Ready or Not follows young bride-to-be Grace (Samara Weaving) and her fiance Alex Le Domas (Mark O'Brien). Grace is understandably nervous about marrying into Alex's family, a bunch of blue blood 1%-ers who rule over a vast board game empire. It doesn't help matters that his family is quite shady and treats Grace with subtle hostility. The night of Alex and Grace's nuptials, Alex's family introduces Grace to a strange tradition where they play a randomly picked game that will initiate her into the ranks of the Le Domas'. Unfortunately for Grace, she gets hide and seek, which is not your typical childhood game. In this twisted version, if any member of the family finds Grace, she will be offered up as the Le Domas' latest sacrifice to Satan, who is responsible for the family's vast wealth. Now, Grace will have to hide, run, and fight off her attackers if she is going to survive the worst wedding night imaginable.
Radio Silence (a trio of filmmakers consisting of Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett and Chad Villella) is the group responsible for directing Ready or Not. They got their start on Youtube in 2011 before moving on to direct shorts and feature length films in the horror genre. Their first effort was the final short in V/H/S, which could arguably be considered the best one in that film. They followed it up with the disappointing found-footage flick Devil's Due in 2014, and the decent wrap-around segment for 2015's Southbound. This is their first feature to not be shot in the found-footage format, and it's also easily their best film. Some shots are fast and hard to make out, but for the most part they seem to have grown and matured as directors.
Samara Weaving (of The Babysitter fame) is one of the shining stars here. In The Babysitter she had great fun playing an ultra-hot villain and found a way to make her character likable and fun. Here, she is at the opposite end of the spectrum as the heroine on the run. She masks her Australian accent fairly well, and is still gorgeous and kick-ass (though one of my only complaints is she doesn't do as much butt-kicking as I had hoped she would, spending the majority of the run time being chased both inside the Le Domas' fancy mansion and around the perimeter of their property). The film isn't afraid to throw Weaving's Grace through the wringer as she sustains multiple nasty injuries throughout. Luckily, she is smarter than most of the family and quick on her feet making her a surprising match for the Le Domas'. Weaving also makes Grace a spunky, adorable, fun and super-likable character that succeeds at almost immediately getting the audience fully on her side. With The Babysitter, Mayhem, and now Ready or Not, Weaving is quickly establishing herself as a force to be reckoned with in the horror genre. Give me more!
The other actor who stands out is Adam Brody as the booze-guzzling, worn-out, and reluctant Daniel Le Domas, who's years of partaking in human sacrifices has left him disillusioned and disgusted with himself. He still joins the family on the hunt for Grace, off-set by his brother who is actively trying to assist his new bride in escaping from the madness. Brody is an absolute joy every second he is on screen, and it's hard not to love his character and his slowly growing conscience, which becomes harder and harder for him to ignore as the film rolls on. He brings a sad pathos to Daniel, and his performance will undoubtedly leave many asking why Brody hasn't been featured in more horror films. Rounding out the cast are Andi Macdowell and Henry Czerny as the matriarch and patriarch of the family, Nicky Guadagni as the creepy and intense aunt, and Melanie Scrofano as the delightful coke-snorting screw-up.
Ready or Not is violent, gruesome, messed up, super fun, and surprisingly hilarious. This film has one wicked humor streak that never distracts or takes away from the more grisly elements within. You will laugh, and you will cheer. With our society's ever growing contempt and disillusionment with the upper class, it almost feels like Ready or Not was tailor made for today's age. Indeed, it doubles as a brutal take-down of the 1% and their treatment of anyone they deem "lower" or "less than" than them. The film certainly doesn't have as much to say as Ari Aster's Midsommar, but the commentary that is here is still entertaining and appreciated. Ready or Not marks yet another notable, memorable, and great entry into horror in 2019. It's an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a good time and then some.
4 STARS
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