Back in 2019, Ready or Not was the indie-horror darling we didn’t know we needed. It was a lean, mean, dress-tearing machine that turned Samara Weaving into an instant icon. Now, the filmmaking collective Radio Silence (Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett, and Chad Villella) is back to see if lightning—or in this case, a Satanic pact—can strike twice.
In this Ready or Not 2 review, we’re diving into a sequel that refuses to stay small. While the first film was a claustrophobic nightmare in a mansion, Here I Come blows the doors off, introducing an international cabal of elite power players all vying for the ultimate favor from Mr. Le Bail.
A Global Game of Hide and Seek
We find Grace (Samara Weaving) exactly where we left her: traumatized, blood-soaked, and cynical as hell. But with the Le Domas family literally out of the picture, a new vacuum opens. Enter the “High Council”—a shadowy group of 1%ers that feels a bit like the horror version of John Wick’s High Table.
The stakes are simple: survive another round, or become the sacrifice that fuels the world’s elite. The setting moves to a sprawling resort owned by Chester Danforth (a delightfully eerie David Cronenberg). His heirs, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar and Shawn Hatosy, bring a “nepo-baby” energy to the hunt that makes you root for their demise even harder.
The Weaving-Newton Power Duo
The absolute heartbeat of the film is the chemistry between Grace and her newly-introduced sister, Faith. Kathryn Newton plays Faith with a sharp, plucky edge that balances Weaving’s “I’ve seen too much” exhaustion.
Does the Sibling Rivalry Work?
While the duo is great on screen, the script occasionally struggles to justify their baggage. Faith harbors deep-seated resentment toward Grace that feels slightly misplaced when you’re being hunted by crossbow-wielding socialites. However, Weaving’s performance remains the gold standard for modern horror leads; she navigates the physical demands and the deadpan humor with a level of charisma that carries the movie through its slower chapters.
Expanding the Mythology (For Better or Worse)
Ready or Not 2 spends a lot of time on the “rules.” Elijah Wood pops up as a mysterious Attorney, acting as a referee for the High Council. He’s essentially the movie’s Vincent Price, reading from an ancient tome with a mischievous glint in his eye.
The film introduces a “weapon era” rule—where hunters must use tools from the time their family first made their pact—but it’s a rule the movie breaks whenever it wants a cool action beat. It’s a bit messy, and while the film pokes fun at its own logic, fans of the first film’s tight simplicity might find the new lore a bit overstuffed.
Kills, Chills, and Spontaneous Combustion
If you’re here for the “Radio Silence” brand of carnage, you’re in luck. The action set-pieces are creative and frequently hilarious. A standout ballroom brawl involving Maia Jae’s Francesca is a masterclass in slapstick violence.
The sequel doubles down on the “spontaneous combustion” effect that ended the first film. While seeing a billionaire go pop is always satisfying, the movie relies on it as a bit of a crutch this time around. What was once a shocking twist is now a frequent visual gag, losing a bit of its supernatural punch with every explosion.
Final Thoughts: A Round Worth Playing?
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is a bigger, louder, and zanier sequel that proves less is often more. By trying to build a “Cinematic Universe” out of a simple game of Hide and Seek, some of the tension is lost. Thankfully, the cast is top-tier, and the gore is top-shelf.
It’s an “agreeable” sequel that keeps the franchise alive, even if it doesn’t quite reinvent the board.
Score: 7/10 Stars
Join the Conversation: Do you think expanding the lore with the “High Council” was a smart move, or should Grace have stayed solo? Drop a comment below and let’s talk horror!
