Movie Review: Ready or Not: Here I Come (2026)
By Robb, A Constantly Racing Mind
Horror sequels generally face a crossroads: they either play it safe by repeating the original formula or they blow the whole thing up. Ready or Not: Here I Come chooses the latter, taking the tight, simple premise of the 2019 cult hit and pushing it into a much larger, messier, and more chaotic world.
Expanding the Ritual
While the first film was a claustrophobic "one house, one night" survival story, the sequel reveals that the Le Domas family was only a small branch of a global "High Council" consisting of six elite families who serve the mysterious Mr. Le Bail. Following the explosive finale of the first film, Grace (Samara Weaving) is hunted by these other families due to a "Succes” ” If she survives until dawn, she doesn't just win her life—she becomes the ruler of the entire cult.
A New Dynamic: Grace and Faith
The most significant shift in the sequel’s DNA is the addition of Kathryn Newton as Faith, Grace’s estranged sister. This changes the stakes from pure solo survival to a protective mission.
Samara Weaving returns with a performance that is more strategic and controlled than before; she is no longer panicking, she is navigating the game.
Kathryn Newton serves as the emotional anchor, providing the raw, expressive fear that grounds the movie's escalating scale.
Kathryn Newton & Samara Weaving as Faith & Grace
The Scale vs. The Tension
Directed by Radio Silence (Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett), the film maintains its signature blend of gore and dark humor. The kills are more elaborate—including a standout scene involving boiling water and a high-stakes ballroom confrontation set to "Total Eclipse of the Heart".
The remaing High Council Families
However, the expansion comes with trade-offs. By explaining the mythology and moving to a massive resort owned by the Danforth family, the film loses the claustrophobic tension that made the original so effective. It is faster and bigger but undeniably less focused.
The Verdict
The film is currently landing in a divisive range, with a 72% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 62 on Metacritic. It’s a fun, violent ride that benefits from excellent sibling chemistry between Weaving and Newton.
Solid 3 out of 5
