Until Death Do Us Part... Literally

I’m still a little perplexed as I sit down to write this review because I’m not sure how I feel about this movie. As a huge fan of board games, and someone who plays board games frequently, I was excited to see Ready or Not after watching the trailer. I went to the theater with an open mind—and I wasn’t disappointed with the movie—but I was left with a lot of questions. I felt as though the movie was missing something that I just can’t seem to put my finger on.

Ready or Not is a movie that focuses on the protagonist, Grace, as she marries and begins her life with her fiance, Alex Le Domas. Now, Alex comes from a wealthy family that built their dynasty in the board game business, and as is typical with a lot of your wealthy movie families, the Le Domas have some pretty eccentric qualities. As you might expect, most families have their traditions, and the La Domas are no different; these traditions are strictly adhered to, and the family’s marked success in business has been attributed to these traditions that span back for generations. One of these traditions, in which Grace is the focus, requires the bride and groom to play a game with the family on their wedding night.

Grace, unknowingly to her, has chosen the one game that requires the Le Domas family to get blood on their hands—hide and seek. Needless to say, the game that is played on Grace and Alex’s wedding night is not the innocent game of hide and seek that we all know and love—no, this game is far more serious... and deadly. As the night goes on, we learn more and more about the history of the Le Domas family and where the game night tradition began. With Grace now being hunted by her new family in their sprawling estate, everyone is engaged in a deadly game of cat and mouse that can only end one way.

The concept of this movie was inventive and isn’t something that is seen often, but the trope of putting the “new family member” through some sort of initiation isn’t anything new—especially when there is a wealthy family (with a large family fortune) involved. The acting in this movie was good, but I felt as though the characters were a little one dimensional; there wasn’t a lot of character development happening even though some of the characters had potential for real growth. It would have been better to learn a little more about the some of the more prominent family members that played a lead role in the movie.

Despite the action and the suspense that flowed throughout the movie, there were some parts that just seemed rushed. And, as with many suspenseful movies, there were plenty of times that I found myself wanting to yell at the screen (either in frustration or to just off up some friendly advice to the characters). Putting that aside, this movie was actually surprisingly funny. There were a lot of scenes that had the people throughout the theater chuckling. I thought that the humor, although dark, was a nice addition that served to lighten up the gruesome and bloody events of the evening in the Le Domas estate; and let me tell you, there was a lot of blood throughout this movie, and a few scenes that just make your entire body cringe.

With plenty of twists and turns—and an ending that you’ll never see coming—this movie had me on the edge of my seat. Although I applaud the concept, the humor, and the action, I ended up leaving the theater just wanting more.