READY OR NOT (DISNEY+) (2019)

SYNOPSIS: A bride's romantic wedding night takes a terrifying turn when her wealthy and eccentric in-laws force her to play a gruesome game of hide-and-seek.

MOVIE REVIEW:

Thanks to the magical existence of streaming platforms, we finally get the chance to review Ready or Not seven years after its theatrical release. And for that, we have to apologise. Better late than never, right?

Ready or Not is the direct opposite of a fairy tale with a happy ending. The poor girl in this case is Grace (Samara Weaving), who is about to marry Alex Le Domas (Mark O’Brien), the son of a wealthy family that made its fortune manufacturing board games. Sounds like the perfect recipe for a rom-com.

But no. The Le Domas family, headed by patriarch Tony (Henry Czerny), is rotten to the core. It’s not just about wealth, class or power. They’re part of a cult that worships Satan and more. Every new family member is required to take part in a game, and Grace draws “hide-and-seek” on her wedding night. Sounds harmless enough, right? The catch is that the Le Domas clan must sacrifice Grace to the devil before sunrise or risk exploding into pieces themselves.

On the surface, Ready or Not plays like a bloody slasher packed with gratuitous gore and violence. It has no qualms about shocking audiences with its dark, absurd humour. While the story initially feels somewhat detached with all the mumbo-jumbo surrounding this seemingly psychopathic family legend, it gradually becomes more convincing as the film progresses. Add to that the wicked humour throughout especially one character who repeatedly fumbles her attempts to kill Grace and you’re in for a treat.

Then there are the characters. Despite its lean 90-minute runtime, the film devotes enough screen time to flesh out the various members of the Le Domas family. Alex’s mother, Becky, seems like the ideal mother-in-law at first, but don’t tread on her toes. It certainly helps that she’s played by the ever-reliable Andie MacDowell. Then there’s Alex’s brother, Daniel (Adam Brody), one of the few sympathetic figures or perhaps the black sheep of the family. His wife, Charity (Elyse Levesque), on the other hand, is ruthless to the core, while Aunt Helene (Nicky Guadagni) is creepy as hell.

Without a doubt, Samara Weaving is the heart and soul of this madcap thriller. The Australian actress delivers a committed performance that demands both physical endurance and emotional resilience as Grace fights not only for her life but also rejects the wealth, privilege and toxicity that come with Alex’s family. Ready or Not may not be to everyone’s taste, but it’s an immensely entertaining ride, balancing tension, brutal violence and wicked humour with remarkable confidence.

MOVIE RATING:

Review by Linus Tee