Ready or Not: Here I Come Review – A Bloody Sequel That Finally Brings It All Together
- Klep Napier
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Klep Napier | Wearecritix.com
Not every film needs a second chance, but sometimes, a sequel is exactly what a story needs to fully come alive.
That’s exactly the case with Ready or Not: Here I Come, the follow-up to the 2019 horror hit from directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. Picking up immediately after the events of the original, the sequel wastes no time throwing audiences back into its twisted world of deadly games, family traditions, and survival at all costs.
Before we dive into our Ready Or Not Here I Come Review and for those unfamiliar, Ready or Not (2019) introduced us to Grace (Samara Weaving), a bride who marries into a wealthy family with a sinister ritual. On her wedding night, she’s forced to draw a card and participate in a game dictated by the family’s traditions. What starts as an unsettling ceremony quickly turns into a brutal fight for survival when the game of choice, hide and seek, reveals itself to be a life-or-death scenario.
In Ready or Not: Here I Come, that nightmare expands.
What once felt like a contained, one-night ordeal is revealed to be part of something much larger. Grace is once again forced into survival mode, but this time the stakes are higher, the world is bigger, and the danger is far more unpredictable. The addition of Kathryn Newton as her sister brings a new dynamic into the mix, giving the film an added layer of energy and emotional grounding as the two navigate another night of chaos together.
[WATCH MY FULL VIDEO REVIEW HERE]
Going into this sequel, I’ll be honest, I wasn’t someone who fully bought into the hype of the first film. While I appreciated its concept and had fun with it, it never quite connected with me the way it did for others.
This sequel changed that.
Ready or Not: Here I Come leans harder into what made the original work, while sharpening its pacing, expanding its world, and embracing its tone with far more confidence. The result is a film that feels more complete, more engaging, and ultimately more satisfying.
What stands out immediately is the film’s energy. There’s a relentless pace here that keeps things moving from start to finish, blending brutal violence with a dark comedic edge that never feels out of place. It’s chaotic in the best way, delivering a “balls to the wall” experience that rarely lets up.
The chemistry between Samara Weaving and Kathryn Newton plays a major role in that. Where the first film largely isolated Grace, the sequel benefits from giving her someone to play off of. Their dynamic adds both humor and tension, making the journey feel more layered and, at times, more personal.
The supporting cast also brings a strong presence. Elijah Wood delivers a subtle yet effective performance that helps ground the film and connect its larger narrative threads. Meanwhile, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Shawn Hatosy introduce a more defined antagonist presence, adding a level of focus and danger that elevates the overall stakes.
What ultimately makes this sequel work is how it reframes the original.
Where Ready or Not felt like a setup, Here I Come feels like the payoff. Together, the two films operate as a stronger, more cohesive story. In fact, this sequel may even enhance the experience of revisiting the first film, giving it a new sense of purpose within the larger narrative.
It’s bigger. It’s more violent. And it fully commits to what it wants to be.
If you were already a fan of the original, this sequel delivers more of what you loved. But if you were on the fence like I was, this might be the film that pulls you all the way in.
Because it did exactly that for me.
Now I’m invested.
And honestly? I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing where a third film could take this story next.
Ready or Not: Here I Come is now playing in theaters. Check it out and join the conversation.
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