This week on Friday Night Frightfest, we are celebrating the ultimate “bad in-laws” survival guide! We’re revisiting the film that turned a wedding night into a heavy-metal bloodbath and comparing it to its highly anticipated, high-stakes sequel. We’re pitting the 2019 cult hit Ready or Not against the brand-new, expanded chaos of Ready or Not 2 (2026). Hide your crossbows and lace up your sneakers—it’s time for a family reunion from hell.

Ready or Not (2019)

Directed by the Radio Silence team (Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett), this film introduced us to Grace (Samara Weaving), a bride whose wedding night takes a sinister turn when her eccentric, wealthy new in-laws force her to take part in a terrifying tradition. After drawing the “Hide and Seek” card from a mysterious box, Grace becomes the prey in a ritualistic hunt designed to appease a demonic entity named Mr. Le Bail. Blending razor-sharp satire with visceral gore, the film is a masterclass in survival horror, anchored by Weaving’s iconic, cigarette-smoking, blood-soaked performance in a shredded wedding dress.

Ready or Not 2 (2026)

Picking up years after the explosive (literally) finale of the first film, Ready or Not 2 sees Samara Weaving return as Grace, who has spent the intervening years trying to outrun the legacy of the Le Domas family. However, the curse of Mr. Le Bail isn’t so easily broken. Directed by Adam Robitel (Escape Room), the sequel scales up the carnage as Grace discovers that the “game” has gone global. A new generation of the elite has gathered for a “Tournament of Champions,” and Grace is the ultimate prize. This time, she isn’t just hiding—she’s hunting, utilizing an arsenal of traps and her hard-earned survival instincts to take down the one percent once and for all.

Join us as we discuss the evolution of Grace from a terrified bride to a seasoned warrior. We’ll break down the pitch-black comedy of the original’s mansion-setting versus the massive, “battle royale” energy of the 2026 sequel. Does the follow-up live up to the “explosive” reputation of the first, and is Samara Weaving officially our favorite modern horror icon? Tune in to find out if anyone makes it out alive!

Spoilers start around 4:12.