A wealthy family that has made their fortune in the gaming business (what that means exactly outsiders might never know) and a young woman, Grace (Samara Weaving), who would like to consider herself a part of their family after marrying the youngest son, Alex (Mark O’Brien), spend time at the family’s magnificent mansion to celebrate said marriage. This scenario appears innocent enough as there are many individuals who feel that they do not fit in with their new families; this particular situation, however, is far more demented than one might initially believe to be possible. On Grace and Alex’s wedding night, Grace is tasked with participating in a family tradition wherein she must compete with everyone in a game of hide and seek. What Grace is completely unaware of is the fact that this simple (and seemingly innocent) game of hide and seek will quickly turn vicious and into a murderous charade of life and death. Her goal was to be accepted by the family, but that has quickly shifted to a game of survival. Can Grace survive until dawn, or will she find herself in a world of hurt at the hands of her new family? Either way, Ready or Not, the Le Domas family is coming for her.
Samara Weaving has seemingly found her niche in the world of cinema. She has starred in films such as The Babysitter, Mayhem and Guns Akimbo, all of which possess aspects of both horror and comedy genres. She fits somewhere in the middle of the two genres and portrays characters that possess both depth and passion while being able to lighten even the darkest of scenarios with her quick wit and humor. There is something about her appearance that also reflects both genres. She is attractive, making her appealing to those interested in a lighthearted journey of comedy, yet her eyes are somewhat terrifying and appeal to those enthralled by horror. She is the perfect choice to play the lead character in a film like Ready or Not and has proven herself time and time again.
There are a number of players in this game of life and death: the dominants, the submissives, those who maybe should not be trusted with weapons and the wildcard, Daniel (Adam Brody). Brody’s role in Ready or Not is, like Weaving, to provide some semblance of levity throughout the dark and treacherous themes of the film. Brody has physically appeared the same age for about the last fifteen years. His young appearance provides the audience with some innocence that helps to level the playing field in terms of mood. He is, among the large cast, the most relatable as audiences are able to connect with him on levels of humor, disinterest in his family’s affairs and his need to relax rather than indulge in ridiculous behaviors. The casting choices, in general, are well done, however, John Buchan, Jason Knight and Yesi Ramirez’s decision to cast both Weaving and Brody helps to make the movie successful.
I find some solace in films like this, where I do not have to think too much and there is a competent juxtaposition of dark and light. Ready or Not does a wonderful job of bouncing back and forth between such things and audiences can truly sit back and appreciate what directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett are able to construct. From beginning to end there is a sense of unrest and audiences cannot help but to anticipate what is coming next. Still, with the help of the talented duo of Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy, no one is ever pushed over the edge or overwhelmed by the content. Ready or Not is not necessarily the most cohesive film I have ever seen, but the ridiculousness coupled with the eerily intense nature of the story is enough to keep audiences (including myself) engaged. I found myself losing interest during certain parts of the film, but I found the overall film to be a nice escape from reality and a chance to ignore the difficult nature of the world outside. Do not expect to get much more out of Ready or Not than a few chuckles and intense gore, but sometimes that is enough.
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