Ready or Not (2019)

Read the prenup. That’s the lesson of Ready or Not, a 95-minute argument for asking more questions before you marry into money. The setup is perfect: a wedding night, a dusty puzzle box, and in-laws who treat hide-and-seek like a sacred family tradition, complete with antique crossbows. Samara Weaving is the whole show. Grace starts the night in a lace gown and ends it in a torn dress, sneakers and an ammo belt, and her stunned, disbelieving laugh is funnier than most comedy scripts. The problem is the family. Aside from Adam Brody’s sad, guilty Daniel and Andie MacDowell’s chillingly sweet Becky, the Le Domas clan is a pile of punchlines, and the middle stretch turns into a loop of hallways and hiding spots. The last act gets rougher than the jokes really need. It made $57.6 million worldwide on a reported $6M, and critics gave it 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. A 7.6 because Weaving turns a cheap thriller into a star-making night. $2,482 says you skip the next big family game night with a suspiciously timed headache.

What works: Samara Weaving is a star in the making, and the rich-family satire lands with a nasty grin.

What doesn’t: Most of the in-laws are one joke each, and the middle turns into a repetitive chase through the same hallways.

Who it’s for: Grown-up horror-comedy fans who like their rich villains clueless and their heroine furious.