Ready or Not Blu-ray Review

"Ready or Not" presents a compelling visual experience on Blu-ray, despite its slightly ambiguous source resolution. Captured digitally using ARRI Alexa Mini cameras in ARRIRAW format, the 1080p AVC encoded transfer managed to impress with its high level of detail and sharpness. The film's cinematography, characterized by extreme close-ups and gothic atmospheric lighting, benefits from the intricate textures and fine detail visible in elaborate set pieces and character features. The visual presentation utilizes a ghastly yellow-green palette combined with notable orange-teal grading, adding an immersive, albeit discomforting, ambiance fitting for the film's suspenseful narrative.

The color grading warrants particular attention—with a deliberate choice for an unsettling sickly yellow tint permeating much of the indoor scenes and a deeper blue tone in others. This enhances the Gothic surroundings of the Le Domas mansion and complements the film's thematic elements. Whites, such as those on Grace's dress and car headlights, stand out strikingly against the subdued color spectrum. The black levels are consistently deep, though occasionally prone to slight black crush which risks losing some shadow detail. However, this does not significantly detract from the overall viewing experience.

Dynamic contrast is well executed, offering pronounced distinction between light and dark areas, contributing to the film’s intense atmosphere. Textural variances such as blood, grime on characters, and the architectural details of the mansion are appreciably vivid. While there is minimal noise and no compression anomalies detected, a light layer of artificial grain is added to flashback scenes for differentiation. While "Ready or Not" presents magnificently in 1080p, it subtly hints at untapped potential that an HDR grade on a 4K UHD disc could have brought forth, particularly in resolving shadow details more effectively.

The 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track for "Ready or Not" offers a well-designed lossless audio presentation that enhances the film's ambiance and thematic tone. The audio mix effectively utilizes the entire sound field to elicit reactions from on-screen and off-screen cues, ensuring an engaging auditory experience. The richness in clarity and punchy dynamics elevate the soundtrack's recorded elements. Dialogue, delivered through the center channel, is crystal clear and consistently maintains prominence. The rear channels are adeptly used to deliver a mixture of spatial ambiance and directional panning cues that correlate seamlessly with the on-screen action.

This audio presentation is immersive, exploiting elements like sudden gunshots to provoke startle reactions despite the film's infrequent use of typical jump scares. The surround aspect delivers detailed ambient environmental sounds within the Gothic mansion setting, adding depth to the film's atmosphere. Sounds such as creaking boards, thunder claps, and the scrabbling of feet across floors are captured with precision. The LFE is tight and punchy, providing weight to startling moments and supporting background elements. The soundtrack by Brian Tyler complements these effects, enhancing the overall auditory experience even without additional Atmos channels, which may have been present during theatrical release but are absent in this Blu-ray presentation.

Overall, "Ready or Not" delivers a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that should not be underestimated. It offers a compelling audio experience with its effective use of ambient effects, positional touches, and dialogue clarity, ensuring an enjoyable viewing experience. Whether for action sequences or subtle atmospheric details, this mix stands out as a solid component of the film's Blu-ray release.

The Blu-ray extras for "Ready or Not" provide a comprehensive and entertaining look into the film's production. The highlight is the 42-minute making-of featurette, "Let the Games Begin," which is divided into three insightful parts covering the film’s concept, tone, and casting. The commentary track featuring Radio Silence members and Samara Weaving offers engaging and lively discussions, though it can be somewhat scattershot due to their rapid topic changes. Complementing these are a fun gag reel and an assortment of visual extras, including on-set photography and the Le Domas Family Games featurette, adding more depth to the viewing experience.

Extras included in this disc:

• Let the Games Begin: The Making of READY OR NOT: Behind-the-scenes footage and interviews.
• Gag Reel: Brief collection of humorous outtakes.
• Audio Commentary by Radio Silence and Samara Weaving: Insights and anecdotes from directors and cast.
• Gallery: On-set photography.
• Le Domas Family Games: Short presentation on the fictional family’s games.
• Red Band Trailer: Original NSFW movie trailer.

In "Ready or Not," the often-used plot of a Faustian bargain is given new life through a blend of dark humor and visceral horror. The story centers on Grace (Samara Weaving), who marries into the wealthy and eccentric Le Domas family, only to find herself ensnared in a centuries-old tradition. The family, whose fortune originates from a mysterious bet made by an ancestor, has maintained an arcane ritual where new members must play a game chosen by a mystical box. Occasionally, the game is hide and seek—a lethal version where Grace must hide until dawn while the family hunts her to complete a sacrificial ritual.

The film triumphs in striking a balance between horror and comedy, frequently nodding to the audience with its satirical take on aristocratic culture. The initial traditional horror elements gradually pivot to sharper black humor as the hunt escalates, mocking both the absurdity of the Le Domas’ beliefs and their cluelessness about the consequences of not completing the ritual. The increasingly grotesque kills elicited equal parts mirth and shock, supported by sharp writing and energetic performances. Samara Weaving's portrayal of Grace is commendable, embodying both terror and defiance. The film’s secondary characters, particularly Andie MacDowell and Nicky Guadagni, add to this theatricality with their exaggerated, yet captivating performances.

Technically, "Ready or Not" fascinates with its brisk pacing and elaborate backstory, although it occasionally feels overwhelmed by its exposition-heavy start. Nonetheless, the cleverly written script helps maintain engagement, ensuring that even minor characters feel essential. The film tackles themes of class disparity and familial dysfunction with surprising depth, wrapping its social commentary in layers of gore and wit. With its relentless pacing, darkly humorous narrative, and standout performances, "Ready or Not" offers an exhilarating ride that stays true to its genre while adding a modern twist on classic horror tropes.

"Ready or Not" is a delightful blend of black comedy and horror, delivering an engaging narrative that is unapologetically gory and cheeky. The film revolves around Grace, played masterfully by Samara Weaving, who finds herself wading through blood and mayhem in a tale of familial dysfunction with Faustian undertones. Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillet, the movie features tight pacing and razor-sharp dialogue that enrich a relatively straightforward yet captivating plot. The 20th Century Fox Blu-ray release does justice to the film with excellent video and audio quality, presented in a 2.39:1 AVC ratio and DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround sound.

Technically, the Blu-ray disc delivers a pristine viewing experience with vibrant colors and deep blacks, ensuring that every scene, whether grim or gruesome, pops on screen. The audio mix intensifies the already compelling experience, immersing viewers into the chaotic environment Grace navigates. With English, French, and Spanish subtitle options, the release ensures accessibility. Additionally, while not loaded with extras, the supplementary package includes a valuable behind-the-scenes documentary, adding significant insight into the film’s making.

In conclusion, "Ready or Not" offers an enjoyable mixture of horror and dark humor, presenting a riotous class satire in a unique and memorable way. It is recommended for those who appreciate films that marry pitch-black comedy with horror elements. The Blu-ray release is solid with great technical merits and is worth adding to your collection for a fun, repeatable watch.