Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come

When Samara Weaving’s blood-soaked Grace lit a cigarette at the end of 2019’s Ready Or Not, having dispatched a mansion-full of exploding elites, it was easy to cement Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s film as a modern horror classic. Debuting an iconic scream queen (with one hell of a scream), its wicked original premise — what if you found yourself in a deadly hunting ritual on your wedding night? — made for a giddily feel-good eat-the-rich slasher romp.

Now, having reinvigorated the Scream franchise, the directing team known as Radio Silence return to their own creation, doubling down on the game of hide-and-seek for a sequel that expands the mythology, John Wick-style. While this game feels a little too familiar on a second go-around, when all the pieces are in play, this is still a fun, blood-splattered ride.

The film shines most when these murderous toffs fight among themselves, the script sparkling with its snotty one-liners.

The film mostly succeeds at bringing a new bunch of hateful aristocrats up against Grace. From a vengeance-filled ex-fiancée to a trigger-happy millionaire, the eclectic characters that fill Ready Or Not 2 are what keep it ticking along at a breakneck pace. The film shines most when these murderous toffs fight among themselves, the script sparkling with its snotty one-liners. In a sequel that can feel familiar, it’s an element that adds a sprinkle of freshness.

The best of the new bunch is the note-perfect casting of Elijah Wood as a softly spoken lawyer who floats through the film generating a ton of laughs. He’s clearly having a ball as someone who has no skin in the game but has to lay down the rules. Elsewhere, the most prominent addition is Kathryn Newton as Grace’s sister Faith, in a role that largely gets by on pure charm. She’s a welcome presence, with Newton and Weaving bouncing off each other well, but she never really finds her place in the story beyond being someone for Grace to protect. Perhaps most disappointing is the underuse of legendary slayer Sarah Michelle Gellar, her performance having bite but very little to chew on.

Where the first film’s final act descended into cathartic, fist-pumping levels of gonzo mayhem, its sequel doesn’t have the same ace up its sleeve, opting instead for a largely unsurprising climax. However, there’s still a mid-film showstopper here in the form of a wedding ballroom fight, with violence and comedy firing on all cylinders, showcasing the force that is Samara Weaving. Witnessing two women attempting to tear each other apart to the beautiful vocals of Bonnie Tyler — oh, and there’s also a bazooka — is bonkers, but encapsulates everything that makes this series so enjoyable.