REVIEW: “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come” (2026)

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Released in 2019, “Ready or Not” became a surprising success story that year. Fox Searchlight Pictures distributed the horror comedy thriller, giving it a wide release in theaters. The film proved to be a smart investment, earning $58 million despite only costing $6 million to make. Critics also loved it, and many immediately called it a future cult classic.

Honestly, after how much of a hit the first movie was, I was shocked to see a sequel happen – but delighted! Thankfully, “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come” brings back the team that made the original so great: directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, and writers Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy. But the real win? Samara Weaving is back as Grace MacCaullay, the incredibly resourceful bride who somehow survived the Le Domas family’s terrifying game. She is the heart of this story, and I’m thrilled she’s returning.

“Ready or Not 2” continues the story right after the first movie ended. The film begins immediately following a chaotic wedding ceremony where Grace (Weaving) collapses, covered in blood after a violent confrontation with her in-laws. She’s taken to a hospital, where she’s visited by her sister, Faith (Kathryn Newton), and the two quickly begin to argue about their complicated past.

Unbeknownst to the sisters, the Le Domas family was part of a larger, international cult of wealthy followers of Le Bail. Their deaths have created a power vacuum within the cult’s leadership. Now, the heads of the five remaining families are gathering at the luxurious Danforth estate in Newport, Rhode Island, all competing to become the new leader. The way to win control is to kill Grace, and by extension Faith, in another deadly game of Hide-and-Seek.

Grace and Faith are kidnapped and taken to the Danforth mansion, where they meet a group of arrogant and ruthless hunters. This group includes the controlling Ursula Danforth (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and her reckless brother, Titus (Shawn Hatosy), along with the arrogant Ignacio El Caido (Néstor Carbonell), the deceitful Wan Chen Xing (Olivia Cheng), and the carefree Viraj Rajan (Nadeem Umar-Khitab).

There’s a strict set of rules that Le Bail enforces very seriously, and breaking them leads to unpleasant consequences. These rules are explained by a strange lawyer working for Le Bail, played by a delightful Elijah Wood, and there are many of them. Often, the explanations are lengthy and feel forced, or the rules appear suddenly just to move the story forward. Ultimately, the central challenge remains the same: Grace and Faith need to make it until sunrise to survive.

“Ready or Not 2” largely delivers more of what you’d expect – intense, gory action, but this time in a new location with different antagonists. The directors continue to revel in the over-the-top violence, though the excessive and often unnecessary use of profanity feels forced and detracts from the experience. The film attempts to expand on the story’s background, but these additions aren’t particularly engaging.

“Ready or Not 2” delivers more of everything from the first film – the violence, the backstory, and the strong language – but it’s less funny and predictable. Despite strong performances from Samara Weaving and Adam Newton, the movie can be frustrating to watch. While the deaths are sometimes entertaining and the film has a silly side, it doesn’t really offer anything new or worthwhile. Ultimately, the main character, Grace, might have been better off staying put at the Le Domas estate.

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2026-03-23 17:57