The gore is great in ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come’ but this sequel is slow to seek new ideas

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Samara Weaving is known for her incredibly powerful scream – it’s high-pitched, wild, and intense, like an animal preparing to strike. She only unleashes this scream when her life is in danger. Otherwise, as Grace MacCaullay, a recent bride and widow, she remains silent while being hunted. This strategy allowed her to survive a deadly game of hide-and-seek in the 2019 film “Ready or Not,” and now she’s being forced to play again in the sequel, “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come.”

Picking up immediately after the events of “Halloween II,” the story finds Grace covered in blood and smoking outside the burned-down mansion of her in-laws, the Le Domas family—all of whom are now dead. On what was supposed to be her wedding night, her husband allowed his family to sacrifice her to a demon, hoping to appease Le Bail, a sinister spirit they believed had brought the family its immense wealth. However, the sacrifice failed, and Grace survived.

The first movie hinted the family was a bit eccentric and prone to wild beliefs, then surprisingly revealed the devil was actually real – and prone to violently exploding his followers when upset, like a shaken champagne bottle. While that reveal isn’t entirely shocking anymore, the writers have found that the tension of who will explode, when, and why remains effective. As one actor put it, it’s still surprisingly unsettling. (This and another recent film, “Sirāt,” both use spontaneous human combustion as a dark joke this year.)

This intentionally goofy horror film doesn’t treat anything with much weight, but I did like the moment when Grace, after smoking and fainting, wakes up in the hospital handcuffed to the bed rail. A detective wants to arrest her for arson and murder, and it’s a realistic touch that someone has to be blamed for all the deaths, even if they were the ones targeted.

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The stakes are raised as four wealthy families join the hunt, each trying to be the first to kill Grace. It seems the writers initially considered various competitive games – like dodgeball or tag – but ultimately reused the hide-and-seek premise. The main addition is Grace’s sister, Faith, who’s reluctantly pulled into the dangerous game and blames Grace’s troubled personality for disrupting her life, and there are now more people being hunted.

Chester Danforth, a wealthy and influential businessman played by David Cronenberg, throws a lavish, violent party and puts his adult twin children, Ursula and Titus (Sarah Michelle Gellar and Shawn Hatosy), in charge of the arrangements. Though Cronenberg doesn’t appear in the film for long, his involvement lends it a certain credibility it might not otherwise have. While he’s known for deeply disturbing and emotional horror films, he probably wouldn’t have made this one himself, but he would likely appreciate the impressive special effects, particularly a scene where a face dramatically melts away.

Honestly, the other families chasing Grace and Faith? They’re just these mega-rich, powerful dynasties from all over – the Rajans from London, the El Caídos from Madrid, the Wans from Shanghai – and they all travel with their whole crew. Then you’ve got Wilkinson, a real wildcard from Atlantic City, going after Grace on his own. The idea of a few selfish families secretly running everything isn’t exactly a laugh riot, but it is strangely entertaining to see these cold, heartless people talk about Grace and Faith like they’re objects, and just casually dismiss each other getting killed. It’s like, generation after generation, they’re getting even more entitled and lazy, muttering ‘Hail Satan’ as casually as they’d ask for a martini. It’s a darkly funny detail, really.

The characters aren’t particularly memorable, though there are some visually striking moments. The movie could have been more engaging if we’d learned more about each family’s history. The most interesting idea introduced is that each family must attack Grace and Faith with weapons from the time their ancestors made a deal with the devil. This rule is brought up briefly by Le Bail’s lawyer (Elijah Wood) and then forgotten, but it sparked my imagination – I pictured the Danforths using railroad spikes and Olivia Cheng’s character using a drone to attack.

This show feels chaotic and relies too much on violence without offering a compelling plot or characters. Ironically, the main villain is more trustworthy and consistent in his dealings than his followers, who are often dishonest and receive fitting consequences – exactly as the audience expects.

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Jonathan Hatosy plays Titus, the Danforths’ son who hasn’t lived up to expectations, and he portrays him with a charmingly naive expression. However, Titus is driven to prove himself, making him both unpredictable and a genuine threat – he’s the most complex villain in the film. But Maia Jae as Francesca El Caído, the ex-lover of Grace’s deceased husband, is my favorite character. She arrives with a fierce energy, motivated by both her pride and a tempting offer of power. The chaotic fight scene between Francesca and Grace is the most exciting action sequence.

This isn’t a frightening movie. The directors, known for their work on the “Scream” films, prioritize making you laugh over scaring you. They especially enjoy moments that are both shocking and funny – like showing something gruesome that’s so over-the-top, it makes you chuckle.

However, Grace’s playful, mischievous attitude prevents her from developing a real personality, mostly defining her as simply rebellious. Whenever a scene could allow her a moment of depth, it’s wasted on a pointless, repetitive gag about her constantly trying to find a cigarette.

Fortunately, Weaving brings a powerful scream to the film, and Newton excels at playing characters who can withstand a lot. Though new to this series, Newton is already well-versed in comedic horror, having starred in films like “Freaky,” “Lisa Frankenstein,” and the directors’ previous work, “Abigail.” Her quirky energy allows her to deliver even challenging lines convincingly, and she has a particularly funny moment when she tries to calm the villains by sweetly saying, “You guys seem like good people.”

The rivalry between the sisters has some interesting moments, such as their argument over who had the better job – Grace as a waitress or Faith as a hostess. However, when they’re asked to genuinely express their pain, it feels unnatural, much like the awkward scene where Grace re-wears her blood-stained wedding dress without even cleaning it.

The costume designers deserve praise for a stunning gothic outfit Grace wears in the second half of the film – think black netting and a tiara! It perfectly complements Weaving’s determined expression. Even though parts of this sequel feel predictable, it ends powerfully with some truly memorable images that will stay with you for a while. Without giving anything away, the story becomes much more engaging when it stops focusing on simple games of hiding. A clever twist is really what saves it and makes it worthwhile.

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2026-03-19 20:01