Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Ready or Not’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

It really is quite the time to be alive if you’re a long-time fan of horror. For the genre is simply soaring to new heights right now, thanks to its runaway popularity in popular culture and if you’re in the need for a scary fix, you need not go far to find it. For there are countless horror themed shows on the air and more are on the way. Or if you’re looking for that old school silver screen scare, you’ll be hard pressed to not find a tale of terror playing at your local multiplex and well, this really is quite the wonderful development when all is said and done, since this is a genre of film that was once relegated to home video and nothing more.
 
But while this is a renaissance of sorts for the genre, it has not come without its backlash. For there are plenty of critics out there who believe that this popularity surge, cheapens the quality of these stories. And some claim that the brand is being watered down since production companies are churning out new tales without any care for the quality that goes into them, and others have concerns over the fact that this uptick in popularity is leading to an excess of remakes and reboots. Which is an act that could hurt these films in the long run since eventually it will seem as though there are no fresh ideas when it comes to horror. But the good news, is that there are still plenty of unique and dynamic horror stories being told out there, the kind that put a fresh spin on ancient ideas present in the genre and for proof, look no further than the film, Ready or Not.
 
Which is quite the pleasant surprise, since this is a horror film that initially looked to be a pretty tame and standard offering, if one judges it from its advertising campaign. I mean come on, a newlywed bride, under fire from a family that seems to hold to some ancient tradition, all in the hopes of satisfying something unseen and sinister? That sounds like stuff we’ve definitely seen before, especially in folk themed horror films. But this is one of those instances where a vague and predictable advertising campaign worked to the film’s advantage. Because this is really quite the original and fresh horror film, one that offers up some interesting commentary and one that takes the time to shatter/update some of the age-old tropes present in the genre, specifically when it comes to how women are portrayed in horror.

---

Because often times in these types of movies, when a woman finds herself under fire for any reason, she is often dumbed down and presented as weak, setting everything up for a man to save the distressed lady in question. Or she is treated as eye candy and sexualized and is somehow forced to shed her outfit in order to show a little skin to titillate the audience and thankfully none of that garbage is present here in the slightest. For our main character, Grace, is as strong and as resourceful as they come, and she’s a warrior from the get-go and her desire to get the hell out of this mess as quickly as possible leads to some genuinely unexpected and delightful moments in the film, and it’s just refreshing to see a fleshed out female heroine, in a film universe where traditionally only the men can fight evil.
 
If anything, the only real ‘trope’ present in this movie is the commentary present here, and what this film has to say about tradition is fascinating to say the least. Because this motion picture more or less reminds us of the fact that while traditions are important and powerful in their own right, at some point they become out of date and well, silly. And we are doing a disservice to ourselves and others that we expect to take part in them, if we don’t bother to change them with the times and that’s a fine message to throw into a horror film. Because we really do have a tendency to expect ancient traditions to be followed to the letter in modern America, and we truly need to learn that it’s okay to leave them some of them behind or find new ways to celebrate them.
 
Yet, while we’ve talked a lot today about how this movie revolutionizes the genre while staying true to the best parts of it, we haven’t discussed whether or not it is a quality horror film. And the answer to that question is a resounding yes. For this is a movie that offers up some solid chills as Grace works to escape the clutches of the twisted Le Domas family and there’s plenty of gore to satisfy the fans that love it when the red stuff flows and surprisingly, you’ll find the right balance of comedy as well, alongside some colorful and memorable characters. But what matters most, is that this movie provides the audience with a genuine sense of fun. You’ll hoot, holler and gasp at what happens here, and, in the end, all of these elements make this a horror flick that I highly recommend, because this one is fresh and original and downright delightful.

---