Spoilers ahead.
The sequel to directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s “Ready or Not” was released in theaters March 20. “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come,” starts directly where the first installment leaves us, final girl Grace MacCaullay (Samara Weaving) being rushed to the hospital. It is there that audiences learn she has a younger sister, Faith MacCaullay (Kathryn Newton), whom she had not seen for seven years. Grace MacCaullay survived and won the game in the first movie. In this one, audiences learn she must compete with higher stakes, aka “Double or Nothing.” If she wins, she controls the world. If she loses, she dies, and one of the families trying to kill her gets control.
Building directly on the plot and execution of the first movie, viewers are introduced to a literal “Double of Nothing” round of hide and seek. Of course, with the addition of revenge plots, gore, bloody explosions, psychopaths, comedic timing and satanic cults, “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come” offers an entertaining experience for viewers.
Returning as the lead, Weaving executes a masterful performance of capturing what it feels like to be an angry, traumatized captive in a sick game of torture. Taking a character that went from an innocent bride to a revenge-driven fighter takes great skill. There is no doubt in the viewer’s mind that Grace MacCaullay is a force to be reckoned with.
Newton perfectly matches this dynamic as the younger, jaded and slightly self-centered but good-natured sister. It may take some time to warm up to her, but she proves to be an ally and a fierce defender with the same ingenuity as her sister.
Kidnapped with her sister from the hospital, Faith MacCaullay must also survive until dawn. Viewers then meet the “Four Families,” including the Danforths, Rajans, Wans and the El Caídos. Leading the charge, in hopes of keeping their title as heads of the table, are the Danforths twins Ursula (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Titus (Shawn Hatosy). They take the place of their father, Chester (David Cronenberg), with their cousin Kip (Dan Beirne), staying in the reserves as his cousins lead the charge.
Olivia Cheng plays Chen Xing, head of the billion-dollar tech giants, the Wan family.
Along with son Cheng Fu (Antony Hall), she is called to compete amongst the four families. The Rajan brothers, Madhu (Varun Saranga) and Viraj (Nadeem Umar-Khitab), also answer the call. Less enthused by the idea is Madhu’s wife, Martina (Masa Lizdek), whose minor role adds an interesting dynamic to the family.
All the families compete for the head seat for their own personal stakes, but the El Caído family’s reasoning for wanting to kill Grace MacCaullay is more personal. The El Caído family includes father Ignacio (Nestor Carbonell), son Felipe (Juan Pablo Romero) and daughter Francesca (Maia Jae).
Jae’s character has a personal vendetta against the MacCaullay sisters after being dumped by Daniel Le Domas (Adam Brody) when he got with Weaving’s character.
Elijah Wood's character, known as The Lawyer, oversees the devil’s book. The Lawyer is by far the most well-developed of the side characters due to the sheer understanding Wood has of the character. Wood portrays a character who feels mysteriously evil, yet law-abiding to convey that The Lawyer is more ancient than acknowledged.
The sequel would be more entertaining if it took a larger step into the horror genre. The gothic aesthetic of the final scenes should have been perpetuated throughout the entire film. The stakes felt utterly dire at the end of the movie, and that should have been the case the entire film. Overall, the film was entertaining. However, if looking for a masterpiece, adjust those expectations. This is a popcorn movie meant to give viewers a fun, immersive story. While it could have hit a bit harder in certain areas, it does get that mission across.
RATING: 3.5/5
