Film Review: Ready or Not 2: Here I Come

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come
Directors: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
Vinson Films, Mythology Enters, Radio Silence
In Theaters: 03.20.2025

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come Goes Bigger and Bloodier

There are certain overused phrases in film criticism that really need to be retired, and perhaps my biggest pet peeve phrase is “unnecessary sequel.” The last time I saw a “necessary” sequel was Return of the Jedi in 1983, and all others fall into the category of “can have a sequel” or “can’t have a sequel.” If you’re going by that guideline, then Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come may very well be the best “can’t” since Die Hard 2 in 1990. 

The new film begins exactly where the last left off, with Grace MacCaullay (Samara Weaving, The Babysitter, Bill & Ted Face The Music) walking out of the Le Domas family’s mansion after surviving their deadly “game” to appease the dark forces that cursed the family, who are all dead now. End of story. Except it’s not. Grace learns that her victory was only the beginning, and she’s moving to the next round, where the world’s most powerful and wealthy families must compete against each other to hunt her down or risk losing everything they control.

Reluctant to play again, Grace refuses — until she discovers her estranged younger sister, Faith (Kathryn Newton, Freaky, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania), has also been marked for death. With no way out, Grace is forced back into the nightmare, fighting not only to survive but to keep Faith alive. As the four rival families close in, each vying for dominance, Grace sees one path forward: claim the High Seat of the Council herself — and take control of the game once and for all.

Expanding the Game and Stakes

As with Die Hard, the first movie was such an extremely specific setup that only can happen in a person’s life that making a sequel is pretty ridiculous, and yet it’s done with such unbridled glee that it somehow works. The primary difference here is that, where Die Hard 2  randomly puts its protagonist in the same mess twice, Ready Or Not 2 makes it an extension of the first scenario, but otherwise it’s the same approach: move the action to less tight quarters, put it on a larger scale and make it twice as violent.

In this case, a zany sense of humor and a strong new character dynamic go a long way, and the sequel is an overall better film in most respects than the original. The direction is remarkably skillful, the committed cast is having a lot of fun and everything clicks into place to make for a popcorn flick that is perfectly matched to its target audience. I confess that I’m more adjacent to that audience than actually part of it, and the movie was too violent for my taste, but it’s a silly and over-the-top brand of violence that plays very well to the people who enjoy laughing at such things.

And I’m not judging —12 to 15 years ago, I probably would have had a better time with this one, and I can still strongly recommend it to those looking for a gory, good time.

Character Dynamics and Performances

The dynamic between Grace and Faith was by far my favorite aspect of the story, with Weaving and Newton bringing equal parts catty humor and raw emotion to the strained relationship between the estranged sisters. If my desire to see these two patch things up hadn’t grown stronger throughout the film, I honestly might have walked out of the screening, so to say that they saved the movie for me is the literal truth.

It’s also entertaining to see Emmy winner  Shawn Hatosy (The Pitt) biting into his first big opportunity to play off of his newfound stardom as the villainous Titus Danforth, and even more entertaining to see Hatosy’s old co-star from The Faculty, Elijah Wood (The Lord of the Rings) play an unflappable Satan-worshipping Lawyer. 

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come Delivers a Wild, Bloody Finale

Despite a forced premise and a clunky title, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is an energetic and enthusiastic sequel that should provide plenty of enjoyment for those who want a dark and goofy alternative to Project Hail Mary, though I’m personally far more likely to rush out to see the latter a second time. —Patrick Gibbs

Read other film reviews by Patrick Gibbs:
Screenings So Bad: A Secondhand Screenings Special
Film Review: Project Hail Mary