Title: Ready or Not
Release Date: August 21st, 2019
Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures/ Walt Disney1
Director: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
Release Format: Theatrical
Ready or Not is an eccentric film that is funny, thrilling and dark wrapped into one bloody entertaining package. This year’s best-kept secret is finally here.
The film centers around a bride named Grace (Samara Weaving) on her wedding night that must survive being hunted by her inlaws until dawn. She scavenges the gigantic estate for whatever she can to fight her way out. She learns that that devil doesn’t only wear Prada but also other hard to pronounce designer brands and their coming to kill her.
Typically, the groom’s family is not trying to kill the bride at least until after a couple of passive-aggressive Thanksgivings. Seeing such on sight energy is enticing, it has me saying “I do” to rewatching this.
This is a film that takes a lot of risks in its narrative storytelling and pays off very well. The payoff comes in the form of crazy kills, tense sequences and bizarre story.
I left Ready or Not knowing two things: that this film is pretty awesome and if Samara Weaving and Margot Robbie ever meet, it’s gonna be an imposter Spidey situation. There can only be one.
Nothing is Thicker Than Blood
The movie does a fantastic job of building tension to the looming hunt while letting you get to know this messy family. This rich family is petty as hell and crazy with the film does a good job of painting who each character is. Although it’s surface level on many of them, it’s more than enough to tell the narrative.
Weaving carries the film with a great breakout performance as Grace. She goes through so many emotions throughout the night such as love, fear, and even hateful madness. You see it all on her contorted face, you hear those blood-curdling screams of despair, there’s a wide range of emotions on display.
You sympathize with her and react the same way to all the craziness happening around her. I can’t remember the last time I wanted a lead in a thriller to make it to the credits more than Grace.
Everybody leans into their part and looks like their having fun here. The best moments are these characters interacting with each other.
The drugged up spoiled daughter Emilie is the worst in the best possible ways. She’s not only a danger to herself but everyone else as well. Yet, every time she messes up they keep giving her a more dangerous weapon, which just gives more hilarity.
There’s plenty of fun twists that make you wonder how this all might end. The only other grip of mine is that one of the major twists didn’t get enough time to breathe. It changes up Ready or Not in a way that makes the new dynamic refreshing shortly before the credits hit.
Frights for Nights
Some people think it’s tacky for a bride to wear anything but white, but Ready or Not has Grace wearing only red. Blood and some sick deaths pop up throughout the runtime. Just when things are getting light, the film shoots you with a death that chills your spine.
Death is a real thing and the story does a great job of showing you no one is safe from the start. Just when you’re starting to like a character, they’ll get the ax. I can see why Drake has trust issues now.
I do like the element of the movie keeping you guessing if there a supernatural element. This guessing also extends to what might be around the next corner. There are so many instances of scenes making my body tense up from some great jump scares.
The pacing of the film is breezy with the film’s unheard of runtime in this day and age of 95 minutes. Not even comedies can get under two hours these days. However, the quick pace doesn’t leave a handful of characters feeling flat instead of like fleshed-out people.
A Great Mix
Verdict: Ready or Not is one of the best experiences you can have in the theatre this year. Whether it be the fun narrative, crazy characters or the horror that rarely lets you catch a breath.
The only thing flaws are scripts comedy needing a punch up as some chuckles could have easily been gut-busting laughs if delivered properly. These gripes aren’t even that noticeable and doesn’t stop this from being one of the best times in the theatre this year.
What’s the horror or comedy of 2019 so far? What is another great flick to watch with some friends? Are you excited this or could care less? Leave your comments!
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