The cult hit READY OR NOT from 2019 was a horror comedy that not only had fun riffing on the tropes of the genre, but it managed to satirize Agatha Christie, love stories, and devil worship, all while chomping mightily as it ate the rich. You’ll recall that the plot of it focused on naïve bride Grace (Samara Weaving) whose wedding night is ruined when her eccentric and rich in-laws force her into a terrifying game of Hide & Seek at their mansion. The game is for keeps and if Grace can survive the night, after being hunted by her new husband and his bloodthirsty family, she wins her life and they lose theirs. The big twist is that they’re all Satanists except for Grace and the family has made that deal with the devil himself, here called “Mr. Le Bail.” (As in pay the bail to be set free?) Anyway, after a great deal of cat & mouse, er, hide & seek, as plenty of wounds, blood, and terror are bandied about, Grace won. Those that she didn’t manage to kill then exploded as their punishment from Le Bail. The movie’s last shot showcased Grace lighing up a well-deserved smoke as the in-laws mansion went up in flames behind her.
Now, as Grace awakes in the hospital for the start of READY OR NOT 2: HERE I COME, two equally troubling fates await her. First, she’s about to be arrested on suspicion of murder as her bridal dress is drenched in blood that’s not hers. And second, the game isn’t quite over, as Le Bail’s lawyer (Elijah Wood, adroitly underplaying) shows up to tell her that while she has bested one Satanic family, she must now try and best the other high council families in another game of life & death. They will try to hunt her down and kill her just like the family from the first round did. Still, if Grace can survive this time till morning, she will not only get to go on with her life unharmed, but also become the premiere Satanist and rule all that occurs on planet Earth. (I love the fact that this film has the audacity to assume the Devil is pulling all the strings here. It often feels like it, doesn’t it?)
The one good thing that happens to Grace, though she won’t realize it for at least half the story, is that her emergency contact shows up at the hospital even though it’s her estranged foster sister Faith, played by Kathryn Newton. The delightfully droll young actress is a real plus here as she plays cynicism better than any other actor working these days and is perfect for the nastiness of the material too. Almost immediately, Faith and Grace fall back into their bitchy rivalry and combative tone, having had a falling out seven years prior and being estranged since. (It’s one of the film’s better jokes that Grace forgot to update her emergency contact and is stuck with an outdated and unwanted helper.) But soon, the two gals will have to rely on each other as they’re kidnapped and placed into the new game on the Country Club estate of one of the ruling families.
The fun here lies not only in the crazy oddballs gleefully partaking in such a deadly game, belying their pseudo-elegant one-percent status, but in how the film sets up a new target to slay metaphorically as well. Directors Matt Bettinelli-Opin and Tyler Gillett, along with their screenwriters Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy, gleefully shred the concept of family as there is almost no love or loyalty even within those ranks amongst the ruling class. Of course, Grace and Faith will spend the entire time on the run, hashing over their family squabbles too, but at least they’ll come around. The others are far too selfish and blithe as well.
This film is witty, violent, and the acting across the board finds every laugh in the lurid. Kudos to all the cast, some known, many unknown, including everyone from veteran character actor Nestor Carbonell to Shawn Hatosy from THE PITT to Buffy herself, Sarah Michelle Gellar. Weaver is again playing both vulnerability and stridency with equal aplomb. She and Newton have great chemistry as well. They’re hilarious together, but quite often, moving too. They add just enough seriousness to the proceedings to keep things from going off the rails.
If this Searchlight franchise can deliver an unnecessary sequel that is still worth your time and laughs, then indeed, there are pockets of hope and grace in this crazy world. I’d just make sure that the next sequel brings back Grace and Faith to keep the mirth as worthy as possible.
