How often do you moan about your in-laws? Once a day? Once a week? Or too any times to count? Whatever your tolerance levels, it’s common knowledge that in-laws are a bit of a nightmare, and anyone that hasn’t fielded awkward questions, overfamiliar behaviour or rude demands from your loved one’s parents hasn’t yet had the full life experience.

There are nightmare in-laws that we joke about, and then there are the nightmare in-laws of the upcoming comedy horror Ready or Not, who are single-handedly redefining what it means to live in fear of your extended family. “I honestly can’t wait to be a part of your moderately fucked up family,” newlywed Grace proclaims in the trailer, which prove to be words that take on deadly significance as she finds out exactly how fucked up her kin really are.

With a kickass bride, plenty of bloodshed, and a clever overarching critique of the institution of marriage, Ready or Not has earned a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Ahead of its release, here’s everything you need to know.

What is the plot of Ready or Not?

Ready or Not tells the story of newlywed Grace, whose husband Alex Le Domas hails from a dynastic and completely deranged family, who have a twisted way of initiating new members.

After her creepy wedding ceremony at the Le Domas’ luxurious estate, the family, who made their fortune in the board game empire, reveal that they are bound by an age-old tradition at the bidding of a mysterious character named Mr. Le Bail. Whenever someone marries the family, they must spend the night playing a game of his choosing. After a blank playing card is placed into a wooden box, and the handle turned, the card is printed with the name of the game the family must undertake. On this occasion, the randomly picked game is hide-and-seek.

As Grace quickly discovers, this is no ordinary game of hide and seek, because if she is found, she dies. The Le Domas mansion then turns into a hunting ground as the family solemnly take up their crossbows, axes and shotguns to kill the bride before sunrise.

But when she realises that she’s become a target, Grace doesn’t meekly sit back and wait to be hunted. She takes up 18th century weapons of her own and starts to hunt the family in turn, with Alex by her side. Given his family’s diabolical inclinations, Grace is understandably sceptical of whether to trust her new husband, and the couple’s trust issues become a wider commentary on the institution of marriage as the game unfolds.

There’s also the fact that Grace is a working class orphan, and her in-laws hail from extreme wealth. That the Le Domas family will safeguard their money at any cost, even murder, points to a damning indictment of the wealthy 1%. Still, Grace remains a force to be reckoned with, and people are fully appreciating Samantha Weaving’s portrayal of the badass bride.

Who is in the cast of Ready or Not?

The film’s main protagonist Grace is played by star-in-the-making Samara Weaving, who recently starred in  The Babysitter and Picnic at Hanging Rock. Mark O’Brien plays her new husband Alex Le Domas, best known for his roles in Republic of Doyle and Halt and Catch Fire.

Grace’s extended family, meanwhile, features a fantastically varied cast, including Adam Brody (otherwise known as Seth Cohen from The O.C) as Alex’s brother Daniel Le Domas, Andie MacDowell (Four Weddings and a Funeral forever) as mother Becky, and Henry Czerny as father Tony (The Boys of St. Vincent, Mission: Impossible, Revenge). 

Elsewhere, new additions to the Le Domas family, Charity and Fitch, are played by Elyse Levesque, who starred in Stargate Universe and The Originals, and Kristian Bruun of Orphan Black and Murdoch. 

When is Ready or Not released?

Ready or Not hits cinemas in the US on 21 August and in the UK on 27 September. In the meantime, check out the trailer below.

Images: Fox Searchlight