Following the wedding she always desired, Grace (Samara Weaving) is forced to take part in a traditional initiation at midnight to officially join her husband’s family. But, her special day soon turns to chaos as her new in-laws hunt her down with weapons.
“Fucking rich people,” is the perfect way to describe Ready or Not.
Co-directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillet, the film is the American duo’s second attempt in the genre following on from their psychological horror flick Devil’s Due. However, unlike their previous experiment, Ready or Not is a film that stands out thanks to its beautiful cinematography, comedic elements, and outstanding casting.
It’s clear that this is Samara Weaving’s movie. The Australian actress hasn’t featured in many films in her career thus far but I imagine that will change after her performance here. Weaving’s commitment to her character is a highlight in this movie and she makes Grace feel compelling and relatable throughout. As the narrative plays out, you’ll be stuck to the edge of your seat praying that she succeeds against her in-laws.
Speaking of which, the contrasts between the upper and lower class is a prominent theme in the film and it’s handled well throughout. The differences are clear and the development helps the plot feel realistic. The in-laws serve their purpose and they also provide some of the film’s funniest moments like watching tutorials on how to use a crossbow. While the narrative is developed in a doom and gloom format, the use of humour gives the film a breath of fresh air and helps make the darker moments feel more serious.
Ready or Not is a thrilling, yet sinister, movie that combines comedy with horror exceptionally. While some may assume the genre combination would fail, that isn’t actually the case. Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillet took a risk and it paid off.
If you enjoy trying something new then you should watch this movie. It’s fun for most of the family – literally.
byjohnsmith.com 