READY OR NOT 2: HERE I COME
Starring: Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, Elijah Wood, and David Cronenberg
Directors: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett
NICK
I can't say that 2019's Ready or Not necessarily called for a sequel, but Here I Come presents a worthy idea for a follow-up. Where it struggles is in its character development. Despite some solid performances from Sarah Michelle Gellar and Elijah Wood, there's an absence of depth to the latest "players.” For the most part, they either feel rushed, or like afterthoughts, except for Faith (Kathryn Newton) who gives Samara Weaving's Grace a new layer to work with. Despite these flaws, you still get the mix of violence, laughs, and entertainment from the first film, just in a diminished capacity.
AMARÚ
Is the streaming trend of continuously reiterating the plot bleeding into theatrical releases? Because that’s not a trend I want to see. Ready or Not 2: Here I Come expands its bloody lore in an entertaining fashion, but it doesn’t understand that what is understood doesn’t need to be said. The cast, new and old, were all-in for the games, especially Elijah Wood who continues to prove he’s the perfect unexpected conduit for evil, but spelling out each plot point and emotion kills the film’s savage bright spots every five-to-ten minutes. This sequel is a fun watch, but it’s also narratively and tonally inconsistent.
PAIGE
While Ready or Not 2: Here I Come ups the blood, gore, and violence, it retreads many of the same beats as its predecessor. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing considering I adore the first film, but the new rules feel a bit forced and convoluted just for the sake of having a sequel. That said, Samara Weaving once again kills it in this role and proves she should be a household name, and the addition of Kathryn Newton is great, as she and Weaving bounce off each other effortlessly. Here I Come is another bloody fun ride that works for the most part.
ADRIANO
Admittedly, I’m not as big a fan of the first film as others, but Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is a downgrade in nearly every way. It’s still entertaining, don’t get me wrong. But it falls under the traps of most modern lazy horror films: feeling tonally more like an action film and trading tension for overbearing music and set pieces. This may lead to more fun gore, but with all the enemies being disposable morons, it’s flat even as an action film. Maybe fans of the first will enjoy this, but this is the wrong direction.
ROBERT
For me, I would prefer if a sequel served a greater purpose than money, but if it is entertaining, I can look past its inherent flaws. Ready or Not 2: Here I Come kept me engaged per scene, but the world-building and storytelling choices didn’t thrust forward the narrative of Grace’s (Samara Weaving) arc coherently. Once I learned the rules of this new game, I realized the trailer spoiled quite a bit on who would survive, which was a shame. Weaving and Elijah Wood were dynamic, and Nestor Carbonell was hilarious, but everyone else were textbook caricatures. Seek out this movie but don’t expect a grand prize.
BODE
I haven’t been especially impressed with the films that directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (also known as Radio Silence) have made over the years, and honestly, I include their 2019 breakout hit Ready or Not in this. So, consider me surprised with how much fun I had with its sequel Here I Come. It definitely has its flaws, most notably some rather clunky expositional dialogue. But taking the John Wick approach in expanding its satanic world mostly pays off with bloodier carnage, funnier quips, and similar to the original, a sensational turn from generational scream queen Samara Weaving. It’s truly ridiculous, but enjoyably so!
