It’s been almost seven years since Ready or Not first came out, and I’m not going to sit here and pretend this was a sequel I was patiently waiting for. Nevertheless, the original film was a bloody good time, so I expected nothing less from this follow-up, and I’m happy to say it delivers, even if it doesn’t quite reach the same heights as the original. Samara Weaving returns with another great performance as scream queen Grace Le Domas, this time joined by Kathryn Newton, who plays her younger sister, Faith.

Is this movie perfect? No way. But the people going to see this are not expecting the next Sinners. They are there for fun on-screen kills, laughs, and something to enjoy while chewing on popcorn and sipping their favourite soda. Let’s dive into the review.

The movie picks up right after the events of the first film. Our main character, Grace, has just survived the Le Domas family’s attempted sacrificial ritual and collapses on the staircase. She is then taken to the hospital, where she reunites with her younger sister, Faith, played by Kathryn Newton.

The addition of her younger sister is clearly meant to add emotional depth, but it doesn’t quite land. The dynamic feels forced and unnatural, as if she’s simply dropped into the story and the audience is expected to instantly care and form a connection. I’m not against the introduction, but I would have liked a deeper backstory or more development between Grace and Faith so their constant bickering throughout the film felt more justified. Maybe “constant” is a bit harsh, but there are moments where they are literally being chased by someone trying to kill them, and they stop to argue about personal issues. Like, come on, you guys are about to die.

Another new introduction comes in the form of the film’s antagonists. After the elimination of the Le Domas family, we are introduced to a council of elite families, all of whom have made their own twisted deals with Mr. Le Bail. Known as the Council, this group consists of six powerful families led by figures like Ursula and Titus Danforth, Wan Chen Xing, Viraj Rajan, Ignacio El Caido, and Bill Wilkinson.

The film wastes no time establishing the stakes. Ursula and Titus murder their own father to seize control of the Council, while Bill prematurely attempts to kill Grace at the hospital, only to explode in a gruesome reminder that the rules of the game still apply. From there, Grace and Faith are kidnapped and taken to the Danforth complex, where the true premise is laid out. Because Grace survived the original game, she has essentially “won” her place in this larger, deadlier system. Now, the remaining families must hunt and kill her before dawn to claim ultimate power, with strict rules preventing them from turning on each other.

On paper, this expansion of the world is actually pretty interesting. It raises the stakes, broadens the mythology, and leans further into the absurd, over-the-top nature of the first film. However, much like Faith’s introduction, it feels like a lot is being thrown at the audience very quickly, without enough time to fully explore these characters or their motivations.

Where the film starts to lose me a bit is in how much it asks you to just go along for the ride. This is a direct continuation of the first movie, and while that sounds great on paper, it also means you have to believe that Grace is somehow physically and mentally ready to jump into another deadly game almost immediately after surviving the events of the first film. It’s a tough sell, and the movie doesn’t really do much to justify it. On top of that, there’s a fair amount of plot armour and some questionable decisions made by characters purely to move the story forward.

That said, I think it’s important to judge this movie for what it’s trying to be. Most people are not walking into this expecting a tightly written masterpiece. They’re here for the chaos, the kills, and the dark humour, and in that regard, the film absolutely delivers. The kills are creative and entertaining, the tone stays fun throughout, and Samara Weaving once again proves why she’s one of the best modern scream queens working today. She carries the film with ease and makes even the more ridiculous moments work better than they probably should.

I also can’t help but feel like this is a sequel that would have benefited from coming out much sooner. A one- or two-year gap after the original would have made this feel like a natural continuation. Instead, after nearly seven years, expectations are inevitably higher, and the film doesn’t quite meet that level. It’s bigger, louder, and more chaotic, but not necessarily better.

Still, despite its flaws, this is a genuinely fun watch. You’ll get your laughs, you’ll get your over-the-top kills, and you’ll have a good time while it lasts. It may not surpass the original, but it’s a solid sequel that understands exactly what kind of movie it wants to be.

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come Review - A Fun Sequel That Doesn’t Top the Original.

Avatar: Fire and Ash Review - Bigger, Longer… But Not Better