Ready or Not
review by Bobby Blakey
I love a good horror/thriller film especially when they throw some sort of a curve ball into it. The latest, Ready or Not starring Samara Weaving, Mark O’Brien, Adam Brody, Henry Czerny, and Andie MacDowell. This flick looks to be infusing the fun of the human hunt into so much more and if it is actually as fun, but does it live up to the trailers promise or will it be a tradition not worth keeping?
Ready or Not follows a young bride as she joins her new husband’s rich, eccentric family in a time-honored tradition that turns into a lethal game with everyone fighting for their survival. I had high hopes for this film just due to how much fun it looked like it could be, but also know it could have easily gone horribly wrong. Thankfully it works to perfection and offered up all the fun I had hoped and more. Sure there is an over the top tone and moments, but that is part of the fun.
I was concerned that it was going to make little sense going in on numerous levels, but they did a decent job of making it all tie together without overflowing it with unnecessary information and back story. Once the set-up is done it kicks into high gear and doesn’t let up until the very end. There are a laughs blended in with the violence that while never gets overly graphic, outside of the ending, that evolves as the intensity of the game does. The direction was pretty much what I expected, but the ending had me thinking they were going to initially do something different that would have been great, but I loved what they did.
Everyone here is great with Samara Weaving carrying the majority of the load and does a great job. I loved that they keep all the dysfunction to this family in place throughout as opposed to the usual they are all in this crazy world together. Sure there are some familiar elements here, but the overall film came off fresh and original to me and one I cannot wait to watch again.
In addition to the film this release offers up bonus content including a gag reel, commentary and 3-part documentary taking you behind bringing this crazy film to life. Join in on the game and grab your copy of Ready or Not available now on digital, Blu-ray and DVD from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.