Ready or Not 2: Here I Come – Movie Review (3/5)

READY OR NOT 2: HERE I COME is out in theaters, and if you enjoyed the first one, you should love this sequel. It continues right after the first movie, so rewatching the 2019 hit splatter horror comedy would be wise. This time, Samara Weaving is joined by Kathryn Newton. It’s awesome! Read our full Ready or Not: Here I Come movie review here!

READY OR NOT 2: HERE I COME is the long-awaited sequel to the 2019 hit genre-mix. A solid splatter horror movie with dark comedy and gorgeous slasher elements. If you haven’t rewatched the first movie recently, I would recommend doing so, as this sequel continues the very second after the original story ended. If not, I would at the very least recommend a good recap.

LOOKING FOR A READY OR NOT RECAP?

This one on YouTube is short and to the point, but also covers the key elements >

While I certainly enjoyed the first movie (how couldn’t you?!), I wasn’t blown away by it. Maybe I just expected something different because it absolutely had so much of what I love in my genre-hybrids. In this sequel, Samara Weaving’s “Grace” is joined by her estranged sister “Faith”, portrayed by Kathryn Newton. Now, that was awesome!

Continue reading our Ready or Not: Here I Come movie review below. Find it in US theaters now.

The first movie was wild – the sequel is wilder!

Ready or Not: Here I Come begins just moments after Grace (Samara Weaving) managed to survive the brutal (and very surprising) attack from the Le Domas family. We see her sitting on the steps of the mansion, where she was hunted, beaten, and stabbed for hours, before she managed to make it to dawn and survive.

Once Grace has reached safety in the hospital, she is faced with her estranged sister Faith (Kathryn Newton). There is some very bad blood and extremely hurt feelings between the two. Whether they want it or not, they will have to stick together. Apparently, when Grace, the bride, survived the ordeal, it triggered a new and fascinating article in the diabolical council that controls the entire world.

Now, Grace just needs to make it to midnight (yes, again!), and then she is eligible to claim the High Seat of the Council. With her murderous in-laws, the Le Domas family, out of the picture, Grace will have to survive representatives from the remaining four rival families.

All hunger for the throne that is the High Seat of the Council.

And this time, Grace also needs to keep her sister safe. She has Faith back in her life, but does she also have faith that she can survive yet another ordeal? Remember, she is still badly injured from the events of the previous night.

I’m still a sucker for these ensemble casts

As much as I love the genre movies with fresh faces and unknown talent – both behind the camera and in front of it – I am also a sucker for an ensemble cast. In Ready or Not: Here I Come, we are being treated to having Samara Weaving in the lead yet again. Honestly, I will watch anything she stars in.

From The Babysitter and Guns Akimbo to Borderline and Azrael, Samara Weaving always delivers. Also, I tend to steer directly towards movies with Kathryn Newton (Freaky, Abigail, Lisa Frankenstein) in the cast. Right off the bat, I’m in luck with this cast.

Among the hunting family members, you can look forward to Buffy herself, Sarah Michelle Gellar (Scream 2, I Know What You Did Last Summer). And yes, she will use a stake-like weapon at some point, so look out for that little treat. Also, Shawn Hatosy (The Faculty), Maia Jae (Gen V), and Kevin Durand (Clown in a Cornfield) are among the hunters.

Iconic genre filmmaker David Cronenberg (The Fly) and beloved genre actor Elijah Wood (The Monkey) portray characters who have other roles within the satanic council.

Watch Ready or Not 2: Here I Come in theaters

We’re fortunate that the creators of Ready or Not are back, which means Ready or Not: Here I Come is still directed by the directing duo Radio Silence. This duo, consisting of Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett, ensures that we are brought directly back to the brutal universe of this plot.

With the final moments of that first movie, it was confirmed that this was indeed also a supernatural universe. Not just superstition or tradition, but actual diabolical forces are (and have been) at play in the world of Ready or Not. That’s why the writers have been able to lean even more into this, which I enjoyed.

The script comes from the writers of the first movie, Guy Busick (Scream, Scream VI, Scream 7) and R. Christopher Murphy (Castle Rock). For me, the ending was stronger than the beginning, but don’t you prefer that in any movie? In fact, I really liked everything about the final moments of Ready or Not: Here I Come, so I’m ready for round three. Though I don’t think the main characters are!

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is out in US theaters now.

Details

Directors: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett
Script: Guy Busick & R. Christopher Murphy
Cast: Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, David Cronenberg, Elijah Wood