Few things beat a truly entertaining horror film where all the elements converge to create a masterpiece far greater than the sum of its individual parts. A clear premise, a compelling scream queen, genuine surprises, and a touch of self-awareness often go a long way, as demonstrated by the original Ready or Not. For reasons that remain unclear, fans endured an unreasonably long wait for the sequel. However, after a seven-year hiatus, the horror directing duo, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, have finally presented us with its premiere.
The new story picks up precisely where its predecessor left off, reintroducing us to a distraught Grace Le Domas (or perhaps MacCaullay once more?), who stumbles out of the burning mansion where the deadly game of hide-and-seek concluded in the first film. The challenge of explaining the night’s events to the police and her extended family quickly becomes apparent, especially with the arrival of Grace’s sister, Faith MacCaullay, portrayed by Kathryn Newton. Faith brings a much more optimistic personality to the screen. Their shared history is clearly fraught with betrayal and conflict, but they have little time to resolve their issues before finding themselves thrust into a fresh, terrifying series of games.
To justify the continuation of the narrative after Grace’s undeniable victory in the first movie, the sequel constructs a somewhat larger universe around the original story. The stakes are significantly higher this time, as a new, vibrant group of satanic conspirators emerges, determined to eliminate Grace in their pursuit of greater power.
I’m not entirely convinced that Ready or Not 2: Here I Come truly benefits from expanding its previously tight and contained narrative into a grander, more global conspiracy. Fortunately, this broadened scope doesn’t detract excessively from the film’s core appeal. This installment is undeniably Samara Weaving’s film; she is, if anything, even better as Grace this time around. She’s also supported by an excellent ensemble cast, with Elijah Wood and Sarah Michelle Gellar particularly deserving praise for roles that seem perfectly tailored to their talents.
It isn’t long before the body count begins to rise with genuinely brutal deaths. Grace finds herself caught in the fray, accompanied by her reluctant sister. The two constantly bicker in an unexpectedly raw, hateful, yet enlivening manner. While this dynamic adds vitality, in some scenes, their vastly different personalities lend a distinct “buddy cop” feel to their interactions.
From this point, the action maintains a relentless pace, delivering a balanced mix of laughs and scares, while the diverse array of colorful antagonists ensures constant variety. However, if I were to pinpoint a weakness, it would be that Grace and Faith escape precarious situations a bit too frequently due to improbable luck or sheer clumsiness. The use of Deus ex machina resolutions has never been a narrative device I particularly favor, and the expanded universe, while adding scale, might diminish some of the original’s contained charm.
Fortunately, the film keeps you on the edge of your seat right up to the credits, offering non-stop action from beginning to end, truly giving viewers their money’s worth. Ultimately, it’s a solid horror film, though I might have appreciated it even more had I not known it had a predecessor that was just a touch more brilliant. I suspect this won’t be the final entry in the series, and the fact that I’d still happily welcome a third installment confirms that this is a film horror fans should definitely check out.