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Ready or Not 2 Roars at SXSW as Critics Diverge Before March 20 Release

The sequel widens the franchise's scope to a global council of satanic elites, with Elijah Wood's lawyer character clarifying the rules.

Overview

  • Festival audiences in Austin responded boisterously to the sequel’s gory set pieces and black-comedy kills during the SXSW world premiere.
  • Early reviews praise the bigger canvas, bloodier action, and Samara WeavingKathryn Newton pairing, while several critics call it a fun but familiar repeat.
  • The story picks up immediately after the 2019 film as Grace and her estranged sister Faith are hunted by rival ultra-wealthy families vying for a vacant high council seat.
  • An expanded ensemble features Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, Néstor Carbonell, Olivia Cheng, Maia Jae, and a brief turn by David Cronenberg, with Wood delivering the franchise’s lore.
  • Searchlight releases the film in theaters on March 20, and an early Rotten Tomatoes snapshot shows a 100% score from a small initial pool of reviews.