Sarah Michelle Gellar Deserves Better Than This

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Spoilers ahead for the plot and ending of Ready or Not 2: Here I Come.

It’s been a disappointing week for fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Hulu has cancelled the planned reboot, Buffy: New Sunnydale, after months of build-up. While the studio claims director Chloé Zhao is to blame, Sarah Michelle Gellar (who played Buffy) says an executive producer who didn’t appreciate the original series was responsible. Ultimately, for those who were excited about a new generation of the Scooby Gang, the reason doesn’t matter – the show won’t be made, and it’s unlikely we’ll see Sarah Michelle Gellar reprise her role as the Slayer again.

The new horror sequel, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, from directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, arrives amidst a lot of anticipation. Fans were excited to see Sarah Michelle Gellar reprise her role, hoping for the same strong, action-packed performance and sharp wit that made her famous in the 90s with Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Cruel Intentions. While Gellar delivers a solid performance, those expecting this film to recapture the magic of Buffy might be disappointed.

The first Ready or Not movie was a terrifying game of hide-and-seek where a bride, Grace, learned her new family were Satan worshippers who tried to kill her on her wedding night. She survived, causing chaos and a lot of bloodshed within the wealthy Le Domas family. Ready or Not 2 starts right after the first film ends, revealing that the Le Domases are just one of six families who made a deal with the devil for fortune and influence. Grace’s survival has triggered a competition for leadership of this sinister group – a position that comes with a powerful ring and near-total control. The other families arrive at the Le Domas estate, with twins Ursula and Titus determined to take back the leadership their father once held. Their plan? Kill Grace before sunrise – if anyone else doesn’t get to her first. This time, Grace is stuck handcuffed to her sister, Faith. The movie dives deep into the history of these families, with a lawyer character explaining much of it. Once the deadly game begins, it’s a fast-paced, violent ride from one gruesome scene to the next.

Grace and Faith face several challenges, but Ursula and Titus are established as the main villains right away. For actress Sarah Gellar, who is known for playing both heroic and villainous roles, Ursula provides a chance to explore a more complex character. While Ursula is definitely evil, she also acts as a counterbalance to Titus, even saving Faith’s life at one point. She has a realistic, though cynical, view of the world, telling Grace that there are no clear heroes or villains, only a system. This contrasts with the film’s overall theme of dismantling that system, as seen in the first movie. Ursula stands out as the most layered of the villains, and Gellar skillfully portrays her shifting motivations and internal conflicts. It’s clear that the tension between Ursula and Titus – who is impulsive and controlling, and unwilling to share power – will eventually explode. When he hits her for stopping him from being needlessly violent, you can see her plotting revenge. Audiences are excited to see Grace survive another attack by the wealthy elite, but they’re equally invested in watching Ursula finally confront her brother.

The movie Ready or Not 2 isn’t interested in a satisfying emotional release for its characters. In the final act, Grace finds a way out of her predicament by exploiting a loophole in the families’ contract: she agrees to marry Titus, which would immediately give him power and save her and her daughter’s lives. Although Titus is a dangerous psychopath, Grace is desperate – she’s been stabbed repeatedly and is running out of choices. Before the wedding, Ursula visits Grace, seemingly to cause trouble, perhaps by poisoning their celebratory champagne. However, Ursula reveals she’s actually afraid of Titus and proposes they work together to control his worst tendencies. Unfortunately, Titus overhears their conversation and, enraged at the thought of any woman controlling him, brutally strangles Ursula, breaking her neck right before Grace’s eyes.

The film deliberately surprises us when Ursula, presented as the more cunning Danforth twin, is quickly defeated before she can take charge. This is disappointing, especially since the movie hinted at a potential battle or alliance between Samara Weaving and Sarah Michelle Gellar. Though Ursula doesn’t live to see it, her brother Titus’s betrayal ultimately leads to his own demise. He reveals a loophole – that killing family isn’t against the rules of the game – which gives Grace an idea. Shortly after their wedding, Grace fatally stabs Titus with the demonic contract pen, and Faith helps finish him off by pushing him into the pit. They’re family now, after all. Grace then takes control of the council, but immediately rejects the power and destroys the sigil. The remaining council members fight amongst themselves trying to find it before dawn, but their violence is useless. They all explode, Grace saves the sacrificial goat, and she and Faith escape the Danforth estate with the lawyer’s approval. As usual, Ready or Not delivers a satisfyingly violent and happy ending.

While it’s great to see Grace succeed again, the ending is still disappointing because of how Ursula’s story concludes. It’s not that she dies—that was expected—but the way it happens feels too quick and unimportant. Compared to her memorable deaths in films like I Know What You Did Last Summer and Scream 2, it’s a letdown. Horror movies don’t need to be pleasant, but this death feels jarring. Considering the show often focuses on strong women, Ursula being killed so brutally by Titus seems unnecessarily harsh.

More immediately, the way Ursula’s character develops doesn’t quite match what fans expect from Sarah Michelle Gellar, who unexpectedly became an action star in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In Ready or Not 2, she only gets one significant fight scene, facing off against Grace (much of which is shown in the trailer, highlighting its importance). While the role seems tailor-made for Gellar, she unfortunately isn’t used enough, which is especially disappointing considering the recent cancellation of the Buffy revival. Gellar has had trouble finding roles that truly showcase her talent lately—her last major part, leading forensics on Dexter: Original Sin, felt like a misstep. Ready or Not 2, despite being an enjoyable film overall, is a bit of a letdown in that regard, and it’s natural to wish for more substantial roles for Gellar. For now, those hoping for a resurgence in her career will have to remain patient.

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2026-03-20 19:55