Horror is definitely having a moment. The success of Ari Aster and films like A Quiet Place, The Witch and The Babadook in recent years prove that horror isn’t a low-brow genre anymore, but something that can be consumed and enjoyed by larger audiences too. These high-concept, deeply serious films have managed to become both critical darlings and at least moderate box office hits. They might be brilliantly made and engaging films, but they aren’t exactly fun.
Director duo Radio Silence’s Ready Or Not has no interest in the serious. It’s filled with balls-to-the-wall action, dread and gore, like most of the very best horrors are. The tale of a doomed bride, who must play a deadly game with her new family, might just be this year’s biggest surprise, delivering a good time and impeccably well-crafted action and jokes.
Clocking in at just 95 minutes, the perfect length for any film really, Ready Or Not keeps things nice and neat, moving at a brisk pace to the gloriously bloody finale. It leaves enough time for some cracking jokes and while the characters aren’t particularly well developed, there’s enough here for the audiences to bond with and to be concerned about.
Samara Weaving is without a doubt the best this film can offer. Weaving’s brilliant performance is honest in the sense that she doesn’t attempt to make Grace a victim or a traditional warrior. Grace is funny, likable and most importantly, relatable. The film feels like a cousin to Adam Wingard’s You’re Next, both narratively and thematically, but this one relies more on crafting a link between the audience and Grace. Whereas Erin, played by Sharni Vinson in You’re Next, is already equipped with the necessary skills to survive a violent attack to the family home of her fiancé, Grace is out of her depth, seriously.
This makes Ready Or Not feel fun in the sense that we truly never know how or if Grace will survive until dawn. She can’t fight her way out of this one, she will have to hide and she will only resort to violence when it’s the last possible option. Violence isn’t the norm here, but the exception, however bloody the film might be. It makes for a thrilling watch and Ready Or Not will most definitely have you perched at the edge of your seat the entire time, biting your nails and sweating bullets.
While Weaving might be the carrying force of the film, there are no weak links to be found in this star-studded cast. Andie MacDowell especially has a lot of fun in her role as the matriarch of the Le Domas family. Adam Brody makes a mark as the alcoholic older brother to Grace’s fiancé and grounds his performance in tragedy and guilt. Mark O’Brien is perfectly likable, if a tad forgettable as Grace’s fiancé Alex. But this really is a one-woman show and Weaving kills it. Her torn and bloodied wedding dress will probably become an iconic horror costume for next Halloween.
Without revealing too much, the ending will be a hit or miss for a lot of people. It plays with the idea of the supernatural and while the ending is delightfully bonkers, it might be too far for some people who would prefer the film stay grounded in reality. Personally, this critic was jumping on her seat with glee during the last 15 minutes, but the entire last act is a bold move from Radio Silence and writers Guy Busick and Ryan Murphy (not that Ryan Murphy of AHS fame) that may or may not alienate their audience.
Ready Or Not provides good thrills and gore for those interested in its twisted fun. With a powerhouse performance from Weaving, it’s a fun horror film you won’t want to miss and proves Radio Silence as a force to watch in the genre; they’re able to seamlessly blend the gore, the dread and jokes in this twisty family tale. Get your wedding gowns ready, ladies, this one is for us! All hail the bride!
Verdict: 8/10
What did you think of Ready Or Not? Is Samara Weaving a fitting scream queen?
Ready Or Not was released in the US on the 23rd of August.