'Ready or Not' Review

Synopsis: A young bride's wedding night takes a sinister turn when her eccentric new in-laws force her to take part in a time-honored tradition that turns into a lethal game with everyone fighting for their survival.

Runtime: 95 minutes

MPAA Rating: R (for violence, bloody images, language throughout, and some drug use)

Who should see it? Adult fans of unique, original horror-thrillers.

Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett with a screenplay from Guy Busick and Ryan Murphy, Ready or Not is the hide-and-seek movie you never realized you wanted. This inventive thriller mashes the core concept of the game with violent ritualism, and the end result is a wild ride that's darkly comedic and full of tantalizing twists and turns. 

Viewers are thrust into this crazed situation just as Grace is on the heels of her wedding. Trailers aside, the audience is also unfamiliar with the gothic surroundings and peculiar inhabitants at first. We discover nooks and crannies while Grace is on the run rather than explore the house before the game begins, so the protagonist and audience share a frantic sense of curiosity concerning what lies around the corner. The red band trailer spoils two early surprises, but Ready or Not is otherwise unpredictable. Though the confined mansion only offers a select number of hiding spots, Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett creatively maneuver Grace and the Le Domas family. Thus, keeping viewers on their toes and providing distinctive settings for the barbaric shenanigans. There were a few occasions where one of the in-laws would inexplicably reach a distant destination in a matter of minutes, but these didn't substantially affect my experience.

No doubt holding everything together is an exceptional lead performance from Samara Weaving. Weaving demonstrates remarkable versatility and humanity as Grace's blissful naivety becomes crazed panic upon uncovering the game's malicious intent. In the face of danger, Grace is believably badass though. While frequently out of her depth, Grace proves to be ferocious, but never invincible. Physically, emotionally, and psychologically, she endures substantial hardships and Weaving sells it all. After her turn here, I hope to see Weaving star in more projects soon!

Filling out the Le Domas household, Mark O'Brien, Adam Brody, Henry Czerny, Andie MacDowell, Melanie Scrofano, Kristian Bruun, Nicky Guadagni, and Elyse Levesque each lend sufficient depth to their varied roles. The family includes a diverse bunch of eccentric personalities, and the cast does a fine job differentiating themselves without being perceived purely as heightened caricatures. Portraying the groom, O'Brien must choose between honoring tradition and helping his new spouse survive the evening. It seems like an easy decision, but it grows increasingly complex as the night continues. Brody faces a similar dilemma, while Scrofano and Bruun are hysterical additions.

As the summer movie-going season draws to a close, it turns out there was one last gem hiding in our midst. After a string of mostly underwhelming releases, it's such a relief to find a film like Ready or Not in cinemas. It's a jack of all trades as an original release with edge-of-your-seat action and a macabre funny bone. Now, please seek it out!

Film Assessment: A-