Review: 'Ready or Not 2: Here I Come' is a predictable but still satisfying sequel
By Aryle McCutcheon | Staff writer
I went into the movie “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come” expecting the unpredictable chaos that made “Ready or Not” (2019) so memorable.
Instead, I got something a little different, a sequel that expands the story in a bigger way, even if it loses some of the original’s shock factor.
From the opening moments of the movie, directed by Matt Bettinelli-Opin and Tyler Gillett, I was pulled in. The film wastes no time reintroducing Grace MacCaullay (Australian actress Samara Weaving) to danger, and I immediately felt a familiar sense of tension building. This time the scope is larger as the story moves beyond a single family and into a wider, more complex world filled with powerful figures who are all tied to the same deadly rules. That expansion worked for me because it raised the stakes and made everything feel more intense and far-reaching.
What stood out to me most was how much Grace has changed. In the first film, she was completely unprepared, reacting with fear, confusion and desperation as events spiraled out of her control. Here, she feels more experienced and composed. She understands the kind of situation she’s in, and that awareness shapes how she responds. I didn’t feel the same sense of shock that came from watching her figure things out in real time, but I did find her transformation compelling. She’s no longer just surviving; she’s actively pushing back.
This shift does come with a tradeoff. Because Grace is more prepared, the film itself feels more predictable. I found myself anticipating certain turns instead of being surprised by them. In “Ready or Not,” I never quite knew what was coming next, and that unpredictability was a big part of what made it so engaging. Here, the story follows a more straightforward path, which takes away the suspense.
Even without the surprise factor, I was still consistently engaged. The pacing worked well, giving scenes enough room to build tension without dragging. The set pieces were visually strong, and I appreciated how deliberately everything was staged. There is plenty of gore, but it felt purposeful rather than excessive but added to the intensity without overwhelming the story or distracting from the characters.
I also found myself drawn into the film’s larger mythology. The idea that this deadly tradition extends beyond a single group adds an interesting layer, even if the movie doesn’t fully explore every aspect of it. It creates a sense that Grace is caught in something much bigger than potentially marrying into a deadly family, which helps maintain the tension when the plot becomes predictable.
While most of the film was predictable, there were still moments that genuinely surprised me, and I stayed invested in how everything would play out. The emotional stakes felt real enough to keep me interested, and I appreciated that the film didn’t lose sight of its central character amid the expanded scale.
By the end, I walked away feeling satisfied. It may not capture the same lightning-in-a-bottle unpredictability of “Ready or Not,” but it delivers a different kind of experience that I still found exciting and hard to look away from. For me, “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come” works because it builds on the original while allowing Grace to grow into a stronger, more commanding presence.
The film is currently being show at both Riverwatch Cinemas and Regal Augusta Exchange. The film is distributed by Searchlight Pictures.
Contact Aryle McCutcheon at amccutcheon@augusta.edu.
“Ready or Not 2: Here I Come” is playing at Riverwatch Cinemas and Regal Augusta Exchange. At the top of the page, the movie is expected to at least equal the original in ticket sales, according to Yahoo.com. (photos by Aryle McCutcheon/the Bell Ringer)
