Ready or Not was a surprisingly standout horror film in 2019, introducing Samara Weaving as a new queen of horror while jump-starting the careers of Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, who went on to make Scream (2022) and Scream IV. The film stood out for its satirical dive and its horrific violence, leading many fans to hope for a sequel. Although it took seven years to come out, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come hopes to recapture the tone and zaniness of the original movie.

The film takes place immediately after the events of the first film, following Grace(Weaving) steadily recovering from her wounds when she and her sister Faith(Kathryn Newton) get kidnapped by four wealthy families, who force them to play a game of hide and seek to compete for a powerful position on a throne. Taking place mostly on a golf course, Grace and Faith are not only seeking to survive the game but also to reconnect after years without talking to each other.

Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin once again prove themselves competent directors, delivering numerous graphic horror sequences that never shy away from the violence. The camera rarely hides a death, in an attempt to put the viewer in the characters’ perspective. Doing so not only allows the prosthetic work to shine but also adds an extra layer of horror that many studio films lack. Every other scene features an explosion of blood, making for many entertaining sequences throughout the film.

Although Weaving has the charm, comedic sensibilities, and iconic scream voice to lead the film on her own, the inclusion of Newton’s Faith made for a more elevated experience than the first film. Most of the original film had Grace reacting to the bizarre events unfolding before her, while this film has her interacting with Faith for most of the movie, allowing her charm to seep through even more. The two have fantastic chemistry with one another, maintaining an excellent sense of self-awareness, making for two protagonists that are easy to root for. Although their storyline involving abandonment wasn’t the most engaging or original, the performances from Weaving and Newton make the characters more than worthwhile.

The film has all the ingredients of a worthy sequel: hardcore violence, likable leads, and expansive world-building, but the overall execution appears muted. Maybe it’s because the “eat the rich” storyline has become stale since the release of the first film, but very little about Ready or Not 2: Here I Come felt fresh. Repeating plot points from its predecessor isn’t always a bad thing for a franchise film, but in a time when horror is reinventing itself every couple of months with movies like undertone and Sinners, it was disappointing to see this film didn’t do much to stand out beyond what the first film accomplished.

Much like its predecessor, the film features a massive ensemble, including A-list stars such as Sarah Michelle Gellar and Elijah Wood. While there isn’t a weak spot in the performances, a few stand out. Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Ursula draws on her previous roles, like Katheryn in Cruel Intentions, but doesn’t do anything new. Easily the standout among the supporting cast is Maia Jae as the jealous ex-girlfriend, Francesca, whose over-the-top performance works perfectly in the outlandish world set up by Gillett and Bettinelli-Olpin. The first film gave each supporting character a moment to stand out, and it was disappointing to see the sequel try less to make its characters stand out.

Arguably, the weakest and most disappointing aspect of the movie is the comedy, which comes few and far between. Although there are bits of humor that add the perfect amount of levity to the film, such as the pepper-spray fight scene, they are far less integrated than they should have been. The rich families’ focus on securing the throne should’ve been played as extremely over-the-top, but the film takes this premise much too seriously, prompting many eye rolls throughout. Grace and Faith’s storyline also lends a more serious tone to the film, despite its clear purpose. For a series known for its ludicrous tone, it was disheartening to see the sequel go in a different direction.

All the pieces were in place for Ready or Not 2: Here I Come to be a worthy follow-up, but it instead felt like Gillett and Bettinelli-Olpin were on autopilot, delivering a sequel that lacks the spark and dynamism of the original. Having far less humor with a redundant storyline, this didn’t come anywhere close to recapturing the magic of the first film. The idea of a sequel to Ready or Not sounds fun at face value, but this movie shows that it would’ve been better left alone.

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is now playing in theaters nationwide.

Rating: 5/10

Oscar Prospects:

None.