Have you ever wished that the world’s elite would just explode into puddles of blood and stop bothering us already? Me too! (Legally, that was a joke.) Although this is a faraway fantasy, considering that, scientifically, these things don’t just happen, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (2026)—the long–awaited sequel to 2019’s Ready or Not—allows us to dream for just a little while.
The story picks up directly at the conclusion of the first film, where Grace (Samara Weaving) asserts that the reason she’s covered in blood in front of a burning house is, in fact, “in–laws.” She is then obviously taken to the hospital, where we first meet her estranged sister, Faith (Kathryn Newton), who decides to help Grace. In the meantime, we visit the other (and arguably more interesting) plotline: the four families. If you’re not familiar with the first film, the Ready or Not series follows Grace as her fate is inexplicably intertwined with the world’s elite, who make sacrifices to Satan (James Vanderbilt) as a means of keeping their power and resources. The first film ended with the death of the organization’s top family, leaving a power vacuum. However, since Grace was responsible for these deaths, she is now the target of yet another large game of hide and seek. This time, the remaining four families hunt Grace down, and the winner will gain the helm of this Satanic cult.
The four families are the most interesting part of this movie because they feel well–grounded in real concepts of the wealthy. The Danforth clan, led by twins Ursula (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Titus (Shawn Hatosy), is very reminiscent of the typical dysfunctional rich American family that we’ve seen throughout media like Succession. There’s also the Wans, who are very akin to the Goh family from Crazy Rich Asians; the El Caidos, who are Spanish media billionaires; and the Rajans, who are reminiscent of the kind of wealth we see in the Middle East. The diversity among the families makes things interesting—it examines how contrasting cultural backgrounds can react differently to the same situation. The film is made that much sweeter by the recurring joke that these billionaires are absolutely terrible at fighting, leading to hilarious antics as they attempt to catch Faith and Grace. This concept and the film’s overall campy execution make it a joy to watch, and it truly goes by in the blink of an eye. One of the best scenes in the film comes when Grace and Francesca El Caido (Maia Jae) get into a fistfight whilst being blinded by pepper spray as Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” plays in the background. It was a hilarious respite from the general gore of the rest of the movie and really emphasized how ridiculous a bunch of exorbitantly rich people with no military training suddenly participating in a death hunt is.
Last month, I had the opportunity, along with other student journalists, to interview directors Matt Bettinelli–Olpin and Tyler Gillett. I chose to ask the pair, who also helmed Scream 5 and Scream 6, what the difference is between working on an established franchise like Scream and building their own franchise with Ready or Not. Gillett discussed how they had the dual responsibility of paying respect to a franchise they themselves were fans of, while also creating something new and inventive within it when working on Scream. Gillett also expressed how the experience of working on the Scream movies helped them with their approach to Ready or Not 2, saying that it was really important that they didn’t treat the sequel too delicately in order to prevent them from “turn[ing] away from all of the fun risks and ideas that might feel fresh and new.” This emphasized an essential piece of the duo’s directing philosophy—taking risks is vital. One of the most compelling insights came when the pair was asked about how the sibling relationships in the film influenced its overall story. Bettinelli–Olpin discussed how the two sets of siblings in the film—Ursula and Titus, as well as Grace and Faith—mirror each other: the simultaneous falling–out of Ursula and Titus’s relationship and the rebuilding of Grace and Faith’s. This storyline is one of the most compelling parts of the film—it represents the dangers of greed and how pure, unadulterated love and forgiveness can conquer all.
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come certainly swings for the fences—it’s a high–concept film that aims to spark conversations about both class and, in the same breath, greed. After speaking with the directors and seeing the film itself, I believe it succeeds in that goal. Beyond the gore and glamour of the ultra–rich lies a deep social commentary, one asserting that the ultra–wealthy will do whatever they can to hold onto power, whether it be via oppressing the working class or sacrificing their souls to Satan.
