The things we do for family. While men and women joyfully head into a new life together after marriage, sometimes that new life isn’t so apparent because of the truth hidden at the altar. Wealth, tradition, deceit, and terrible in-laws are the players in this dark satire that doesn’t so much push the envelope as it does push a self-aggrandizing message.
READY OR NOT follows a young bride (Samara Weaving) as she joins her new husband’s (Mark O’Brien) rich, eccentric family (Adam Brody, Henry Czerny, Andie MacDowell) in a time-honored tradition: a lethal game of “Hide & Seek.” In this version of the game, the bride is the one being hunted, having to prove her worth and entry into the family while the others hunt her down with rifles, crossbows, and antique pistols. To the family’s surprise, as dawn draws closer, soon everyone is fighting for their survival.
Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett play their cards a little early and don’t have that exciting of a hand at that. Guy Busick & Ryan Murphy’s script is quick to get into the game, failing to create any preliminary sense of intrigue or suspense around the family. The script and the directing seem to be a little at odds with each other, each making a move in a different direction. The tone and style tend to lean too serious while the script often goes towards more silly and physical comedy. Many scenes fail to find the right balance – the dark humor lacks bite and wit with the horror elements that aren’t as thrilling as they should be. READY OR NOT may not be very clever, but it delivers a Grand-Guignol finale that horror fans will relish.
Thankfully, Samara Weaving as our blood-splattered bride more than makes up for the film’s shortcomings. Her ability to transform from the terrified hunted to embracing the sinister game with a sly smirk makes her physical performance equally charming as it is twisted. One scene, in particular, involving a bullet-wound that comes in handy will make audiences both squirm and howl at her expense. Who is just as stellar is Adam Brody and his pitch-perfect deadpan delivery. His appearance in horror-comedies like this and JENNIFER’S BODY should have every horror producer chomping at the bit to include him.
In the end, READY OR NOT is a polished and moderately fun game that’s worth playing, despite its uneven and unclever approach to the conceit. The film not so subtly shines a critical light on the ridiculousness of the wealthy and the pointlessness of the ritual of marriage, but even its pointed messaging seems like a dull blade in a story that often feels routine despite bodies and blood painting the walls.
Overall score: 2.5 out of 4
READY OR NOT opens in theaters August 21st
