood, once again in a role regarding an all-powerful ring, and Sarah Michelle Gellar, known for her various roles in thrillers.
A Twist on Sibling Rivalries
While the movie is focused on survival and rivalries, it somehow has clear character arcs for not only the sister duo but also twins Titus (Shawn Hatosy) and Ursula (Sarah Michelle Gellar). We get to see Titus transform from a reluctant hunter to a hauntingly desensitized villain, while Ursula has the opposite trajectory. While she’s often cruel and demanding towards her brother, she becomes fearful and hesitant. The twins occupied the role of the main antagonists of this film. It’s always impressive if a film can show a character arc in its villain, let alone two.
Of course, it works especially well in a movie led by siblings to have an opposing pair of siblings to be contrasted with. As the Danforth twins have a falling out, we see Grace and Faith come together and heal their relationship. While they previously were on bad terms, navigating life and death seemingly puts things in perspective for them, and we get to see a heart-to-heart that works perfectly in a movie surrounding a family. After two films, it’s Grace’s own blood that sticks by her side through her ups and downs, which allows for a beautiful display of sisterhood between women.
Is it worth the watch?
“Ready or Not 2: Here I Come” is a clever sequel in a sea of horror films that have been released this past year. Its costuming and makeup alone make it visually interesting and prove it’s a successful horror film. Creators Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett put their best foot forward to make this bloody adventure come to life.
While its comedic premise may not be for everyone, the satirical spin on satanic horror and its “Eat the rich” themes make it a fun and timely watch. The representation of true family bonds, sisterhood, and female strength and intelligence are great additions to this genre that may not be as common in other slashers.
Odds are this will be the last instalment in Mr Le Bail’s world of games, given the ending of the film. Horror fans, make sure to see it in theaters while you still can!
