The directors known as Radio Silence had some parting words before the world premiere of “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come“: “Hope you guys have a fucking loud, weird ride.”
The comedy horror sequel starring Samara Weaving as a bride trapped in a murderous game brought blood, blood and more blood to SXSW, where the crowd squealed and laughed at each grisly killing.
Cast members Kathryn Newton, Elijah Wood, Shawn Hatosy and Sarah Michelle Gellar took the stage at Austin’s Paramount Theatre to introduce the film alongside directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. Weaving, who could not be in attendance, waved hello and blew kisses on FaceTime, and she also welcomed the audience with a video showing off her pregnant belly.
“We made this movie for you, the fans,” she said, wishing everyone a fun and “bloody ride.”
“Ready or Not 2” takes place right after the first movie, with Weaving’s Grace now caught in a twisted game of hide and seek run by Devil-worshipping global elitists. Making a memorable cameo is David Cronenberg, who is seen early in the film watching a violent conflict unfold on the news.
“Approve the ceasefire,” he says into a phone, and the news chyron instantly changes: the war is over.
Wood plays a lawyer who lays out the rules of the game: a representative from each family will hunt Weaving and her sister (played by Newton), and whoever kills her will inherit the seat of the high council. Essentially, that means they control the world. Presenting the golden symbol of power to the families, the “Lord of the Rings” star holds onto yet another powerful piece of hand jewelry.
“Ready or Not 2” is a series of laugh-out-loud murders (and murder attempts). In one scene, a child wields akimbo pistols. In another, a woman holding a bazooka declares, “Hi, cunt. Bye, cunt.” Many times, bodies spontaneously combust and spray blood everywhere.
Hatosy told the crowd that he first watched the film on a small screen and couldn’t wait to see it again at SXSW.
“I was so regretful I wasn’t sitting in an audience,” he said. “You guys lived up to it.”
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