A newlywed orphan finds herself in the middle of an uncanning family tradition in “Ready or Not.”
The Le Domas’s are super rich and they owe it all to a lucky encounter between Victor Le Domas and a certain Le Bail decades earlier. With that encounter came certain rituals which could have dire consequences. The so-called consequences could be a myth but the Le Domas’s would rather err on the side of caution.
Alex Le Domas (Mark O’Brien) who had been estranged from his family has returned home to wed the love of his life Grace (Samara Weaving). The family estate is vast and the mansion, a maze with plenty of hideouts.
Grace is bubbly. A woman full of life. From the minute she appears onscreen with Alex, it is clear that they are an unconventional couple because they spend the moments before their wedding together, obviously not minding the superstitious belief that it is bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding. Interestingly, Alex’s family is traditional. But Grace would only find out at midnight.
Alex’s brother and bestman Daniel (Adam Brody) checks-in on the couple. Daniel is nervous and offers Grace some advise. It seems ridiculously. Alex and Grace love each other. Daniel’s wife Charity (Elyse Levesque) would rather die than return to where she came from. Alex’s aunt Helene (Nicky Guadagni) is melancholic, his dad Tony (Henry Czerny) thinks he could have done better but his mother Becky (Andie MacDowell) is delighted.
Becky warms up to Grace quickly. She is rather chummy with Grace that at first, you think she is just another daughter-in-law trying to fit in. Becky tells Grace that in her time, she was told her ‘blood wasn’t blue enough.’ She assures Grace that she will be fine. As for Grace, she is just elated. She grew up under foster care so she is glad to finally have a family. More so, when they are ‘richer than god,’ as she said.
After the wedding at almost midnight, Alex tells Grace they have to play a card game. It is a family tradition to welcome a spouse into the family. Alex’s sister Emilie (Melanie Scrofano) and her husband Fitch Bradley (Kristian Bruun) miss the wedding ceremony. But arrive just in time for the game. Grace is excited until things go awry.
Apart from Brody and MacDowell, the ensemble cast is relatively unknown yet they give very satisfying performances. It is easy to picture Emma Stone or Margot Robbie play the Grace character. But Ms. Weaving is phenomenal. With this performance, she can expect to have a long career.
This black comedy horror film is based on a screenplay by Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy and it features a lot of blood and gore balanced appropriately with comedy. The humour in “Ready or Not” comes majorly from how dysfuctional the family is especially with characters like the drug-addicted Emilie and her clueless husband Fitch.
The story also kind of reminds you of Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” with the unsuspecting, rich evil white people. “Ready or Not” is a warning that all that glitters is not gold. Grace must choose between herself and her love for Alex in this story about survival.
Directed by: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett
