- Date of Release: 3 April 2026
- Genre: Comedy, Horror, Thriller
- Language: English
- Watch On: Theatres Only
Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come
Introduction
It is funny how cinema is flipping a real world narrative of the rich ‘eating’ the poor, with a genre of its own – ‘Eat The Rich’. It is a very specific genre – almost a subvert of an underdog, that invariably takes on the powerful and wins! In a parallel world, you could classify it as a superhero film wherein a Thanos-like villain is eventually superseded! The new English film Ready Or Not 2 – a direct sequel to the 2019 film Ready Or Not, follows a similar trope. In fact in many ways, the sequel does its bit in expanding the world and the satanic cult in play here – much like the John Wick franchise that brought in its share of concepts and logics to expand an otherwise simplistic revenge saga of the first film. So if the first film of this franchise was an intimate yet horrifying account of a childhood game hide and seek, the second film expands this narrative while tying itself in a concept that increasingly caters towards the eat-the-rich genre – with a bunch of capitalists spewing their horror on the protagonist(s). In many way, the scenario resembles a real-life situation transpiring in the world today, except for the fact that the tables are known to turn in this franchise.
Story & Screenplay
Written by Guy Busick and R Christopher Murphy, Ready Or Not 2 kickstarts from the exact same point where the first film had ended. So you are reintroduced to a blood-soaked Grace (Samara Weaving) smoking a cigarette at the entrance of the now destroyed mansion of the Le Domas family who have been successfully eliminated after the former managed to survive until dawn. And in the same breath, Ready Or Not 2 becomes a rare sequel that seeks to trace the journey of the lone survivor of the first film, as opposed to kickstarting a new narrative based on a similar concept. So soon you are transported to the hospital wherein Grace finds herself handcuffed while having to answer questions about her last night in the Le Domas mansion. Also this time around, she has her estranged sister Faith (Kathryn Newton) for company that partly adds to the layering of the drama here.
The subtext of capitalism is pretty evident in the narrative here even as you are introduced to Chester (David Cronenberg) who supposedly ‘rules’ the world here. Despite being bed-ridden, you see him watching news about a certain war unfolding before making a call for a ceasefire that immediately reflects on television. Chester remains the chief puppeteer, much like the Le Domas clan, who controls everything and everyone – even as he looks forward to passing on his legacy to his twin children – Titus (Shawn Hatosy) and Ursula (Sarah Michelle Gellar), even at the cost of his own life.
There is a considerable buildup before leading up to the first kill, a specific passage that would easily divide the viewers. If your idea remains to immediately get to the point of a slasher film, then you maybe disappointed given how the writers choose an unconventional path to elaborate the world and the cult. The rules though remain simple for Grace and Faith – survive until dawn, whilst being hunted by a group of capitalists who are vying for the throne – vacant after the death of the Le Domas clan, with Grace being the lawful heir provided she overcomes the fatal ‘survival’ game of ‘double or nothing’.
In many ways, the entire setup can be viewed as an elaborate take on the film industry filled with nepo-babies who may immediately feel threatened by the rise of an outsider. Or alternately, the setup could also resemble a handicapped match from the world of WWE. Or even IPL teams vying for the throne. Or a bunch of reality show contestants literally going for the kill. Interestingly, cinema has been witness to similar concepts in the past too – From Battle Royale (2000) to Hunger Games, from Squid Game to even the recently released They Will Kill You (2026), the concept of survival remains the same. In that sense, Ready Or Not 2 remains more on the lines of The Menu (2022) or even Triangle Of Sadness (2022), wherein the rich become the hunted pretty soon.
One immediate criticism that I had (other than the lack of mystery unlike the first part) with the setting remained on how the intimate claustrophobic setup was bartered for an open ground that didn’t always exude of a similar wave of tension. This remained a specific ten-minute passage that had me disconnected, only to be brought back by an innovative kill featuring a washing machine. The events remain thoroughly engaging here, even though I wasn’t fully convinced by the back story of the two sisters – something that felt as half-baked as the one in They Will Kill You (2026).
Ironically, the concept of the satanic cult also remains eerily similar to the one in They Will Kill You – except for the fact that a person once dead cannot be brought back to life. And hence, this remains a better narrative, structurally speaking, even as I found myself rooting for Grace and Faith. The subtle bouts of black humour add a different dimension in the drama, even as the core crux remains that of absolute power – a concept that goes synonymous with the world leaders today. And the twisted ending that eventually results in a bloodbath remained a testimony of the same, even as the writing doesn’t deviate from the eat-the-rich narrative. It is fun and entertaining, almost on par with the first film Ready Or Not (2019).
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are campy, a trait that goes wonderfully with the tone of the drama that remains immersed in a wave of black comedy. If there was anything that I could contest with respect to the lines, it was the idea of over-explaining the rules along with loopholes that are catered to manipulate the narrative. The BGM is adequate enough to keep the thrills and jumpscares in check. The cinematography scores specifically with the tight and mid shots that keep you invested in the gore of the characters. It is interesting on how the frames don’t always work in open spaces that don’t rage the same kind of tension that was a crucial driving factor of the first film.
The editing pattern remains crisp and sharp, so much so that you start participating in the violence and gore after a point – something that makes for a deranged and unhinged entertainment. Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett look to go bigger here, and the good news remains on how the entertainment quotient of the drama isn’t compromised here. The world building is once again intriguing, and so is the game of survival – although there is also a touch of indulgence with the inclusion of a couple of characters and the setting to justify the scale of the drama. Nevertheless, I would be lying if I would say that the proceedings weren’t fun enough – they definitely were, even as I found myself quietly rooting for the protagonists here. And that will go down as a win in my book, as far as the direction is concerned.
Performances
The performances are pretty good by the members of the cast. David Cronenberg as Chester is intimidating and has his moments to shine. Olivia Cheng as Wan, Nadeem Umar-Kitab as Viraj, Varun Saranga as Madhu and Masa Lizdek as Martina show some tremendous flair with bouts of comedy, and that immediately adds a different dimension to the drama. Elijah Wood as The Lawyer is understated and delivers a restrained act. Sarah Michelle Gellar as Ursula is chillingly brilliant, and how I wished that she had a longer screentime. Shawn Hatosy as Titus begins as a goofy character before developing an intimidating muscle along the way, that offers an interesting character arc. And he was a delight to witness here.
I am literally on the fence with the character of Faith here – someone who was probably injected for the emotional core in the drama. But in hindsight, I still feel that her character felt forcefully added without having a significant impact on the narrative. That said, Kathryn Newton still manages to hold her own in scenes of combat, while putting forth a commendable act. The star of the show is Samara Weaving who shines as Grace. She is rather effective in communicating her angst through her body language and expressions, while also excelling in multiple combat sequences. She was brilliant as ever in a drama that was designed to heighten the impact of her character.
Conclusion
Despite being a notch below the first film, Ready Or Not 2 is an amusing capitalist horror wrapped in an entertaining eat-the-rich sequel that remains a fun watch. Available in a theatre near you.