Games shouldn’t be taken too seriously, and it’s that exact idea that makes Ready or Not such a fun theatrical experience. Horrific violence is abundant, but clever injection of comedy and smart execution of the film’s premise puts this film in a respectable echelon of horror entertainment.

In Ready or Not, a young bride named Grace, played by Samara Weaving, is to be initiated into her new, wealthy family by playing a game on her wedding night. The game that’s randomly selected: hide and seek. When the game begins in their massive mansion however, Grace quickly realizes that this seemingly harmless family tradition is actually much deadlier than she anticipated.

What occurs over the course of the 94 minute runtime is a series of escalating chaos and mayhem, often of the most comedic variety. Though the campiness is not quite as consistent here as other horror comedies like Housebound or Happy Death Day, Ready or Not still strikes an exceptional balance between gory violence and laugh out loud absurdity.

And if that isn’t enough, the movie is held together by a riveting performance from Samara Weaving, who seizes the opportunity to demonstrate an array of emotional reactions to the unfolding events as her character becomes more and more desperate to survive.

The story goes from intriguing to bizarre to outlandish, and it’s all horrifyingly delightful. Ready or Not is sure to keep most audiences on the edge of their seat cringing and laughing, often at the same time.

Acting and Casting - 2 | Visual Effects and Editing - 2 | Story and Message - 2 | Entertainment Value - 2 | Music Score and Soundtrack - 2 | Reviewer's Preference - 2 | What does this mean?