The filmmaking collective Radio Silence has achieved what many filmmakers dream of by turning into a defining voice in trendy horror. Working within the style for years, their mainstream breakthrough got here with the fiercely entertaining “Prepared or Not.” /Movie’s Chris Evangelista referred to as it “probably the most nice shock of the summer time film season,” and its success cemented Radio Silence co-founders Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett as main gamers within the style. The duo was chosen to direct “Scream” (2022) and its sequel “Scream VI,” persevering with one in all horror’s most iconic franchises. They later returned to their authentic storytelling with “Abigail,” the ballerina-vampire movie that premiered on the Overlook Movie Competition and earned a uncommon 10/10 rating from me — a score I nonetheless stand by.
Now the duo is balancing franchise filmmaking with their very own creations as they return to the world they constructed with “Prepared or Not 2: Right here I Come,” their first sequel to an authentic challenge. Horror sequels usually divide followers, particularly when the unique develops a passionate cult following like “Prepared or Not.” Matching that movie’s sharp humor, bloody chaos, and bonkers power could be no small feat. Thankfully, “Prepared or Not 2: Right here I Come” proves to be simply as explosively enjoyable as its predecessor, even when it is primarily “the identical, however extra.”
“Prepared or Not 2” picks up instantly after Grace (Samara Weaving) survives the blood-soaked sport of hide-and-seek that ended the primary movie. Recovering within the hospital, she’s visited by her estranged sister Religion (Kathryn Newton), who arrives as her emergency contact. Their relationship is tense, however their household drama rapidly turns into the least of their worries. Grace’s survival and the destruction of the Le Domas household has triggered a brand new, far bigger sport: the wealthiest and strongest households on the earth should search out Grace and Religion — or undergo the identical lethal destiny as her in-laws. Recreation on.
Prepared or Not 2: Right here I Come is much more in your face than the primary
Watching a bunch of entitled, wealthy jagoffs explode into visecera confetti in “Prepared or Not” was already satisfying, however that was just one nauseatingly terrible household. “Prepared or Not 2: Right here I Come” is extra reflective of the true corrupt programs of energy in our precise world — the place a handful of well-connected individuals have replicated an oligarchy underneath the cloak of democracy via acquisitions, mergers, and the allowance of personal fairness to decimate their competitors. There isn’t any such factor as an moral billionaire, and the “Prepared or Not” movies realize it. It is fairly refreshing to see the story zoom out from the Le Domas household and present simply how vast Mr. Le Bail’s net really weaves. There’s considerably extra alternative to look at among the worst individuals on the planet chew the massive one over, and over, and over once more, and it being unleashed by Grace and Religion is an absolute pleasure.
The bigger scope offers Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett the liberty to point out off what they do greatest and wrangle a sprawling ensemble solid of massive characters with ridiculous personalities performed by a mix of style favorites (Sarah Michelle Gellar! Elijah Wooden! Shawn Hatosy! DAVID CRONENBERG!!!), earlier collaborators, and newcomers to the style that horror followers will instantly adore.
Anybody thirsting after Shawn Hatosy as Dr. Abbot on “The Pitt” goes to see a wildly totally different aspect of him as Titus Danforth, and new-to-the-franchise Maia Jae as Francesca El Caido is a joyous addition (who must play Melissa Barrera’s sister in one thing). The politics of “Prepared or Not” have been already something however delicate, and I respect filmmakers prepared to double down whereas so many others are capitulating prematurely.
Samara Weaving and Kathryn Newton have been born for this
Samara Weaving solidified herself as one of many patron saints of “Good For Her” cinema with “Prepared or Not,” an esteemed roster that Kathryn Newton has additionally joined because of her cult hit, “Lisa Frankenstein.” Their whip good line deliveries are nicely displayed, and Newton superbly injects her trademark model of chaos to Religion whereas Grace is combating to not be weighed down by the belief that her blood-soaked marriage ceremony costume doesn’t imply she’s out of the woods but. The motion set items are even greater and bloodier this time round, and so they work in addition to it does as a result of Weaving and Newton are all the time prepared to go for it.
I will admit that I did miss the intimate terror of watching Grace trapped in a home in her battle for her survival and the bigger looking grounds sometimes really feel a bit of too massive for the story at hand, however that is the important thing to justifying the sequel present within the first place. If you’re coping with illuminati-esque satan cults that secretly management each side of the world, it must really feel unruly, chaotic, and unimaginable to wrap your head round. Watching wealthy freaks hunt Grace and Religion in broad daylight is a reminder that the 1% has waged an all-out assault in opposition to humanity, and so they do not wait till darkish to strike. Grace and Religion remind us that we should always solely lengthen their namesakes to these we’re in solidarity with, and battle like hell within the face of anybody who is not.
“Prepared Or Not 2” goes double or nothing and performs for retains. Both you get on board with the way in which the world is altering, otherwise you die. It is actually that easy.
/Movie Evaluation: 8 out of 10
“Prepared or Not 2: Right here I Come” opens in theaters on March 20, 2026.
