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There’s a moment where the primary villain of Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is aggressively beating the crap out of one of the two protagonist sisters when it really clicks with you: this isn’t fun anymore.
The first Ready or Not was a fun if imperfect horror-comedy where a bunch of doofus rich people attempt to kill newlywed Grace, played by Samara Weaving, leading up to a truly explosive finale.
Ready or Not 2 picks up minutes later and continues the same onslaught of cartoon violence, but with more malicious antagonists and a growing sensation that enough is enough already.
Weaving reprises her breakthrough role and is as tough as nails as she was before, with Kathryn Newton joining her. The two make a badass duo, but they become ensnared not by a bunch of baddies but rather all too familiar trappings that bring nothing fresh to the table—and are simultaneously less fun.
The violence is relentless, but without the slightly likable or at least hapless killer family from the OG the butchery doesn’t land as comedically. Newly introduced Titus (Shawn Hatosy) is a sociopathic brute who isn’t humorous in the slightest. Sure, Elijah Wood and Sarah Michelle Gellar have been added to the cast, too, but the former isn’t given much to do and the latter seems to be there for name recognition alone—not to do anything substantive.
The climax, however, works, with Weaving flexing her muscles in the way you know she eventually will; if Titus doesn’t make for great entertainment value, his inevitable demise slightly makes up for it.
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come isn’t a complete loss—it delivers more inspired deaths and cartoonish gore—but it’s a lesser version of the original, less fun and more predictable.
Review by Erik Samdahl. Erik is a marketing and technology executive by day, avid movie lover by night. He is a member of the Seattle Film Critics Society.
