Ready or Not is a film I recommend to people at least every other week. An exaggeration? No—this underrated flick has it all. From its stunning, atmospheric cinematography and its clever comedy to its “fuck the rich” motif, a gore-drenched killer finale, and Samara’s Weaving’s impeccable final-girl performance, 2019’s Ready or Not has become one of my favorite films of all time.

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s black comedy follows Grace (Weaving), an insecure former foster kid who is engaged to her lovable, mild-mannered fiancé Alex (Mark O’Brien). Alex is estranged from his magnate family, the Le Domases, who have made their fortune in board games. They’re “richer than God,” claims an anxious Grace, who is all too aware that the eccentric clan does not accept her—bar Alex’s alcoholic, troubled older brother, Daniel (Adam Brody), and intimidating mother, Becky (Andie MacDowall). Despite Daniel’s warnings to not join the family, Grace marries Alex. The pair reluctantly wed at Alex’s family estate, a remote castle manor clad in mahogany and brimming with candelabras, dumbwaiters, grand staircases, and secret passageways.

When night falls, the newlyweds are summoned to the family’s private game room. Tony (Henry Czerny), the patriarch of the Le Domas dominion and Alex’s father, requests that Grace play a game to seal her spot as a Le Domas and initiate her into the family. When Grace pulls the hide-and-seek card from the Le Domases’ puzzle box, she finds herself fighting for her life against her bloodthirsty new family, who believe they must ritualistically sacrifice her to Satan before dawn.

The filmmakers masterfully blend horror and humor in this fun feature, with a perfect cast to execute it. The filmmakers don’t take themselves too seriously, though, at the same time (and with some expert writing chops), they underlay the film’s striking emotional depth. Through this, we are forced to look at ourselves and what we perceive—do we really understand Alex and Grace’s relationship?

Brody’s tenderness creates a tangible, poignant character in Daniel, and Weaving’s Grace is a horror fan’s dream. She’s an intelligent, clever, and relatable final girl that oozes likability. One of the most prominent standouts of Ready or Not is Weaving’s iconic screams—the Australian actress is a natural, complementing each gut-churning, bone-chilling scene with a primal, visceral caterwaul that goes right through you.

I can’t recommend Ready or Not enough. This playful, disturbing horror is a good old-fashioned thrill ride with one of the most kickass ending shots in cinema. I can only hope that more movies with its originality are released in the future.

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Ready or Not
2019
dir. Matt Bettinelli-Oplin and Tyler Gillett
95 min.

Screens Thursday, August 17th, at 3:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at The Brattle!
Double feature with Crawl.

Part of the ongoing series Thrill Ride Horror.