Plot: What’s it about?
In 2019, we were treated to one a film that (for me) was pure joy to watch. The name, of course, was Ready or Not and it was directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett who have also given us Abigail and Scream VI. I think they’ve established a theme. Back to this film’s predecessor – the concept was simple (and I’ll assume if you’re reading this, then the first one has been viewed – if not, I’d stop reading now): Grace (Samara Weaving) was set to marry into a wealthy family that had made its name by selling games. As part of a ritual, they play a game before the wedding but it just so happened that the game chosen was hide and seek. The family then had to find Grace before dawn else they, well, die. Given that the first shot of this movie is the last shot of that one, I’ll leave it to you to figure out how that went. Alas, here we are several years later and in the vein of Halloween II, the story continues. Ready or not…
We meet Grace (Samara Weaving) as she finds that the game isn’t over. She’s just seen her future family splattered over the walls of their estate, but as a mysterious lawyer (Elijah Wood) explains “it’s not over.” Her “victory” has triggered a higher level of the game that brings together members of the world’s most powerful devil-worshiping families from around the world. And if she survives until dawn, she wins. Again. The flip side to this coin is that she’s being hunted by a pair of psychotic siblings: Ursula and Titus (Sarah Michelle Gellar and Shawn Hatosy respectively) who, if they manage to kill her, will gain “high seat” within the council/cult. And to add fuel to the fire Grace’s sister, Faith (Kathryn Newton) has shown up at the wrong time and is now forced to play it with her sister. The question we have to ask ourselves is, of course, who will live and who won’t?
All of the right elements are in place and provide nearly as much entertainment as the original. But, as is so often the case with sequels, there’s that sense of familiarity that takes some of the allure away from the viewer. It’s not horrible by any means, just a bit more predictable. But the cast of characters assembled does make for a very wild ride. The first took place within the confines of a mansion, this one has a broader scope with the group running amok on the grounds of a casino resort. Nevertheless, it’s Sarah Michelle Gellar and Shawn Hatosy that manage to steal the show all while providing us with 108 minutes of entertainment. And if anyone was wondering, yes we do get to hear that blood-curling scream that Weaving is so famous for.
Video: How’s it look?
As I alluded to above, the sense of claustrophobia isn’t as pronounced as it was in the first installment. There’s no hiding in an elevator shaft, behind the bed and so forth. This one give us much more room to work within and it also takes place, you guessed it, during the day. Nevertheless, the 2.39:1 image is simply glorious in every sense of the word. I think I speak for us all when I say that when a body explodes, we’ll want it in the utmost picture quality. Be it the reds of human organ remains or the shadows that come around later in the film, everything is spot on perfect from opening scene to end. Strong contrast, detail, colors – you name it, it looks stunning.
Audio: How’s it sound?
My wife and I had recently rewatched the original and were both taken aback by Samantha Weaving’s scream. It seems to hit octaves that I didn’t know the human body was capable of producing. At any rate, if you liked it – there’s more in this one and if not, ignore it. Suffice it to say that the Dolby Atmos track pulls no punches when it comes do dynamic audio. Surrounds are constantly humming along, the front stage is adding fuel to that fire as well and the LFE don’t miss a beat giving us some “oopmh” to balance everything out. It’s everything a horror film should be from an audiophile perspective. And it’s oh so enjoyable.
Supplements: What are the extras?
- Audio Commentary – Directors / executive producers Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, Samara Weaving, and Kathryn Newton combine on this track, though Olipn and Gillett do tend to take the lion’s share of the track. Fun facts and figures are shared making this the preferable track of the two offered.
- Audio Commentary – Directors / executive producers Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, executive producers / writers Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy, producers James Vanderbilt and Tripp Vinson, and editor Jay Prychidny are part of this “crowded house” that makes up the film’s second track. Having listened to the first, there’s a lot of repetition here, but if you’re going to listen to just one track – it should be the first.
- The Game Goes On: The Making of Ready or Not 2 – A 4-part behind-the-scenes featurette featuring filmmakers, talent, design and the practical effects.
- Part 1: Written in Blood – The directors and cast discuss what sets the sequel apart from the first film, and how the team expanded the story in a meaningful way.
- Part 2: Casting the Chaos – A spotlight on the film’s main cast and what they each brought to their roles.
- Part 3: Designed for Destruction – Dive deeper into the design and execution of the film’s finale with a look at the set construction, practical effects, and the bloody aftermath left behind.
- Part 4: Blood, Guts, and Practical Mayhem – Explore how the film’s explosive deaths and blood gags were created with this breakdown of the practical effects and innovations, highlighting how the team built and expanded upon techniques from the first film.
- Rules of the Game – Learn the rules of the deadly game of Hide and Seek, from the contained family ritual to the expanded high-stakes hunt.
- Gag Reel – Check out hilarious outtakes from the making of the movie.
The Bottom Line
While not quite as entertaining as its predecessor, I still found Ready or Not 2 a wild ride and enjoyable. The new cast of characters seem to embrace their roles and I’m having a hard time getting over the fact that I’m seeing Elijah Wood with grey hair. How weird is that? Nevertheless, if it’s more of the same (and in horror films, it always is) that you’re after – look no further.
