Ready or Not 2: Here I Come Repeats the Same Fatal Error as Glass Onion

Photo: Pief Weyman/Searchlight Pictures

There are striking parallels between Rian Johnson’s clever whodunit Knives Out and the visceral horror-comedy Ready or Not from directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. Both 2019 releases center on a marginalized woman fighting to survive the whims of a wealthy, predatory dynasty. Furthermore, both have spawned sequels featuring fresh ensembles that lean harder into satirical class warfare, though these follow-ups occasionally sacrifice the razor-sharp precision that defined their predecessors.

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come launches immediately after the original’s conclusion. We find the gore-spattered Grace Le Domas (Samara Weaving) catching her breath on the steps of the family estate as authorities descend upon the carnage of her wedding night. By surviving until daybreak, Grace didn’t just cause the Le Domas clan to meet a messy, explosive end—she inadvertently ignited a violent succession crisis among a circle of other elite families, each bound by their own infernal contracts.

Grace’s reprieve is short-lived. After a brief hospital stint where she is reunited with her estranged sister, Faith (Kathryn Newton), the pair is abducted and transported to a remote casino resort to serve as the centerpiece of a new sacrificial ritual. Much like a protagonist in a survival-horror video game, Grace displays a supernatural durability; the horrific wounds from her previous ordeal seem to vanish, replaced by a renewed capacity for primal, defiant screams.

Photo: Pief Weyman/Searchlight Pictures

The first Ready or Not was a brilliant subversion of romantic tropes and slasher archetypes. While that specific element of surprise is gone, screenwriters Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy still excel at portraying the absurdity of elite dysfunction. As various factions hunt the sisters through the casino, their families watch from a luxury penthouse, treating the life-or-death pursuit like a high-stakes spectator sport fueled by cocktails and petty grievances.

A major standout is Elijah Wood as “The Lawyer,” a chillingly composed master of ceremonies who enforces the rules of the Satanic game. His deadpan administrative tone serves as a perfect anchor for the surrounding mayhem. The film is at its strongest when exploring this bureaucratic take on the occult; one wishes the narrative spent more time in this boardroom of horrors rather than focusing on the incompetent assassins below.

The script leans heavily into the friction between Grace and Faith, using them as a counterpoint to the ruthless efficiency of another sibling duo: Ursula (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Titus (Shawn Hatosy) Danforth. Gellar is captivating, wielding a sharp, manipulative charisma, while Hatosy channels a darker version of his role in HBO’s The Pitt, trading gravitas for unhinged physical aggression.

Photo: Pief Weyman/Searchlight Pictures

The lore dictates that the families must use weapons dating back to the era of their original devilish pact, resulting in a fascinating display of antique carnage. Watching Hatosy swing a pickaxe with terrifying fervor is a highlight, as is the internal sabotage between the competing clans. However, one wishes the families spent more time tearing each other apart, allowing Grace to navigate the chaos through wit rather than just sheer “final girl” invincibility.

While it lacks the novel punch of the original, Ready or Not 2 offers moments of pure, deranged brilliance. A fight sequence choreographed to “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and a ritual that captures the gothic camp of Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina stand out as high points. Even if this sequel feels slightly overextended, the franchise remains vital. Should Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett return for a third round, a more streamlined focus would be a welcome addition to the bloody festivities.

Ready or Not 2 arrives in theaters on March 20.

Source: Polygon